Suwannee street #1 timber sale

The Suwannee River Water Management District is soliciting bids for the Suwannee Street #1 Timber Sale, a lump-sum timber harvesting contract located in Gilchrist County, Florida. The procurement encompasses a total of 54.35 acres divided into two distinct harvest areas: Area 1 involves a 45.54-acre hardwood harvest that will preserve pine species, while Area 2 is an 8.81-acre clear-cut of all hardwoods and pine species, including a 4-acre longleaf pine plantation originally planted in 1993. Bidders must be master loggers with current designation and are required to submit electronic bids through DemandStar by October 13, 2025, at 10:30 AM. The contract period is six months, with a mandatory requirement that Area 1 must be harvested before March 2, 2026. Key deliverables include chipping non-merchantable timber, adhering to Best Management Practices, and maintaining specific ecological considerations during the timber harvest operation. A mandatory damage deposit of $5,000 is required, and full payment must be made prior to contract execution.

The timber sale encourages participation from minority and veteran-owned businesses, with the Suwannee River Water Management District reserving the right to reject any or all bids. The District is exempt from Florida sales tax, and other Florida governmental entities may potentially utilize this bid agreement at their discretion. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly detailed, the requirement for master logger certification may limit potential bidders. The procurement appears to be open to qualified timber harvesting firms with appropriate credentials and operational capabilities. No specific incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure integration requirements are mentioned in the documentation. Although a precise award value is not specified, the lump-sum payment structure and the comprehensive timber harvest scope suggest a significant economic opportunity for qualified logging contractors with expertise in hardwood and pine species management.