Pre-commercial Thinning FY2025

Custer State Park, part of the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks, is seeking proposals for a pre-commercial thinning (PCT) project covering approximately 240 acres within the park. The Request for Proposal (RFP) #24RFP11158 is divided into three bid items: 48.5 acres of slash piling across 11 units, 15.7 acres of piling in 5 units, and 179.4 acres of lop and scatter treatment across 3 units. The primary objectives include improving forest health, productivity, fire resistance, maintaining wildland firefighting fuel breaks, and enhancing wildlife habitat. Maximum cut diameters range from 5 to 8 inches depending on the bid item. A mandatory site tour was scheduled for September 9, 2024, with proposals due by noon on September 17, 2024. The anticipated award and contract negotiation are set for September 19, 2024, with a contract term of approximately 6 months and options to extend for up to three additional one-year periods. Offerors must submit an operations plan and cost proposal, with award to be made on a bid item basis considering factors such as cost, operations plan, experience, and personnel expertise.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the documentation. The contract will be awarded to the most advantageous proposal, with the state reserving the right to reject any or all proposals. Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of work, with a 10% retainage held until the entire unit is complete. While no incumbent vendor was identified, the project provides detailed specifications for slash disposal, stream protection, and power line/hiking trail considerations. Offerors may qualify their offer to limit total acreage or dollar amount. The project is located in Codington County and encompasses various units within Custer State Park, with work to be completed between October 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. No specific budget range or total contract value was explicitly stated in the available documentation.