Rice Canyon Exclosure Fence

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing and Division of Wildlife Resources is soliciting bids for the Rice Canyon Exclosure Fence project (Solicitation #JH21-172), located approximately 11 miles northwest of Modena in Iron County. The procurement is an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for constructing 4,662 feet of post and pole riparian exclosure fence to aid in the recovery of Rice Canyon Creek, which was burned in the Big Summit Wildfire. Primary project objectives include preventing head cutting, gully erosion, and channel incision. Contractors must provide skilled fence builders, equipment operators, and all necessary materials, specifically 470 8' posts and 680 21' poles. Key qualifications require a minimum of 1 year of experience in post and pole fence construction and the ability to provide at least two professional references. The bid opening is scheduled for May 10th, 2021 at 2:00 PM MDT, with project completion required by June 25th, 2021. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder based on submitted proposals.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The project will be conducted on BLM-administered lands with elevations ranging from 5,700 to 6,300 feet, and equipment access will be via a combination of paved highways and county dirt roads, with potential equipment staging at the Historic Stateline Town site. While no incumbent vendors are identified, the technical specifications require precise post and pole placement, including specific requirements for hole depth, post spacing, and pole attachment using #2 Re-Bar. Although a specific budget range is not provided in the documentation, the project seems to be a targeted infrastructure improvement initiative with specific technical and geographic constraints. The procurement process suggests a competitive bidding environment where technical capability and cost-effectiveness will be primary evaluation criteria.