Trail Mountain Hand Thin

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing, conducting procurement on behalf of the State of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, is requesting bids for lop and scatter (hand-thinning) services across five units on the Trail Mountain project, with bids due August 3, 2026. Participation is limited strictly to prequalified contractors currently listed on the State of Utah's Pre-approved/Pre-qualified Vendor list; vendors not on that list must not submit.

The scope encompasses approximately 1,115 acres across five treatment units on the Ferron/Price Ranger District of the Manti La Sal National Forest in Emery County, Utah. Units 1–4 (approximately 716 acres) require removal of 90% of pinyon and juniper trees less than 20 inches in diameter at root collar, while Unit 5 (approximately 399 acres) requires cutting all live and dead conifer trees up to 10 inches diameter at breast height. Work is designed to prepare sites for prescribed burning while protecting Ponderosa Pine and aspen. The contractor must furnish all equipment, including GPS devices capable of loading project shapefiles (5-meter accuracy), hand crews with chainsaws or brush saws, and fire protection equipment required during fire season (June 1–September 30). Environmental and regulatory compliance is mandatory, including hazardous materials, wildlife, fire season, and cultural resource protections. The contractor is responsible for crew supervision, site cleanup, material disposal, road restoration, and public access maintenance.

Bids must be submitted on a per-acre price basis covering all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, and mobilization with no fuel surcharges or adjustments permitted. Pricing is fixed through project completion and must be guaranteed by the vendor. Payment is a lump-sum final payment following final inspection, with partial payments only upon prior written State approval. The contract may commence as soon as possible and must be completed by October 31, 2026, with work beginning within seven calendar days of contract execution. The procurement will result in a single award to the lowest cost responsive and responsible bidder. Standard terms are non-negotiable; bids containing exceptions or modifications to terms will be rejected. Contractors must comply with Utah E-Verify requirements and Utah Code 63G-27 anti-boycott provisions and must maintain workers' compensation insurance and a minimum of one million dollars in commercial general liability and commercial automobile liability coverage per occurrence.