Shockley Springs 25/26 Timber Sale

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service is seeking sealed bids for the Shockley Springs 25/26 Timber Sale, a timber harvesting opportunity located in Okaloosa County's Blackwater River State Forest. The procurement involves an operator select thinning of approximately 305 acres of longleaf and slash pine, focusing on harvesting green pine and scattered clumps of insect-infested timber. Specifically, the timber sale requires harvesting only 1/3 of the timber within the sale boundary, targeting leaning, forked, fire-scared, or undesirable trees while preserving larger green trees, particularly those 14" in diameter and above. The estimated timber volumes include 339 tons of pine pulpwood, 171 tons of pine chip-n-saw, 1,734 tons of pine sawtimber, and 193 tons of pine poles. The contract has a six-month duration, with all harvesting operations required to start within 10 days of notification and salvage wood to be harvested within three months of contract execution. Bids will be opened on August 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM CDT at 11650 Munson Highway, Milton, FL 32570, and interested parties are strongly encouraged to conduct a site visit before submitting their proposal.

The timber sale does not explicitly mention any set-aside designations or restrictions for specific types of organizations. Pine fuelwood is presented as an alternate product that can be bid on but will not determine the winning bidder. The Florida Forest Service reserves the right to reject any and all bids and waive any irregularities in the received proposals. While no specific budget range is detailed, the timber sale encompasses three distinct areas totaling 305 acres: Area 1 covering 215 acres, Area 2 covering 16 acres, and Area 3 covering 74 acres. The sale is for a SFI Certified Forest (NSF-SFI-FM-C0245755) and includes green pine and salvage timber designated by the Forester-in-Charge. Potential bidders can obtain complete bid information by contacting Julie Wood at (850) 957-5731. The procurement aims to maintain a 45 square feet of basal area per acre and focuses on sustainable forest management practices within the Blackwater River State Forest.