Keyhole hazardous fuels reduction project

The Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, General Services Division, is soliciting proposals on behalf of the Office of State Lands and Investments-Forestry Division for hazardous fuels reduction services on 179 acres in Crook County, with proposals due October 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time and a mandatory pre-proposal conference on September 16 at 10:00 a.m. MST.

The Keyhole project encompasses three treatment units of Ponderosa Pine and Rocky Mountain Juniper forest near Pine Haven, Wyoming. Units 1 and 2 (priority areas) require mechanical mastication of fuels; Unit 3 involves hand cutting and piling of slash to a maximum height of six feet and will proceed only if funds remain after Units 1 and 2 are completed. The contractor must thin timber stands to designated spacing, prioritize removal of poor-quality trees exhibiting disease, damage, poor form, or structural defects, and achieve a target basal area of 50 square feet per acre in Unit 2. All tree removal work is restricted to October 1 through April 30 annually to protect inactive bat populations. The contractor furnishes all labor, equipment, supplies, and materials; maintains strict fire-safety protocols including possession of suppression tools within three minutes of each saw and spark arrestors on all equipment; and must comply with Wyoming Forestry Best Management Practices and water quality protection guidelines. The contractor assumes liability for damages resulting from willful or negligent acts, including contractor-caused fire.

Proposers must attend the pre-proposal conference in person at the Pine Haven Volunteer Fire Department, 24 Waters Drive, Pine Haven, Wyoming 82721, and contact Gabe Dirksen, Assistant District Forester, at (307) 823-2743 or gabriel.dirksen@wyo.gov to RSVP. Questions are due September 23 at 2:00 p.m. MT through the Public Purchase online bidding system.

Pricing is on a per-acre basis with a total all-inclusive project price. Evaluation uses a 100-point scale: Proposer Background and Experience (20 points), Staffing and Project Organization (20 points), Project Work Plan (20 points), Approach to Contract Performance (20 points), and Cost Analysis (20 points). The contract runs through December 31, 2028, with potential extension one year at a time for a total period not exceeding three years. The state reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and may award additional acres at a later date with potential price negotiations of plus or minus 10 percent per acre if justified.