Middle Fork-Forest Restoration

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking bids for a Middle Fork Forest Restoration project located in Vermilion County, involving a comprehensive hardwood forest planting initiative across 131.3 acres divided into 20 distinct fields. The procurement requires planting approximately 70,000 trees, including various oak species (swamp white, bur, pin, Shumard, chinkapin, white, black), pecan, and shagbark hickory, with specific planting requirements of 544 trees per acre using 10' x 8' spacing and mechanical tree planting methods. Qualified vendors must possess a Commercial Herbicide Applicators License and maintain specific insurance coverage, including $1M general commercial liability and $1M auto liability. The project has a strict timeline, with all trees required to be planted by May 15, 2025, and vendors must achieve a minimum 70% tree survival rate, maintaining at least 300 trees per acre. Bidders must submit electronic proposals through the state's BidBuy system, with bids remaining firm for 90 days from the opening date, and all submissions must include required documentation such as Vendor Disclosure forms and Business Enterprise Program documentation.

The procurement appears to have potential small business set-aside provisions, with small businesses potentially able to subcontract up to 49% of the contract value to non-small businesses. Vendors must be registered with the Illinois Small Business Set-Aside Program and the Illinois Procurement Gateway, with active vendor registration required. While specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the project suggests a significant investment in forest restoration. Bidders must have an office within 50 miles of the work location and will be required to submit weekly progress reports and herbicide application logs with each invoice. The project may be partially or totally funded with federal funds, which could introduce additional compliance requirements. Evaluation will be based on the lowest price from a responsive and responsible bidder, with careful consideration of the vendor's ability to meet the detailed technical specifications outlined in the Middle Fork Tree Planting Plan 2025 document.