DNR RFB Camden State Park Goat Grazing 2025

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking bids for prescribed rotational goat grazing services at Camden State Park in Lyon County during the 2025 grazing season. The project requires a contractor to deploy 70-90 mixed-age meat goats to browse woody brush in a historically oak-dominated dry-mesic hardwood forest, with specific targeting of invasive and undesirable vegetation including garlic mustard, buckthorn, gooseberry, and honeysuckle. The solicitation covers two approximately 15-acre paddocks, with an estimated 133 total grazing days from April 21st to October 15th, 2025. Contractors must provide comprehensive services including herd management, temporary electric fencing installation and maintenance, water provision, and herd monitoring through two grazing rotations with a minimum 21-day rest interval between rotations. The bid requires itemized pricing for mobilization, paddock setup, daily grazing rates, and a final report. The procurement is structured as a Request for Bid (RFB), with responses due electronically through the Swift Portal by April 21, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Interested vendors can schedule a site visit by contacting Project Supervisor Becky Thompson at 507-822-6298. The DNR will award the contract to the lowest responsible vendor meeting all specifications, with evaluation focused on compliance with project requirements and total cost.

The solicitation emphasizes diversity and inclusion, potentially offering preferences to businesses owned by racial minorities, women, veterans, or located in economically disadvantaged counties. Bidders must provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including workers' compensation, automobile liability, and commercial general liability. The DNR has specific requirements for invasive species prevention, mandating that contractors clean equipment and implement pollinator best management practices. While no incumbent vendor is mentioned, the contract includes strict qualifications regarding herd composition, grazing techniques, and reporting obligations. The procurement does not specify a precise budget range, but requires unit pricing that encompasses all project costs including labor, materials, tools, transportation, equipment, and applicable taxes. The State reserves the right to adjust paddock sizes and grazing days as needed, and will make the final determination on vendor qualification. Potential vendors should be prepared to demonstrate expertise in rotational grazing, invasive species management, and ecological restoration techniques specific to woodland understory environments.