IFB Coastal Plant Propagation - Mendocino, CA

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB #01A6451) for Coastal Plant Propagation services in Mendocino County, seeking a contractor to produce and deliver native plant container stock for three restoration projects: Elk Creek Bridge Replacement, Jack Peters Creek Bridge Revegetation, and Gualala Shoulders Off-site Mitigation. The solicitation requires the successful contractor to provide all expertise, labor, tools, equipment, materials, safety gear, and incidentals necessary to propagate 4,858 native California container plants, with specific delivery deadlines of 4,420 plants by October 1, 2026, and 438 plants by October 1, 2027. The contractor's facility must be located within one of fifteen specified northern California counties, and plant materials must be collected from within 5 miles of the coast in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, specifically from Seed Zones 094 & 095. Key qualifications include a minimum of 5 years of experience collecting and propagating California native species, possession of a valid nursery stock license, and maintaining active status with UC Davis' Accreditation to Improve Restoration program. Bid questions are due by January 27, 2025, at 2:00 PM PT, with final bids due by February 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM PT, and the contract term running from March 1, 2025, through December 31, 2028.

While there is no mandatory Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation requirement, the solicitation offers a DVBE incentive of 5% and a Small Business preference of 5% for certified Small Business or Micro Business firms. Subcontracting is not permitted under this agreement, and the contractor must directly fulfill all contract specifications. No incumbent vendor information is provided in the solicitation documents. The specific budget or award value is not explicitly stated in the available documentation, though the comprehensive nature of the plant propagation services suggests a significant contract value. Caltrans will be responsible for picking up the plants from the contractor's facility, with the expectation that the contractor will handle all aspects of plant collection, propagation, and preparation for delivery. The project emphasizes local ecological restoration by requiring plant materials to be collected from geographically proximate areas, ensuring native genetic integrity and supporting local environmental conservation efforts.