P2025303 - Hall Grazing

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is soliciting bids for a Permit for Excess Vegetation Disposal through managed livestock grazing on the Hall Grazing Management Unit of the Santa Rosa Plain Vernal Pool Ecological Reserve in Sonoma County. The project encompasses approximately 210 acres across three properties: the Martin Conservation Bank (12 acres), Slippery Rock Conservation Bank (38 acres), and Wright Preserve (160 acres), with the primary objective of controlling vegetation and maintaining critical habitat for endangered species, including the Sonoma County California tiger salamander and federal and state-listed endangered plants such as Burke's goldfields, Sonoma sunshine, and Sebastopol meadowfoam. The permit term spans four years and five months, from May 15, 2026, through October 15, 2030, with an initial five-month grazing season in Year One and eight-month grazing seasons thereafter. Bidders must submit a price per acre per year for the 210-acre allotment, with the award going to the responsive, responsible bidder offering the highest price. Maximum stocking rates are specified at 17 Animal Unit Months (AUMs) for the Martin Conservation Bank, 65 AUMs for Slippery Rock Conservation Bank, and 335 AUMs for Wright Preserve. Required qualifications include demonstrated willingness to adjust stocking rates as directed by CDFW, possession of sufficient livestock, ability to respond to emergencies within 30 minutes, and capacity to remove livestock within 72 hours if deemed a safety threat. A mandatory site inspection is scheduled for April 8, 2026, at 9:00 AM, with bids due by April 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM; the Notice of Intent to Award is planned for April 20, 2026, with a proposed award date of April 23, 2026, and commencement on May 15, 2026.

There are no specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to disadvantaged enterprises or particular organizational types. Bidders must provide comprehensive documentation including a completed checklist, bid/bidder certification sheet, authorization documents, bid form, site inspection certification, statement of qualifications, and bidder references, along with mandatory insurance requirements outlined in the LUA_Insurance_Guide.pdf, which requires a Certificate of Liability Insurance with minimum coverage limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence for Commercial General Liability, $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. The annual permit fee is calculated by multiplying the bid amount per acre per year by 210 acres, payable in five installments beginning May 1, 2026, though the specific anticipated award value or budget range is not disclosed in the solicitation documents. Bidders must demonstrate satisfactory completion of prior grazing agreements and the ability to respond to emergencies within 30 to 45 minutes. The CDFW reserves the right to reject all bids and is not required to award the permit.