FY26 wahikuli phase 1 fuel mitigation grazing fence installation

The State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for the FY26 Wahikuli Phase 1 Fuel Mitigation Grazing Fence Installation project on Maui County. This procurement seeks bids for the design, fabrication, and installation of approximately 8,500 linear feet of ungulate-proof fencing at 48 inches in height, including clearing of fence corridors, fabrication and installation of four step-through gates and two vehicular drive-through gates, and provision of stream crossing solutions. The primary objective is to establish grazing units that livestock can utilize to maintain fuel loads at manageable levels while creating fuel breaks to protect native dryland restoration areas from wildfires. Bidders must demonstrate prior experience with at least two completed fence installation projects in Hawaii totaling at least 5,000 linear feet each and must be HCE (Hawaii Content and Emerging business) compliant within ten calendar days of solicitation closing. The pre-bid meeting is scheduled for May 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM near Route 3000 (Lahaina Bypass), with written inquiries due by May 7, 2026 and DOFAW responses due by May 19, 2026. Bid proposals must be submitted through the State of Hawaii eProcurement (HIePRO) system by May 25, 2026. The contract term is six months from the Notice to Proceed, with provisions for two additional six-month extensions by mutual agreement and subject to fund availability, with work executed through individual State Purchase Orders on a per-linear-foot basis.

This procurement is subject to Hawaii Content and Emerging business (HCE) compliance requirements, restricting participation to entities meeting these designations. All awarded contractors must provide proof of insurance including Commercial General Liability coverage with a minimum $2,000,000 combined single limit and Basic Motor Vehicle Insurance with minimum $1,000,000 per person bodily injury and $1,000,000 per accident property damage, along with performance bonds and labor and material payment bonds equal to 100 percent of each Purchase Order price. The State will supply primary fence materials including woven wire, T-posts, pipe, and fasteners, while the contractor is responsible for procuring all gate materials, providing labor and equipment, and managing transportation. Work must comply with Chapter 104 Hawaii Revised Statutes prevailing wage requirements, with awarded contractors providing weekly certified payroll, and Hawaii residents must comprise at least eighty percent of the workforce. Additional mandatory requirements include obtaining Special Use Permits for camping and helicopter landing sites, maintaining strict Rapid Ohia Death (ROD) sanitation protocols, and conducting a mandatory pre-installation conference. No specific budget range or award value is provided in the solicitation documents; instead, bidding is conducted on a unit price basis for all line items, with the State reserving the right to purchase larger or smaller quantities at the quoted per-linear-foot price.