Southern Region Aerial Herbicide Application

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing and Division of Wildlife Resources issued a Request for Quotes (RFQ) for Southern Region Aerial Herbicide Application, solicitation number AS21-222, targeting approximately 773 acres near Beaver and Panguitch, Utah. The procurement requires aerial application of tebuthiuron (Spike 20P or equivalent herbicide) at a rate of 2 lbs/acre, with strict requirements for the application process. Vendors were mandated to use an aircraft equipped with a global positioning system to establish flight lines ensuring 100% coverage of the designated areas. The solicitation opened on May 6, 2021, at 12:00 PM MDT and closed on May 13, 2021, at 2:00 PM MDT, with contract completion required by June 15, 2021. Key evaluation criteria included responsiveness, compliance with procurement regulations, and being the lowest responsible bidder, with vendors required to certify adherence to state regulations and maintain appropriate licenses.

The procurement did not explicitly indicate specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Hammond Helicopter was ultimately awarded the contract for being the most responsive and responsible lowest bidder. The commodity code for this procurement was 70140, categorized under crop production, management, protection, and aerial applications. While specific budget ranges were not detailed in the documents, the scope involved herbicide application across 773 acres in Utah's southern region. Vendors were required to include herbicide purchase costs within their per-acre pricing, with any equivalent herbicides needing pre-approval from the government. The procurement followed Utah Procurement Code guidelines and required vendors to certify compliance with various state regulations, including non-engagement in boycotts and maintenance of appropriate professional credentials.