Elkhorn WLA - Auburn tract cut and pile

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are soliciting bids for the Elkhorn Wildlife Area: Auburn Tract Cut and Pile project, located approximately 7 miles southwest of Baker City in Baker County, Oregon. The procurement seeks a contractor to perform vegetation management and fuels reduction services across 964 total acres, involving manual hand thinning of conifers and western juniper using chainsaws. Specific deliverables include cutting trees under certain diameter thresholds, maintaining specific spacing, and either scattering or hand piling slash across two primary work areas: 889 acres of BLM lands (754 acres of cut and lop, 135 acres of hand piling) and 75 acres of ODFW lands. The project's key objectives are to improve wildlife habitat, increase forage production for wintering big game, and reduce wildfire hazards by modifying vegetative fuel loads. Bidders must follow detailed guidelines for tree cutting, slash management, and hand piling, including protecting specific trees and covering hand piles with black polyethylene plastic. The bid is scheduled to be opened on September 4, 2025, at 3:00 PM, with an anticipated contract execution date of September 11, 2025, and the contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder whose bid substantially complies with the Invitation to Bid (ITB) requirements.

The procurement encourages participation from certified Oregon firms, particularly those designated as disadvantaged businesses, including Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Minority-Owned Business (MBE), Woman-Owned Business (WBE), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDV), and Emerging Small Business (ESB). Bidders must complete a Certified Disadvantaged Business Outreach Plan, detailing their approach to soliciting certified firms for potential subcontracting opportunities. The contract is effective through June 30, 2027, and requires bidders to maintain specific insurance coverages, comply with federal and state laws, and provide independent contractor certifications. While a precise contract value is not specified, the comprehensive bid documents indicate a substantial project scope covering multiple land management objectives. Bidders must submit various forms, including a bid cover sheet, reference check form, bid submittal form, and a responsibility inquiry, which will be used to assess their financial resources, previous contract performance, legal history, and overall business standing. The procurement allows for flexibility based on available funding and may be subject to prevailing wage rates.