Sandlin BAY #11 timber sale

The Suwannee River Water Management District is soliciting bids on timber harvest rights for the Sandlin Bay #11 tract in Columbia County, Florida, under ITB 25/26-006 OPS, with bids due electronically through DemandStar by 10:00 a.m. EDT on August 26, 2026.

The sale encompasses approximately 219 acres of planted slash pine (169 acres planted in 1988, 50 acres planted in 1997). Area 1 comprises 189 acres of unmarked third-row logger select first thinning; Area 2 comprises 30 acres of unmarked select-only thinning on previously third-row thinned stands. The purchaser must leave 50 square feet of basal area per acre of the largest, best-formed trees in all residual stands and scatter logging slash throughout. The harvesting logger must hold current Master Logger designation and maintain routine on-site availability. Compliance with Florida Silviculture Best Management Practices, "Come Clean, Leave Clean" invasive-plant protocols, and equipment fluid-management regulations is mandatory. Workers' compensation insurance, $1,000,000 combined single limit motor vehicular liability, and $1,000,000 general liability minimum are required. The purchaser is responsible for all road maintenance during operations and must return roads to pre-harvest condition or better.

The contract term is 12 months. Bids are due on a per-unit rate basis in dollars per ton, with payment as cut; the highest total sale value determines the winning bidder. An advance payment of $20,000 and a damage/security deposit of $10,000 are required at contract execution. The winning bidder must enter into a firm contract within 10 days of award notification. A mandatory pre-harvest meeting must occur before logging commences. The District Project Manager will routinely assess harvest performance to ensure objectives are met and reserves the right to stop harvesting and remove non-compliant crews. Title passes to the purchaser upon severance from the stump. Pre-bid inspections are available at the bidder's convenience. Bid opening occurs at 9225 CR 49, Live Oak, Florida 32060.