RFB01082026 For License Salvage Timber Sale

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Finance and Administration Cabinet's Division of Real Properties and the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, is seeking bids for a License Salvage Timber Sale located at Frances Johnson Palk State Nature Preserve in Pulaski County. The procurement is a Request for Bids (RFB01082026) targeting the removal of downed timber and timber debris across approximately 168.63 acres. Bidders are required to attend a mandatory site visit on either November 10 or 12, 2025, and must submit bids by January 8, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET to the Division of Real Properties in Frankfort. The bid evaluation will be based on two primary criteria: bid amount (55 points) and prior work quality references (45 points), with references scored on a scale from "Highly Satisfied/Excellent" to "Poor Performance." Successful bidders must provide a lump sum payment for timber products, post a $10,000 performance bond, and carry commercial general liability insurance with a $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence. The resulting Contract of Tenancy will grant the successful bidder two years to remove timber debris, with a potential renewal option based on demonstrated reasonable progress.

There are no specific set-aside designations mentioned for disadvantaged enterprises in this solicitation. Bidders must provide three landowner references with timber harvesting experience within the past five years, with bids lacking these references being automatically rejected. The forestry data indicates the timber stand is predominantly hardwoods, with White Oak (31.1%), Red Oak (26.0%), and Hickory (25.2%) comprising the majority of trees. The total merchantable volume averages 3,445 board feet per acre, with a proposed harvest of 338 board feet per acre. While a specific award value is not explicitly stated, bidders will submit a lump sum payment for timber products, and the Commonwealth reserves the right to reject any or all bids and negotiate fair compensation. The timber sale represents an opportunity for logging and forestry businesses to acquire salvage timber rights with specific management and environmental considerations in a state nature preserve setting.