James M John - Toybox Forest Habitat Improvement Project

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is requesting proposals for logging services on the James M. John – Toybox Forest Habitat Improvement Project, a selective timber harvest and forest management operation on up to 301 acres at the James M. John State Wildlife Area near Trinidad, Colorado, with proposals due October 26, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. MDT. Attendance at the mandatory pre-bid meeting on October 8, 2026 is a qualification requirement; failure to attend disqualifies offerors.

Resident bidders receive preference under Colorado statute, and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration receive a 5% price preference if properly documented.

The scope requires selective removal of trees in the 8-inch to 24-inch diameter-at-breast-height class, prioritizing white fir, Douglas-fir, Engelmann spruce, and aspen, to reduce overall basal area from 195 to an average of 85 across the project site. The contractor must create a treatment pattern of meandering openings, tree groups, clumps, and individual trees; complete a mandatory five-acre test section for CPW approval before full implementation; maintain slopes of 30 percent or less; manage slash by dispersing and spreading to no more than 12 inches in depth or masticated and spread to no more than 4 inches in depth; and comply with 2023 Forestry Best Management Practices, Clean Water Act Section 404, USFS Special Use Permit Authorization ID CAN975, and USFS Non-Federal Commercial Road Use Permit provisions. The contractor is responsible for all environmental remediation costs. All work must be performed within Colorado and completed by June 30, 2027, with liquidated damages assessed at $458.53 per calendar day for each day work remains uncompleted after the deadline.

The maximum project budget is $600,000. Payment is calculated on a per-acre basis submitted by the contractor and invoiced monthly upon completion and project manager approval. The contractor must submit pricing for price per acre, road improvements, and total project price.

Evaluation criteria include qualifications and experience with similar projects, implementation plan detail and feasibility, equipment list adequacy, realistic project schedule, and price competitiveness. Questions are due October 15, 2026. Interviews with top candidates are anticipated November 2–4, 2026, with award notification expected November 6, 2026 and project start November 23, 2026. Contractors must obtain comprehensive insurance including workers' compensation, general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and automobile liability of $1,000,000.