Fireline mastication on sumter NF-enoree

The South Carolina Forestry Commission is soliciting bids for a fireline mastication project on the Sumter National Forest in the Enoree area, spanning Newberry, Union, Laurens, and Fairfield Counties. The Invitation for Bid (IFB) seeks a contractor to remove downed woody debris greater than 4 inches in diameter from approximately 10.36 miles of dozer lines impacted by Hurricane Helene. Specific service requirements include skidding, sawing, grinding, mulching, or masticating woody debris, with chips to be spread to a maximum depth of 3 inches or removed from the site. Contractors must complete work within 10 feet of the centerline on both sides, creating a total treatment width of 20 feet. The project involves strict environmental protections, including avoiding Red-Cockaded Woodpecker cavity trees and complying with bat species protection guidelines. Key submission dates include questions due by December 3, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., and sealed bids due by December 10, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., with award notification scheduled for December 12, 2025. Contractors must provide proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance of at least $1,000,000 and submit a performance bond of $15,000 within ten days of award.

The contract has a maximum budget of $100,000, with any bids exceeding this amount subject to rejection as non-responsive. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, contractors must meet insurance and bonding requirements and attend a mandatory pre-work conference with the South Carolina Forestry Commission and Sumter National Forest representatives. The contract period runs from December 15, 2025, through March 15, 2026, with all pricing required to be fixed for the duration. Bidders can submit offers online through www.procurement.sc.gov or via sealed paper format to the SC Forestry Commission Procurement Office. Site visits can be arranged by contacting Todd Bennett at 864-429-6058, though no pre-bid conference or site visit is mandatory. The state will provide compartment maps, fire line location coordinates, and access keys to successful bidders. Contractors should note special provisions such as the option to masticate or push stumps and roots away from lines, with no requirement for complete removal.