DNR Site Preparation Aerial Herbicide - Pacific Cascade Region

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) #3250 for aerial herbicide site preparation services in the Pacific Cascade Region, covering multiple counties including Clark, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Pacific, Lewis, and Grays Harbor. The procurement seeks a contractor to apply aerial herbicide treatments on 2,491 acres of state-managed forestlands, with treatments to be completed between July 7 and August 31, 2025. The contract term spans from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with potential for annual renewals up to five years. Key deliverables include helicopter application of herbicides across specified treatment units, with a maximum rate of $110 per acre and two specific herbicide formulation options. Bidders must be licensed to do business in Washington State and meet critical qualifications such as WSDOT aircraft registration and Washington State Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator licensing. A virtual pre-proposal conference is scheduled for May 15, 2025, with bids due by 12:00 PM PST on June 3, 2025, and an anticipated award date of June 4, 2025. Evaluation criteria will include responsiveness, qualifications, references, cost, and additional preference factors.

The solicitation includes specific preferences for small businesses and veteran-owned businesses, potentially offering scoring advantages to these categories of vendors. Contractors must provide a performance security of 10% of the total contract price and comprehensive insurance coverage. The procurement is funded by state dollars and includes provisions for potential additional services within 24 months of the original product order date. Specific environmental and safety considerations are mandated, such as maintaining 50-foot buffers from interior streams and using drift control agents during application. While no incumbent vendors are explicitly mentioned, the contract requires detailed pre-flight checklists, regulatory compliance, and extensive documentation including pilot and compliance forester verification of treatment boundaries. The total project budget appears to be approximately $273,610 (2,491 acres at $110 per acre), with potential for contract extensions and additional service orders. Interested bidders must demonstrate significant technical expertise in aerial herbicide application, environmental compliance, and forest management practices specific to Washington State's regulatory environment.