Fall Lifting and Grading Tree Seedlings

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking a contractor to perform fall lifting and grading of tree seedlings at the Wilson State Nursery located in Boscobel, Wisconsin. The procurement involves supplying labor to lift and place approximately 600,000 hardwood and shrub seedlings and 400,000 conifer seedlings into crates, with additional requirements to grade, strip leaves, count, and bundle the seedlings on a grading belt. The work is expected to occur over a seven to twenty working day period beginning around November 1, 2022, with the contract structured as an initial one-year term and potential for four additional one-year renewal options. Interested contractors must submit their bids by October 7, 2025, with any questions to be submitted no later than September 29, 2025, at 4:30 PM. The scope of work requires skilled labor capable of efficiently handling and processing large volumes of tree seedlings with precision and care. While specific evaluation criteria are not explicitly detailed, the DNR will likely assess contractors based on their ability to meet the technical specifications, labor capacity, and timely completion of the seedling processing tasks.

The contract opportunity does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged business enterprises. No information is provided about incumbent vendors or existing technological infrastructure that might require integration. The procurement appears to be open to qualified contractors with appropriate labor resources and expertise in agricultural or nursery seedling processing. While a precise budget range is not disclosed, the volume of seedlings (approximately 1 million total) suggests a potentially significant contract value. The multi-year renewal options indicate the DNR's intent to establish a long-term working relationship with a reliable contractor capable of consistently meeting the nursery's seasonal seedling processing requirements. Potential bidders should be prepared to demonstrate technical competence, labor availability, and the capability to handle large-scale botanical processing tasks within the specified timeframe.