DNR RFB Cass and Mille Lacs Counties Forest Stand

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is soliciting competitive bids through Request for Bids (RFB) 2026-803 for forest stand improvement services across two bid groups spanning Cass County and Mille Lacs County. The procurement encompasses labor, equipment, materials, herbicides, permits, licenses, tools, transportation, and incidentals necessary to release oak, pine, and spruce tree species from aspen and competing vegetation using hand tools including chainsaws and brushsaws to promote tree species diversity and wildlife habitat. Bid Group 1 consists of approximately 339 acres across three locations in Cass County, while Bid Group 2 covers approximately 152 acres across six sites in Mille Lacs County, with respondents permitted to bid on one or both groups. All unit pricing must include labor, materials, tools, transportation, equipment, sales tax, use tax, and all other necessary costs for project completion, with a minimum requirement that 95% of acreage requiring treatment be properly treated. Prime contractor respondents must demonstrate substantial completion of at least one verifiable wildlife tree release contract using hand tools since August 1, 2023—for Bid Group 1, the project must have been at least 150 acres with a contract value of $33,000 or greater, while Bid Group 2 requires a minimum of 80 acres and $15,000 in contract value—and must provide property owner contact information, project size, contract value, and completion date for qualifying projects. Disqualifying factors include contract defaults or terminations for cause within the last 36 months and willful or repeated OSHA safety citations with final orders issued within the same period. The bidding period runs from April 14, 2026, at 9:15 a.m. through April 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., with questions due by April 23, 2026; site visits are encouraged and can be arranged by contacting Nathan Thom at 218-203-4322 for Cass County or Steve Piepgras at 320-532-3537 for Mille Lacs County. All responses must be submitted electronically through the Swift Portal in Microsoft Excel or PDF format, accompanied by a completed Qualification Form and Workforce and Equal Pay Declaration Form; the contract effective date is July 15, 2026, or upon completion of all required state signatures, whichever is later, with a project completion deadline of December 15, 2026.

Targeted Group, Economically Disadvantaged, and Veteran-Owned businesses certified by the State receive a 12% preference in bid evaluation. Minnesota Resident Vendors may receive consideration for resolving tied bids or reciprocal preferences. The Workforce and Equal Pay Declaration Form applies to contracts exceeding specified thresholds; contractors exempt from certification must attest that they have not employed 40 or more employees on a single day during the prior 12 months in Minnesota or that their primary place of business is not in Minnesota. Subcontracting is prohibited under this procurement. Required insurance includes Commercial Automobile Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence combined single limit and Workers' Compensation insurance per Minnesota statutory requirements, with a Certificate of Insurance required prior to contract execution. No federal funds are identified for this project. Award will be made to the lowest responsible vendor meeting all specifications and terms and conditions, with the State reserving the right to award items separately, by grouping items, or by total, whichever is deemed most advantageous. Compensation is based on total acres of each site completed according to specifications and accepted by the Project Supervisor, with partial payments issued on a site-by-site basis for fully completed individual sites and final payment upon full project completion and acceptance, with payment required within 30 days of receipt of an undisputed invoice per Minnesota Statute 16A.124.