Site-prep, planting, & invasive species

The South Carolina Forestry Commission is seeking a contractor to execute comprehensive forest management services for the Sandhills State Forest located in Charleston County. The solicitation covers chemical site preparation on approximately 173.2 acres, planting of approximately 108,000 containerized longleaf pine seedlings at a density of 622 trees per acre, and invasive species control on two stands totaling 78 acres. Bidders must be commercially licensed herbicide contractors with demonstrated experience in hand planting containerized pine seedlings. The contract will span from May 14, 2025 to March 30, 2026, with specific timeline requirements: herbicide application must occur between June 21, 2025 and September 15, 2025, and tree planting between January 1, 2026 and March 1, 2026. Proposals are due by May 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM, with no pre-bid conference required. The contractor will be responsible for providing all chemicals, seedlings, labor, and equipment, and must guarantee 90% control of labeled woody species by September 15, 2026. Award will be made to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, with the state reserving the right to reject any or all offers.

The solicitation does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. While specific budget ranges are not detailed, the contract involves substantial forest management activities across multiple acres requiring significant operational investment. The procurement documents indicate that contractors must demonstrate technical competence through licensing, herbicide application expertise, and pine seedling planting capabilities. Successful vendors will need to provide comprehensive documentation of chemical application compliance, including adherence to Best Management Practices, notification of adjacent landowners, drift prevention protocols, and proper herbicide handling and disposal procedures. The contract includes unit pricing requirements for chemical site preparation, invasive species control, seedlings, and labor for tree planting. Contractors will be evaluated based on their ability to meet precise technical specifications, demonstrate environmental stewardship, and execute the forest management objectives outlined in the comprehensive maps and solicitation documents.