NC26-61 Merrils Camp Lop and Scatter

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing, through the Forestry, Fire, and State Lands division, is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB NC26-61) to procure lop and scatter wildfire hazard reduction and wildlife habitat improvement services in Iron County near Modena. The project encompasses approximately 2,617 acres of mixed-ownership land (BLM, private, and SITLA parcels) at elevations ranging from 6,500 to 8,500 feet, requiring hand cutting of standing live and dead Pinyon pine and Juniper trees with all cut material lopped and scattered to not exceed 24 inches above ground and 48 inches in length. The selected contractor must complete all work by June 20, 2026, provide a minimum six-person crew equipped with chainsaws and GPS or smartphone mapping devices, obtain an English-literate on-site supervisor, and guarantee pricing through project completion. Contractors will be evaluated based on three weighted criteria: Quality of Product or Service (8x weighting), Timeliness of Performance (8x weighting), and Contract Management (4x weighting), with a 60-point minimum average performance score required to maintain pre-qualification status. Bidding is on a per-acre price basis with all costs including labor, equipment, mobilization, and operating expenses incorporated into the lump-sum final payment upon completion; no fuel surcharges or price adjustments will be negotiated, and minor change orders up to 10 percent of original acreage may be implemented without price adjustment. The solicitation posted on March 13, 2026, with responses due by March 23, 2026; no mandatory site visit is required prior to bidding, though site inspection is strongly recommended, and a pre-work conference will be held at the project site upon award.

Participation in this solicitation is strictly limited to contractors on the State of Utah's current Pre-approved/Pre-qualified Vendor list for rangeland treatment services; interested vendors not already prequalified may not submit bids and should not apply for this opportunity. Contractors must maintain workers' compensation insurance, commercial general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence with $3,000,000 aggregate, and commercial automobile liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence; all vendors must certify compliance with anti-boycott provisions under Utah Code Annotated 63G-27 and confirm they are not providing forced labor products or technology from restricted foreign entities. The contract is anticipated to result in a single award to the lowest cost responsive and responsible vendor, with payment issued as a lump-sum final payment within thirty days of receipt of a correct invoice following final inspection and acceptance. The State reserves the right to implement winter work stoppage at its discretion due to frozen soil or adverse conditions, during which it may pay the contractor and cancel remaining work or issue resumption orders, and may conduct background checks on contractor employees and subcontractors. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the procurement documents provided.