State-Owned Land and State Forest Site Preparation and Pine Release

The Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Forestry is soliciting sealed bids for herbicide application services on state-owned lands and state forests under IFB #DOF26-121104, with bids due June 25, 2026 by 2:00 PM. Bidding is set aside for DSBSD-certified small businesses, and all bidders must submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan with a statewide goal of 42 percent of purchases from DSBSD-certified small businesses.

The contractor must hold a Virginia Pesticide License and provide both aerial (helicopter and drone) and ground herbicide application services across 697.3 acres at multiple locations: Nottoway County, the Southern Piedmont Agriculture Research and Education Center, Virginia State Police Driving Range, and seven state forests (Appomattox-Buckingham, Browne, Cumberland, Chilton Woods, Conway Robinson, Dragon Run, and Prince Edward-Gallion). Work is divided into three methods priced per acre: ground application (135.1 acres), aerial application (467.1 acres), and drone application (95.1 acres). The contractor must apply specified herbicide mixtures at 15 gallons per acre for ground and aerial applications and 5 gallons per acre for drone applications, achieve 90 percent coverage of treatable areas, maintain metering devices calibrated within two months of contract start, and maintain GPS capability for aerial applications. The contractor must furnish all labor, equipment, chemicals, and insurance including workers' compensation; employer's liability of $100,000; commercial general liability of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate; and automobile liability of $1 million combined single limit. Contractor must demonstrate at least three years of experience in forestry site preparation herbicide spray contracts.

The contract period runs July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with initial performance July 15 through September 15, 2026, and includes four optional one-year renewals. Payment terms are thirty calendar days after receipt of proper invoice or receipt of services, whichever is later. All vendors must register in eVA and pay applicable transaction fees (1% capped at $500 for small businesses and $1,500 for other businesses). A site visit is available upon request by contacting Ed Stoots at the Department of Forestry. No pre-bid conference is scheduled. Questions are due by June 25, 2026.