Professional Forestry Consultant Services Grayson Lake WMA

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) is issuing Request for Proposal (RFP) 660 2400000348 for professional forestry consultant services at Grayson Lake Wildlife Management Area in northeastern Kentucky, with proposals due by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 2, 2024. The procurement seeks qualified contractors to perform mechanical removal of invasive species, specifically autumn olive, bush honeysuckle, and multi-flora rose, using equipment with a minimum of 275 horsepower equipped with masticator heads capable of chipping material up to 6 to 8 inches in diameter at breast height. Contractors must complete all work by July 1, 2024, with the anticipated contract term running from May 10, 2024, through June 30, 2024, and the KDFWR reserving the right to renew for up to four additional one-year periods subject to Commissioner approval and Legislative Research Commission review. Mandatory qualifications include proof of equipment and operator qualifications, provision of three professional references, documentation of at least three professional projects (with enhanced scoring for projects exceeding 100 acres), and a minimum of three years' experience with heavy machinery or equipment. Deliverables include monthly progress updates and annual meetings with KDFWR foresters, biologists, and administration. Evaluation will be conducted on a maximum of 500 points, comprising 300 technical points (based on professional projects and experience documentation) and 200 cost points using a sliding scale with the lowest bid receiving maximum points, with proposals scoring below 50 percent of maximum technical points being ineligible for cost evaluation. All proposals must be submitted electronically through Kentucky's Vendor Self Service System in three separate sealed documents: Technical Proposal, Cost Proposal, and Proprietary Information, with no cost information permitted in the technical proposal.

The procurement carries Kentucky resident bidder and qualified bidder preferences as specified in KRS 45A.490 and KAR 200 5:410, requiring contractors to attest compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws and either demonstrate resident status (authorization to transact business in Kentucky with one year of prior Kentucky corporate income tax filings, unemployment insurance fund payments, and active workers' compensation coverage) or qualified bidder status under the specified regulations. Contractors must submit notarized affidavits addressing campaign finance compliance, resident bidder status, and qualified bidder status prior to contract award, with these affidavits effective for one year from execution. No incumbent vendor or existing contractor is identified in the solicitation documents. The total project budget will not exceed $75,000, with contractors required to submit separate hourly rates for two categories of equipment: a machine with at least 275 horsepower equipped with a masticating head capable of chipping 6 to 8-inch material and an excavator with a mounted tree chipper/grinder head capable of clearing above and below roads and day-lighting roadways. The contract is contingent upon approval by the KDFWR Commissioner and filing with the Legislative Research Commission's Government Contract Review Committee before work may commence.