IFB 41615 Rice Creek Timber Sale

The St. Johns River Water Management District is seeking bids for IFB #41615, a timber sale located in the Rice Creek Conservation Area within Polk County, Florida. The procurement involves a logger-select thinning across approximately 128.6 acres of mature natural and planted pine stands, with an estimated volume of 4,000 tons of pine pulpwood and 300 tons of chip-n-saw. The timber sale will be the first thinning for all stands, with removal targeting diseased, defective, and suppressed trees, followed by select intermediate and co-dominant trees to achieve a target basal area of 50 square feet per acre. Bidders must provide proof of E-Verify registration and ensure the logging crew supervisor has a current certification from an approved logger training program. The bid is due on October 2, 2025, at 2 PM at the District's headquarters in Palatka, Florida, with an advance payment requirement of 20% of the estimated timber sale value and a mandatory security deposit of $5,000.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Compensation will be based on net load weight before dockage or cull deductions, with bidders required to specify prices for pine pulpwood and chip-n-saw. The timber sale agreement will have a 12-month term, with potential extensions possible under unforeseen circumstances. Comprehensive insurance coverage is mandatory, and bidders must comply with best management practices and environmental and safety regulations. While the exact budget range is not specified, the District estimates the timber volume at 4,000 tons of pine pulpwood and 300 tons of chip-n-saw, though there is no guarantee of the exact volume present. Potential bidders should be prepared to provide detailed logging capabilities, environmental compliance documentation, and financial stability to be considered for the timber sale contract.