Sand Dune 25/26 Timber Sale

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service is seeking sealed bids for the Sand Dune 25/26 Timber Sale located in Santa Rosa County, specifically on the Blackwater River State Forest. This timber procurement involves an initial thinning of 950 acres, predominantly featuring longleaf pine with some slash and loblolly pine varieties. The timber will be harvested using a strategic cutting approach involving 20-foot swaths with 40-foot uncut timber swaths between, with curved cutting patterns to enhance aesthetic qualities. Specific harvesting guidelines include not cutting trees with a diameter at breast height over 12.6 inches, and removing leaning, forked, diseased, and defective timber from leave swaths. The estimated timber volumes include 14,211 tons of pine pulpwood, 2,955 tons of pine super pulpwood, and 267 tons of pine chip-n-saw. The contract duration is twelve months, with sealed bids due on November 6, 2025, at 10:00 AM CST, to be opened at 11650 Munson Highway in Milton, Florida. Interested parties can obtain complete bid information by contacting Daniel Brethauer at (850) 957-5700.

The timber sale is associated with an SFI Certified Forest (NSF-SFI-FM-C0245755), indicating adherence to sustainable forestry practices. While no specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements are explicitly mentioned, the Florida Forest Service reserves the right to reject any and all bids and waive any bid irregularities. The comprehensive mapping documents (Sand_1_GeoRef.pdf, Sand_2_GeoRef.pdf, and associated sensitive area maps) provide detailed geographical information, including road networks, logging deck locations, and sensitive ecological zones. These maps highlight various environmental considerations, such as the presence of specific plant species like Sarracenia leucophylla, archaeological sites, and wildlife habitats including gopher tortoise locations. The procurement documents suggest a complex ecological management approach that balances timber harvesting with environmental preservation. Although no specific budget range is provided, the scale and complexity of the timber sale indicate a significant commercial opportunity for qualified timber harvesting contractors.