P2025104 Request for Proposal Tehama Wildlife Area - Cottonwood Allotment

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal through cattle grazing on the Cottonwood Allotment of the Tehama Wildlife Area in Tehama County. The procurement seeks a qualified livestock operator to manage approximately 24,912 acres of land to support deer winter range habitat through controlled grazing operations. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of ten years of experience conducting wildlife-friendly grazing operations on public or conservation easement protected lands and submit at least one reference letter. The mandatory site inspection is scheduled for October 17, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., with proposals due by October 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Evaluation and ranking will occur on November 3, 2025, with a proposed award date of November 12, 2025. The permit will be valid for four years and seven months, from December 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030, with annual grazing periods restricted to January 15 through May 15. Evaluation criteria will allocate 140 total points across technical proposal goals and fee proposals, with the award going to the responsive, responsible bidder with the highest overall ranking.

The RFP does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The Permittee must maintain specific vegetation management standards, including maintaining between 446 and 800 pounds per acre of Residual Dry Matter by May 15 annually and being capable of responding to emergencies within two hours. Insurance requirements are extensive, mandating a Commercial General Liability policy with $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate, Automobile Liability of $1,000,000, and potential Workers' Compensation coverage. The annual fee will be calculated by multiplying the proposed fee amount by 24,912 acres and four months of the grazing period, with payments due annually from November 2025 through December 2029. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, bidders will be expected to propose their fee per acre, which will be a key factor in the evaluation process. Only cattle grazing is permitted, and all costs associated with permit performance and compliance will be the responsibility of the selected bidder.