Pre-Commercial thinning Astoria 2022

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for pre-commercial thinning services in the Astoria District of Clatsop County, Oregon. The contract covers 931 acres across five distinct areas: Quartz (138 acres), North Fork (136 acres), Plympton (347 acres), Astoria (176 acres), and Simmons (134 acres). The primary objectives include selecting leave trees and felling surplus trees according to specified requirements, with the contractor responsible for providing all necessary equipment, supervision, and labor. Bidders must possess a valid Oregon Farm/Forest Labor Contractor License with a forestation endorsement and demonstrate at least three years of experience performing similar services. The contract requires a qualified foreman with a minimum of three years of pre-commercial thinning experience, including one year of supervisory experience. A voluntary pre-bid conference was scheduled for October 24, 2022, with bids due by November 3, 2022, at 2:00 PM Pacific Time. ODF anticipates awarding the contract to the lowest responsible bidder on or around November 10, 2022, with the initial contract term of one year and potential for up to three additional one-year renewals.

The ITB includes a Certified Disadvantaged Business Outreach Plan that requires bidders to describe their strategies for soliciting certified minority-owned, woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and emerging small businesses for potential subcontracting opportunities. Bidders must provide a list of certified and non-certified firms they have worked with in the past two years and outline any anticipated subcontracting opportunities with their approximate dollar values. The contract was ultimately awarded to Franco Reforestation, Inc., with a total bid of $199,493.00, which was significantly lower than the next lowest bid of $277,650.00 from Green Hills Forestry. The pricing structure includes partial payment for units thinned 5.1% to 15% below the target leave trees per acre, with no payment for units thinned 15.1% or more below the target. The contract is funded by the State of Oregon, with the potential for intergovernmental agreements if deemed in the public interest. ODF reserves the right to remove or add acres during the intent-to-award phase to align the work with its budget, and will not reimburse additional expenses or mobilization/demobilization costs.