DNR - TSP Gaylord - C 47 Hardwoods; 125. 6 acres

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) - Forest Resources Division is seeking a timber sale contract for the C 47 Hardwoods project located in Ottawa County. The procurement involves a crown thinning operation on two forest stands (Stands 44 and 46) totaling 125.6 estimated acres in Sections 16 and 21 of Township 31N, Range 05W. Key objectives include reducing stand density and improving individual stem quality by selectively removing poorly formed and defective trees while prioritizing sugar maple, basswood, and crop trees. The timber marking specifications require marking trees with an orange slash, with sawlog minimum diameter set at 10.6 inches and pulpwood minimum diameter at 4.6 inches. The total merchantable residual basal area is set at 80, with acceptable ranges between 70 and 90. The contract work can commence immediately and must be completed by September 1, 2025, with site access via turning left off US-131 on M 32 and proceeding approximately 0.5 miles to Marker Road. Contractors will be required to upload data from MobileMap to InventoryManager and adhere to specific marking restrictions, including limiting markers to two per cruise unit.

While no specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements are explicitly stated in the documentation, the contract appears to be open to qualified timber harvesting and forest management contractors. The Gaylord Field Office will provide paint and GPS boundary work, indicating some pre-existing infrastructure support for the project. Though a specific budget range is not detailed, the comprehensive nature of the timber sale prescription suggests a substantial contract value commensurate with the 125.6-acre operation. The contract includes technical specifications that require contractors to have professional-level forest management skills, GPS and mapping technology capabilities, and the ability to precisely execute selective harvesting techniques. Potential bidders will need specialized equipment for timber harvesting, data management systems compatible with MobileMap and InventoryManager, and expertise in selective forestry practices that maintain forest health and sustainability. Interested contractors should carefully review the complete timber sale prescription to ensure they can meet the technical and operational requirements of this DNR forestry contract.