Pattee cake PCT

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Trust Land Management Division, is soliciting bids for a Pre-Commercial Tree Thinning (PCT) project called Pattee Cake PCT, located in Broadwater County. The project involves thinning 157 acres of forestland in Section 6, T12N R18W, with a focus on conifer trees between 18 inches and 6 inches in diameter. The primary objective is to achieve an understory stocking of 222 trees per acre with an average spacing of 14 feet, prioritizing Western larch, Ponderosa pine, and Douglas-fir. Bidders must comply with Montana prevailing wage requirements, including employing at least 50% Montana residents. The contract will be a fixed-price agreement with payment based on acres thinned, running from execution through October 15, 2024, with all work to be completed by that date. The bid was opened on October 24, 2022, at 8:30 AM MDT and will close on November 15, 2022, at 3:00 PM MST. Prospective bidders are encouraged to examine the project area and can obtain gate access by contacting Scott Allen, Management Forester, at (406) 542-5810.

The contract has several specific requirements for bidders, including mandatory workers' compensation insurance and comprehensive general liability insurance with $1,000,000 per occurrence coverage. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, the procurement emphasizes local workforce participation with the requirement for 50% Montana resident employment. Contractors must adhere to strict environmental and operational guidelines, including proper slash management, fire protection protocols, and cleanup requirements. The award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder on an all-or-none basis, with the State reserving the right to reject any or all bids. The solicitation includes additional supporting documents such as Forest Fire Regulations, a Bear Safety Brochure, and Prevailing Wage Rate information. The primary contact for the bid is Gwenette Ungerman, who can be reached at ungermang@mt.gov or +1 406-444-6724. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the contract is structured as a lump sum service delivery for the 157-acre thinning project.