Natural well branch #5 timber sale

The Suwannee River Water Management District is seeking bids for the Natural Well Branch #5 Timber Sale, an Invitation to Bid (ITB 25/26-003 OPS) located in Taylor County, Florida. The procurement involves a timber harvesting operation on approximately 245 acres of slash pine plantings from 1998 and 2002, specifically targeting an unmarked third-row select thinning on 24 acres. Bidders must leave 50 square feet of basal area per acre, focusing on the largest and best-formed trees, with logging slash scattered back through the stand. The solicitation requires electronic bid submissions through DemandStar by 2:00 p.m. on November 21, 2025, with bid opening and award notifications scheduled for November 21 and November 24, 2025, respectively. Vendors must submit per-unit rates for Pine Pulpwood, Pine Chip-N-Saw, and Better (measured in tons), as well as rates for mined limerock road materials. Key qualifications include maintaining a current Master Logger designation and being routinely available on-site during the 12-month contract period.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract requires an advance payment of $30,000 and a damage deposit of $10,000 upon execution, with potential additional material costs for approximately 400 tons of limerock chunk and 100 tons of limerock base (maximum 750 tons total). Insurance requirements include workers' compensation, motor vehicular liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, and general liability of $1,000,000 for personal and advertising injury. The successful bidder must adhere to Best Management Practices, implement invasive species protocols, avoid gopher tortoise habitats, maintain equipment fluid regulations, and ensure recreational safety. Weekly timber settlements will initially credit timber revenue against the advance payment, with subsequent payments proceeding to the District. While a specific total contract value is not explicitly stated, the combination of timber sales, potential road material costs, and required deposits suggests a substantial financial commitment for the selected vendor.