P2025103 Request for Proposal Tehama Wildlife Area - Antelope Allotment

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) P2025103 for a Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal through cattle grazing on the Antelope Allotment of the Tehama Wildlife Area. The procurement seeks experienced livestock owners and operators to manage approximately 3,499 acres in Tehama County, with the primary objective of supporting deer winter range habitat through strategic vegetation management. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of ten years' experience with wildlife-friendly grazing operations on public or conservation lands and the ability to respond to emergencies within two hours. The mandatory site inspection is scheduled for October 17, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., with proposal submissions due by October 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Evaluation criteria will assess bidder qualifications, proposal quality, and fee proposals, with a total of 140 possible points distributed across mandatory pass/fail criteria, eight specific habitat management goals (worth 10-20 points each), and 10 points for fee competitiveness. The proposed permit term is four years and seven months, running from December 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030, with an annual grazing period from January 15 through May 15.

The RFP does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Cattle will be the only livestock permitted, with strict requirements for residual dry matter (RDM) between 446 and 800 pounds per acre by May 15 annually. Bidders must submit one original and three copies of their proposals, including statements of qualifications, habitat management goal responses, disclosure statements, fee proposals, reference letters, and site inspection certification. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the annual fee will be calculated by multiplying the proposed fee amount by 3,499 acres and four months of the grazing period. Insurance requirements are comprehensive, mandating Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate, Automobile Liability of $1,000,000, and Workers' Compensation coverage. The CDFW will evaluate and rank proposals on November 3, 2025, with a proposed award date of November 12, 2025, and all proposal information will remain confidential during evaluation, becoming subject to public inspection only after award notification.