SB Minor B - Mitigation Planting - Kern County

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is soliciting a Small Business Minor B Package contract for a highway mitigation planting project located in Kern County, specifically 2.6 miles from Lost Hills. The procurement involves comprehensive environmental restoration and landscape work, including the installation of 710 native plants across three distinct groups: Group M, Group A, and Group U. Key deliverables include planting native species such as Mulefat, Shadscale, Sandbar Willow, Goodding's Willow, and California Buckwheat, along with associated tasks like job site management, water pollution control, roadside clearing, soil amendment, and plant installation. The project requires comprehensive environmental management, including worker environmental awareness training, wildlife protection protocols, and extensive plant establishment monitoring. The procurement timeline stipulates a 60-working-day period for main construction and 1,250 working days for plant establishment, with proposals due on October 29, 2025. Evaluation criteria appear to focus on small business certification, contractor licensing, and demonstrated ability to meet rigorous environmental and planting specifications.

The contract is exclusively reserved for Certified Small Businesses with either a Class A or applicable Class C license. While Caltrans establishes no specific Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) contract goal, they encourage DVBE participation. The estimated project value is $415,516.00, with strict limitations that bids over $461,000 will be automatically rejected per Public Contract Code 10105(b). Bidders must provide specific documentation including small business certification number, state contractor's license details, federal identification number, and Department of Industrial Relations registration number. Successful contractors will be required to secure payment bonds and insurance at the time of award. The solicitation emphasizes procedural compliance, with proposals to be submitted electronically to Jomlonglak.Kamaay@dot.ca.gov and potential consequences for non-compliance, including potential ineligibility for future Caltrans projects.