DNR Sakatah Lake State Park RX Goat Grazing 2024

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking bids for prescribed rotational goat grazing services at Sakatah Lake State Park, located in Le Sueur and Rice Counties. The procurement covers a project period from June 3, 2024 to October 1, 2024, with specific requirements for grazing two 10-acre paddocks within the park's historically oak-dominated dry-mesic hardwood forest. Contractors must mobilize a minimum herd of 50 meat goats, install and maintain all necessary fencing, and provide daily grazing services with the objective of browsing available woody brush. Key deliverables include complete fencing installation, daily herd management, site maintenance, and regular grazing reports documenting progress and site conditions. Bidders must submit their proposals electronically through the Swift Portal by May 23, 2024, with all responses subject to review by DNR to ensure compliance with specifications. The evaluation criteria prioritize the lowest responsible vendor meeting all technical and contractual requirements, with the state reserving the right to award items separately or by total bid.

The procurement appears open to all vendors, with potential preferences for resident vendors and veteran-owned small businesses. No specific set-aside designations were explicitly detailed in the documentation. Chemical de-worming is prohibited on-site, and contractors bear full responsibility for goat care, watering, and monitoring, with the state maintaining no liability for potential loss or damage. While specific budget ranges were not disclosed, the bid documents require itemized pricing for goat mobilization, paddock setup, maintenance, daily grazing rates, and reporting. Vendors must include all associated costs in their unit pricing, including labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and applicable taxes. Interested contractors needing registration assistance can contact the Contractor Assistance Help Desk at 651-201-8100, Option 1, to ensure proper submission of their bid package. The contract will be awarded based on the most advantageous proposal meeting all specifications and terms.