Kokee Firebreak Maintenance

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Kauai District is soliciting quotations for vegetation mastication services to maintain firebreaks along ridge roads in the Puu Ka Pele and Na Pali Kona Forest Reserve. The procurement involves the mechanical mastication of approximately 42,072 meters (26.3 miles) of roadside vegetation smaller than 12 inches in diameter across seven delineated sections with specific GPS coordinates, distributed across six trails and two ridge roads. Qualified contractors must hold either an A License or C-27-b License, provide proof of two completed similar projects of 10,000 meters or more within the last five years, maintain commercial general liability insurance with minimum limits of $2,000,000 per occurrence, and possess Fecon masticating equipment equipped with fire suppression apparatus containing a minimum 300-gallon storage capacity. The project is weather-contingent and must be completed during daylight hours on weekdays and weekends with prior agency approval, with an explicit exclusion period from June 1 through September 15, 2026, due to bat pupping season. Contractors must comply with strict Rapid Ohia Death sanitation protocols and environmental protection measures for endangered species and native plants. Written inquiries are due by May 12, 2026, and bid submissions are due May 21, 2026, with all supporting documentation required by May 28, 2026. The initial contract term is one year with an option to extend for an additional one-year period under the same terms and conditions, subject to fund availability and mutual written agreement, with compensation structured on a per-meter-treated basis.

There are no designated set-aside provisions for disadvantaged enterprises explicitly noted in this solicitation. However, contractors must demonstrate that Hawaii residents comprise at least 80 percent of the workforce and must be Hawaii Compliance Enterprise (HCE) compliant to qualify for selection. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting all qualifications and submission requirements. Bid bonds equal to 5 percent of the total bid price are required at submittal, with performance and labor and material payment bonds at 100 percent of the purchase order price required upon contract award. Contractors are responsible for all transportation costs, applicable taxes, equipment, supplies, labor, and personal protective equipment, and must assume full liability for road damage, wildfires caused by negligence, and damage to existing improvements including county water lines, fences, and utility infrastructure. No specific award value or budget range is provided in the solicitation documents, as the State reserves the right to purchase larger or smaller quantities at the quoted per-meter rate and to select based on lowest responsive bid meeting all technical and compliance requirements.