Orange Creek Restoration Area - Longleaf Thinning Timber Sale

The St. Johns River Water Management District is issuing an Invitation for Bids (IFB 42064) for a timber sale within the Orange Creek Restoration Area located in Marion County, Florida (accessed at 5273 Highway 318, Citra, Florida). This per-ton timber sale encompasses approximately 203.4 acres and involves marked thinning of planted longleaf pine established in 2008, with an estimated volume of 4,360 tons of pine pulpwood to be harvested and removed over a 12-month contract period. Trees marked for removal are identified with blue paint at eye level, representing approximately 50% of trees in the sale area to provide adequate spacing and equipment access; harvesting must achieve 50% of total acreage within nine months of contract execution if adequate harvesting conditions exist. Qualified timber must meet specifications including a minimum 4.5-inch diameter at breast height, 3-inch top diameter, and minimum 16-foot length, with payment calculated on a per-ton basis for timber meeting these standards. Sealed bids are due by 1:00 P.M. on February 11, 2026, at the St. Johns River Water Management District Headquarters in Palatka, Florida, with public bid opening immediately following. Respondents must demonstrate current certification from an SFI-approved logger training program (such as Florida's Master Logger, Georgia's Master Timber Harvester, or Alabama's Professional Logging Manager), maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, workers' compensation insurance, and $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 automobile liability coverage. All bids must include proof of active Florida business registration, E-Verify enrollment documentation, and a certificate of authority to do business in Florida.

The procurement documents do not indicate any set-aside designations or restrictions targeting disadvantaged enterprises or specific organization types. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available materials. An advance payment of 20% of the estimated timber sale value is required and is non-refundable but will be credited against initial weekly payments once harvesting commences, with a security deposit of $5,000 required before contract execution. Weekly payments are due based on net load weight before dockage or cull deductions, with stumpage paid for all cull material. The District reserves the right to reject any bid, cancel the award at any time before full execution, and restrict future timber sale participation for non-compliance with harvest specifications or material agreement obligations. Based on the estimated volume of 4,360 tons of pine pulpwood, the total contract value will depend on the per-ton price bid by respondents, though the specific budget range or estimated award value is not disclosed in the procurement documents.