RFB082025 For License Salvage Timber Sale

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet Division of Real Properties, on behalf of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, is issuing an Invitation for Bids (RFB082025) for a salvage timber harvesting license at the Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area in Union County, Kentucky. This procurement seeks a contractor to remove downed timber and timber debris from approximately 180 acres within the management area under a Contract of Tenancy with an initial two-year term and a potential renewal option contingent upon reasonable progress demonstration. The successful bidder must submit a lump sum payment for all timber products harvested, with itemized road improvement costs that will be deducted from the total bid amount and must be supported by documentation including statements and receipts. Critical requirements include obtaining a $1,000,000 Commercial General Liability insurance policy naming the Commonwealth as an additional insured, providing a $10,000 performance bond (with $5,000 due within five days of contract signing and an additional $5,000 prior to commencing operations), and ensuring a Kentucky Master Logger is present on-site at all times during harvesting activities. Timber cutting operations are restricted to August 1 through March 31 annually in compliance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations. Bidders must provide contact information for up to three landowner references with timber harvesting experience within the past five years, and bids with fewer than three references will be rejected. Evaluation is based on bid amount (55 points) and prior work quality based on reference comments (45 points). Sealed bids must be received at the Division of Real Properties, Bush Building, 3rd Floor, 403 Wapping Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-2607, no later than Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with public opening and oral reading available via conference call at 502-782-CONF (2663) or 502-564-9110, code 42014. Site visits are encouraged prior to bid submission, with inquiries directed to Max Street, Wildlife Forester, at (270) 499-9031, or to Commonwealth Buyer Wendell Harris at 502-782-0360 or wendell.harris@ky.gov.

No set-aside designations or restrictions on bidder types are specified in the available solicitation materials, nor are any incumbent vendors or current contractors identified. The procurement documents do not identify any disadvantaged enterprise set-asides or socioeconomic restrictions that would limit eligible bidders. Similarly, no specific existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements are noted beyond standard operational compliance with state and federal laws and KDFWR approval for ingress and egress routes. The solicitation documents do not provide a disclosed award value or budget range; rather, compensation will be determined based on the lump sum bid amount submitted by the successful contractor and the evaluation criteria outlined. The Commonwealth reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to negotiate fair and reasonable compensation based on submitted pricing, indicating a competitive bidding process without a predetermined contract value.