FAC 120 - Hazard Tree Removal, Mohawk State Forest FY27

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is soliciting RFP responses for hazard and dead tree removal at Mohawk Trail State Forest under Contract FAC 120, with a mandatory site showing on November 6, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. and responses due November 12, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Contractors must comply with prevailing wage rates under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 149, Sections 26 and 27D, and the project-specific wage schedule must be incorporated into all contracts and included in all advertisements and calls for bids.

The scope covers removal, pruning, and mitigation of trees marked by DCR arborists in the Day Use Area and Campground at Cold River Road, Charlemont, Massachusetts. The selected vendor must provide a superintendent holding a Massachusetts Certified Arborist or International Society of Arboriculture certification and maintain daily site coordination with DCR's Forest Health Program representative. Equipment requirements include logging trucks, aerial bucket trucks with a minimum 65-foot reach, cranes with a minimum 140-foot boom and 26-ton capacity, commercial chippers, stump grinders, and ANSI-compliant safety equipment. The vendor also secures permits and utility coordination, manages traffic control and pedestrian safety, and guarantees workmanship for one year after completion. Responses must be submitted electronically through Commbuys (BD-27-1020-DCRFC-DC366-134924) and include a Bidder Response Form, identification of all labor, equipment, and materials, certified insurance documentation, and three relevant references.

Pricing must be all-inclusive, with no cost increases permitted for delays or hindrances beyond DCR's discretion. DCR may withhold payment for noncompliance with specifications, professional standards, cleanup, or safety regulations, with disputes subject to a ten-business-day cure period. DCR reserves the right to interview final candidates and request best and final offers.

Questions are due November 9, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. The estimated award date is November 17, 2026, with project start on November 23, 2026 and anticipated completion on December 23, 2026. The attached wage schedule (Wage Request No. 20261028111910) covers classifications effective from June 2026 through March 2029, includes apprentice rates tied to Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Standards registration, and requires weekly certified payroll filings with the awarding authority.