NR FRD FY25 GNA West Zone Roadside Mowing

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in collaboration with the US Forest Service through the Good Neighbor Authority, is seeking a contractor for roadside mowing services in Alger, Delta, and Schoolcraft Counties. The procurement involves mowing 195.11 miles of roadside areas within the West Zone of the Hiawatha National Forest, with work to be performed between July 10th and September 30th, 2025. Contractors must provide heavy-duty commercial mowers capable of removing woody stems up to four inches in diameter and cutting a 5-foot wide swath per pass. The evaluation criteria require bidders to receive a PASS for each criterion and submit the lowest price, with the contract to be awarded to the most responsive and responsible bidder. Specific qualifications include compliance with federal procurement regulations, equipment inspection standards, safety requirements, and pollution abatement protocols. The RFP was issued on February 25, 2025, with a proposal deadline of March 11, 2025, and an anticipated contract start date of March 14, 2025.

While no specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements are explicitly mentioned in the document, the contract includes several federal procurement provisions that may impact potential bidders. The procurement is funded through the US Forest Service's Good Neighbor Authority, which means contractors must adhere to federal regulations including equal employment opportunity, debarment and suspension rules, and domestic procurement preferences. The contract includes financial provisions such as liquidated damages of $2,500 plus $100 per day for late or improper work completion. Pricing will be calculated on a per-mile basis, with bidders required to submit unit prices for different road segments across the three counties. Although a specific budget range is not provided, the comprehensive mileage and specific technical requirements suggest this is a significant contract opportunity for roadside maintenance services in the designated forest zone.