Hogs Heaven Mastication

The State of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources issued a solicitation (Invitation for Bids #AS21-89) for the Hogs Heaven Mastication project, a wildlife habitat improvement initiative located northwest of Mt Carmel in Kane County. The procurement specifically sought mechanical removal and shredding services for pinyon and juniper trees and saplings across approximately 1,577.2 acres. Contractors were required to provide a minimum of six mobile, tracked or wheeled mechanical mulching/shredders (Bullhogs) with fully-qualified operators, with all work to be completed by March 31, 2021, and no contract time extensions permitted. The project's technical requirements included precise specifications for chipping, shredding, and mulching, mandating specific stump heights, limb removal protocols, and mulch depths. Key deliverables involved comprehensive tree removal within designated treatment areas, with strict equipment sanitation protocols requiring contractors to wash equipment before entering and exiting project lands to prevent noxious weed spread. The solicitation was open from September 28, 2020, to October 6, 2020, with a defined submission timeline and no provisions for deadline extensions.

The procurement was exclusively restricted to contractors on the current Utah Rangeland PreQual List, effectively limiting competitive bidding to a pre-authorized group of vendors. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were mentioned in the documentation. The bid was ultimately awarded to Brushwacker, Inc. as the lowest responsive bidder, though specific contract value details were not explicitly stated. Contractors were expected to independently furnish all necessary labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, and operating supplies, with no government-provided property. The project required contractors to provide two warning signs for the work area and adhere to comprehensive environmental and operational guidelines. While the exact budget range was not disclosed, the procurement was structured as a single purchase order targeting the most cost-effective and responsible bidder capable of meeting the precise technical and operational requirements for wildlife habitat management.