RFB06042025 License Timber Harvesting Higginson-Henry WMA

The Commonwealth of Kentucky's Finance and Administration Cabinet is seeking a contractor for a comprehensive timber harvesting and environmental management project at the Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Spencer County. The Request for Bids (RFB06042025) solicits proposals for a two-year contract involving three primary deliverables: timber harvesting from 40 acres, trail improvement of 4.61 miles into 15-feet wide firebreaks, and invasive species removal across 125 acres. Bidders must provide three landowner references from timber harvesting projects completed within the past five years, with evaluation criteria weighted at 55 points for the lump sum payment amount and 45 points for the quality of prior work based on references. The bid is scheduled to open on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. ET, with timber harvesting permitted between August 1 and March 31, strictly adhering to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations. Successful contractors must comply with specific environmental and operational guidelines, obtain appropriate liability insurance, and follow detailed specifications outlined in the bid package.

The solicitation does not explicitly indicate set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or specific restrictions on bidder types. A total bond payment of $10,000 is required, with $5,000 to be deposited within five days of contract signing and the remaining funds to be paid prior to logging activities. The Commonwealth reserves the right to reject any or all bids and will consider the bidder's past performance in the contract award decision. While no specific budget range is provided, the comprehensive nature of the project involves significant environmental management and timber harvesting work across multiple acres. The contract includes an option to renew if the contractor demonstrates reasonable progress, suggesting potential long-term engagement for a qualified vendor. Interested parties can obtain additional information by contacting Kelly Hawkins at 502-229-4366, with all bid submissions to be directed to the Finance - Division of Real Properties in Frankfort, Kentucky.