Mud Springs Phase III Lop and Scatter

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing and Division of Wildlife Resources issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the Mud Springs Phase III Lop and Scatter project, seeking a contractor to perform maintenance habitat improvement services within the Powell Ranger District of the Dixie National Forest. The procurement involves hand crew work on approximately 1,913 acres located on the north end of the Sevier Plateau, approximately 10 miles northwest of Bryce Canyon City, at elevations ranging from 7,000 to 8,500 feet. Key deliverables include using chainsaws to cut and scatter pinyon and juniper trees while maintaining specific cutting standards, such as keeping slash under 24 inches high and preserving certain species like Ponderosa Pine. The solicitation was open from May 5, 2021, at 1:00 PM MDT to May 12, 2021, at 2:00 PM MDT, with project completion required before June 20, 2021. Contractors were required to provide a minimum 8-person crew, have spark-arresting equipment, fire suppression capabilities, and implement vehicle washing protocols to prevent noxious weed spread.

The contract was exclusively restricted to contractors on the Utah Rangeland Pre-Qual list, effectively limiting participation to a select group of specialized forestry service providers. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were mentioned in the documentation. The contract was ultimately awarded to Cutting Edge Forestry as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Bidders were required to follow strict environmental protection guidelines, avoiding damage to browse species, streams, roads, and other infrastructure during tree removal operations. No government-furnished property was included, and the contract will be executed as a purchase order. While specific budget details were not explicitly stated, the procurement was structured as a cost-based selection focusing on meeting technical specifications and maintaining the lowest competitive bid. The project emphasizes precise ecological management and habitat improvement within the specified forest region.