Phragmites Control Project 2019

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing and Division of Wildlife Resources issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for the Phragmites Control Project 2019, solicitation #MG20020, targeting aerial herbicide treatment across multiple counties. The procurement sought a contractor to treat approximately 2,605 acres of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Box Elder, Davis, and Weber Counties, with a project completion deadline of September 30, 2019, excluding September 20-22. Specific treatment locations included 1,250 acres of USFWS managed lands in Box Elder County, 550 acres of DWR managed lands in Box Elder County, 500 acres of DWR managed lands in Weber County, and 305 acres of DWR managed lands in Davis County. Vendor qualifications were stringent, requiring pilots with at least two years of experience aerially applying herbicide to Phragmites, treating a minimum of 1,000 acres per year, and demonstrating two years of experience spot treating random Phragmites patches within large acreage sites. The bid was open from July 22, 2019, to July 30, 2019, with mandatory electronic submission through SciQuest, and evaluation criteria focused on responsiveness and meeting all prerequisite and mandatory minimum requirements.

The solicitation did not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract was ultimately awarded to Hammond Helicopter for aerial herbicide application using a helicopter. Bidders were required to possess applicable federal, state, and local licenses, and to submit comprehensive vendor information while complying with various terms and conditions. The procurement followed Utah Procurement Code guidelines, with an emphasis that "Unofficial Results" posted after bid closing do not constitute an official award. While specific budget ranges were not disclosed in the available documentation, the scope of work involved treating over 2,600 acres across multiple counties, suggesting a significant project value. The solicitation indicated that successful contractors must demonstrate technical capability, proper licensing, and specialized experience in aerial herbicide application targeting Phragmites in wildlife management areas.