RFB07022025 License Timber Harvesting Higginson-Henry WMA

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Finance and Administration Cabinet's Division of Real Properties on behalf of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, is soliciting sealed bids for timber harvesting services at the Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area located in Union County, Kentucky, spanning approximately 40 acres. The procurement requires the successful bidder to remove all timber within one year of contract execution, complete trail improvements converting 4.61 miles of existing trails into 15-foot-wide firebreaks, and treat invasive species (autumn olive) on 125 acres using herbicides, with all costs offset against the lump sum payment for timber products. Key qualifications include obtaining commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate with the Commonwealth named as an additional insured, providing a $5,000 deposit within five days of contract signing, and submitting a performance bond of $10,000 plus the lump sum timber price before operations commence. The contract will have an initial two-year term with renewal options contingent upon demonstrated reasonable progress, and all timber harvesting operations are restricted to August 1 through March 31 due to federal wildlife regulations, with compliance required under the Kentucky Forest Conservation Act and Best Management Practices standards. Evaluation criteria consist of 55 percent weight on bid amount and 45 percent on prior work quality assessed through up to three landowner references from timber harvests within the past five years or character references for applicants without prior experience. Bids are due by Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. ET at the Bush Building, 403 Wapping Street, Frankfort, Kentucky, with a mandatory site visit scheduled for June 17, 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT and conference call option available at bid opening.

The solicitation documents do not specify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or small businesses, suggesting this procurement is open to all qualified bidders without categorical restrictions. No incumbent contractor or current vendor information is identified in the available procurement materials. The contract structure is based on a licensing arrangement for real property with compensation derived from a lump sum payment for timber products reduced by documented costs for trail improvements and invasive species treatment, with no specific overall budget range or maximum award value explicitly stated in the provided documentation. Interested parties should contact Kelly Hawkins at 502-229-4366 for additional information, and all bid submissions must be made in sealed form with no online bidding permitted, accompanied by all items referenced in the submission checklist and required supporting documentation.