Planting oversight services for Forest Resources & Wildlife

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 180000000444 for Planting Oversight and Logistics services, targeting tree seedling planting programs across Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The procurement seeks a contractor to provide comprehensive oversight for Forest Resources and Wildlife Division planting projects, with services focused on monitoring planting crews, conducting quality control audits, and managing seedling delivery and site logistics. Key deliverables include overseeing planting of 800-1,000 seedlings per acre on Forest Resources sites (25-150 acres) and 1,200-1,600 seedlings per acre on Wildlife Division sites (200-500 acres). The contractor must provide their own labor, transportation, GPS units, measuring equipment, and necessary supplies, with work primarily occurring during the spring planting season from April 1 to June 1. Evaluation criteria include Statement of Work compliance (40 points), Key Personnel qualifications (30 points), and Previous Experience (30 points), with a minimum technical score of 80 points required to advance to pricing review. The RFP was posted on December 6, 2017, with vendor questions due by December 14, 2017, and proposals due by January 3, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. EST, with an anticipated contract start date of February 1, 2018.

The procurement includes consideration for qualified disabled veteran (QDV) status under MCL 18.1261(8), potentially providing additional opportunities for veteran-owned businesses. The contract allows for potential integration with existing DNR infrastructure, with the state providing forest treatment proposals, maps, root dip materials, and tree seedlings. The contract period spans from February 1, 2018, through January 31, 2021, with options for up to two additional one-year renewals. While no specific incumbent vendors are mentioned, the RFP requires bidders to demonstrate three relevant project examples from the past five years. Contractors must maintain specific insurance coverages, including $1M commercial general liability and $1M automobile liability. The pricing structure is based on per-thousand seedlings planted, with the total contract potentially covering oversight of approximately 20.4 million seedlings across multiple regions. Contracts exceeding $500,000 will require State Administrative Board approval, and payment terms are set at net 45 days with electronic funds transfer (EFT) required.