JH27-103 Black Horse Ridge Mastication

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing is issuing an IFB for mechanical wildland fire hazard reduction services across approximately 722 acres at Black Horse Ridge under contract JH27-103, with bids due September 17, 2026. Participation is restricted to prequalified contractors only — unprequalified vendors must not submit. Award will be made to the lowest cost responsive and responsible vendor.

The scope encompasses creation of a linear fuel break through mechanical removal and shredding of standing live and dead pinyon and juniper trees, saplings, and brush using wheeled or tracked mechanical mulchers, shredders, or masticators, along with brush hog-type mowing. The work breaks into 439.6 acres of mow and mastication and 282.4 acres of shaded fuel break. The contractor must furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, and incidentals. Specific treatment requirements include mulching within defined fuel break zones at target Stand Density Index values with mulch depth not exceeding six inches, and understory vegetation mowed to under 12 inches in height. The contractor must operate at least two mobile tracked or wheeled mechanical mulching machines capable of processing live trees up to 28 inches in diameter on slopes up to 35 percent, along with a brush hog mower and competent operators. The project site spans the Black Horse Ridge, Willow Ridge, and Saddlehorse Point area of the Book Cliffs in Uintah County, Utah, at elevations ranging from 7,400 to 8,400 feet.

All work must be completed between October 18 and December 15, 2026. The contractor must guarantee pricing through project completion with no fuel surcharges or adjustments permitted. Bidding is on a per-acre basis with payment as a lump sum following final inspection and acceptance, with partial payments only upon prior written approval. No mandatory site visit is scheduled; however, bidders are strongly encouraged to inspect the site to understand local conditions affecting performance costs. The contractor must maintain workers' compensation and commercial general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate, and obtain all necessary permits and licenses.