RFP - Fuels Reduction Services

McKenzie Fire & Rescue has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Fuels Reduction Services in the McKenzie Valley area of Lane County, Oregon, in partnership with Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). The project seeks a contractor to perform vegetation removal and large-scale fuels treatment on approximately 125 acres of private properties, with specific requirements including chipping/shredding debris piles, tree removal, vegetation/underbrush clearing within 100 feet of homes and outbuildings, erosion control, and woody debris transport. Contractors must possess a minimum of three years' experience in hazard tree removal and vegetation management, and own heavy equipment such as industrial chippers, excavators, skidders, dump trucks, and water tanks. Proposals will be evaluated based on four key criteria: scope requirements (40 points), service capabilities (25 points), cost (25 points), and references (10 points). The RFP was posted on January 13, 2025, with proposals due by February 14, 2025, and project work scheduled from March 15, 2025, to July 31, 2026.

The project is funded through a $1 million grant from Senator Merkley's Oregon Wildfire Resiliency funding package, with $325,000 specifically allocated to McKenzie Fire & Rescue. The estimated cost per residence is up to $2,000, though actual expenses will vary based on specific work requirements. The project aims to benefit approximately 150 landowners directly through defensible space treatments and approximately 75 additional properties indirectly through strategic fuel breaks, focusing on areas impacted by the Holiday Farm Fire. While no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondents were mentioned, the project involves coordination between EWEB (overall project management), McKenzie Fire & Rescue (community outreach and contractor coordination), and ODF (fuels reduction prescriptions and landowner education). The contractors will be expected to bundle projects within similar locations to reduce mobilization costs and increase operational efficiency, with the ultimate goal of reducing wildfire risk in the affected region.