Pinto Bullhog

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing and Division of Wildlife Resources issued Solicitation AS20-98, an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for Pinto Bullhog services in Iron County. The procurement seeks a qualified contractor to perform wildfire hazard reduction and wildlife habitat improvement by mechanically removing and shredding pinyon and juniper trees across approximately 1,594 acres of Forest Service lands located 15 miles west of Cedar City. The project requires precise mulching with specific technical requirements, including complete tree removal, maintaining a maximum stump height, and creating a specific mulch depth. Contractors must provide at least three mechanical mulching/shredding machines (Bullhogs) and ensure equipment is cleaned to prevent noxious weed spread. The project involves challenging terrain with elevations ranging from 6,000 to 7,000 feet and slopes up to 30%, with most areas less than 20%. Bids were to be submitted on a per-acre basis, with all mobilization and operation costs included and no fuel surcharges permitted. The bid opening was on 11/27/2019, with a closing date of 12/12/2019, and the contract performance period was set from January 6th, 2020 to April 15th, 2020.

The procurement was specifically restricted to contractors on the State of Utah Rangeland Pre-Qual list, effectively limiting participation to a select group of pre-approved vendors. Giles Construction, LLC was ultimately awarded the contract for submitting the lowest responsive bid. While specific award value details were not provided, the per-acre bidding structure suggests the total contract value was tied to the actual acreage treated. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged businesses were mentioned in the documentation. The project required specialized equipment and technical capabilities, particularly related to mechanical mulching in challenging terrain, which likely further restricted the pool of potential bidders. Contractors were required to demonstrate capability in precise vegetation management techniques and have appropriate machinery to complete the forest management objectives within the specified performance timeline.