P2025302 - Yuba Grazing

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for a Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal through managed livestock grazing on approximately 10 acres of the Yuba Grazing Management Unit within the Santa Rosa Plain Vernal Pool Ecological Reserve in Sonoma County. The primary objective is to utilize grazing to control non-native vegetation, reduce fire fuel loads, and maintain habitat for protected species including Sebastopol meadowfoam and California tiger salamander. Successful bidders must demonstrate minimum qualifications including the ability to respond to emergencies within 30 minutes, possess adequate livestock inventory, and demonstrate the flexibility to adjust grazing practices as directed by CDFW. The permit term extends for four years and five months through October 15, 2030, with the initial grazing season consisting of five months (May 15 to October 15, 2026) and subsequent years consisting of eight months (February 15 to October 15). The maximum stocking rate is 3-4 Animal Units for an eight-month grazing season, subject to adjustment based on annual precipitation and vegetation monitoring results. Award will be made to the responsive, responsible bidder offering the highest price per acre per year. A mandatory site inspection is scheduled for April 8, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at 1252 Yuba Drive, Santa Rosa, California; bid submissions are due April 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., with bid opening at 10:00 a.m. the same day; the proposed award date is April 23, 2026, and contract commencement is May 15, 2026.

Bidders must provide comprehensive insurance documentation including a Certificate of Liability Insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence in Commercial General Liability, $300,000 for Damage to Rented Premises, $3,000,000 General Aggregate, $1,000,000 Combined Single Limit for Automobile Liability, and $1,000,000 for Workers' Compensation and Employer's Liability, with all insurers rated at least A-/FSC Class VII by A.M. Best Company. Required attachments include a bid certification sheet, authorization documents, site inspection certification, and completed bid form. Bidders assume full responsibility for all fencing repairs, livestock health management, emergency response, maintenance, and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, as no water source or livestock infrastructure currently exists on the premises. No specific set-aside designations or restrictions targeting disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned in the documentation; however, the permit is non-exclusive and available to any qualified respondent. Award values are determined by bidder-submitted prices per acre per year multiplied by 10 acres, with annual fees due on a schedule tied to each grazing period, and no predetermined budget range is specified in the solicitation materials.