NC26-63 Virgin Flats Mastication Project

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing, in conjunction with the Forestry, Fire and State Lands division, is soliciting bids through an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for the NC26-63 Virgin Flats Mastication Project located in Iron County, Utah. This procurement seeks a single contractor to perform mechanical removal and shredding of standing live and dead pinyon pine and juniper trees and saplings across approximately 125 acres using tracked mechanical mulching/shredder equipment, such as a Bullhog, at elevations ranging from 6,100 to 6,500 feet on private lands. The work must be completed by June 25, 2026, with work hours limited to one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset each day. Bidders must submit pricing on both per-acre and total cost bases, with all mobilization, labor, equipment, and materials included in the bid price with no fuel surcharges or adjustments permitted. Contractors must provide a minimum of one mobile, tracked, hydraulically or PTO-driven mechanical mulcher capable of mulching live trees up to 30 inches in diameter with a fully-qualified operator, and must comply with all state and federal environmental regulations, fire prevention laws, and cultural resource protection requirements. The contract will be awarded to the lowest cost responsive and responsible vendor, with no mandatory site visit required prior to submission, though site inspection is strongly encouraged. The proposal due date is March 31, 2026.

The solicitation documents do not identify any specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions limiting bidder eligibility based on organizational type. Contractors must maintain workers' compensation insurance, commercial general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate, and commercial automobile liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence if vehicles are used, and must comply with Utah's E-Verify requirements for employees. Vendors are required to certify agreement with all provisions, submit responses exclusively through the U3P online platform, and all pricing is considered public information and cannot be classified as confidential. The State reserves the right to conduct background checks on vendor employees and subcontractors and may require interviews or presentations at its discretion. No incumbent vendor or current contractor is identified in the available procurement documents. The specific award value or budget range is not disclosed in the IFB materials, and payment will consist of a lump-sum final payment following final inspection of completed acres, with the State retaining the right to stop work at any time due to frozen soil or winter conditions.