Trail TSI

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is requesting bids on pre-commercial thinning and hand-piling silvicultural services across approximately 648 acres of U.S. Forest Service forestland in the Colville National Forest (Pend Oreille County) under the Good Neighbor Authority, with bids due July 31, 2026 and a virtual pre-proposal conference on July 8.

Bidders must hold a current Washington State Farm Labor Contractors License and a U.S. Department of Labor Farm Labor Contractors License, and must be licensed to do business in Washington. The scope spans 20 treatment units requiring pre-commercial thinning with target spacing of 14' x 14' (or 11' x 11' near roads), diameter limits varying by unit from 4.9 to 5.9 inches, hand piling with wax paper placement, slash management, and noxious weed control. Contractors must supply a minimum of 10 workers per business day and furnish all equipment and safety gear. Operations are prohibited December 1 through April 15 in most units; Big Game Winter Range restrictions apply December 1 through March 31 in five units, and Unit 239 is restricted April 1 through August 31 due to an adjacent raptor nest. All work must be completed by the contract termination date of June 30, 2027. Contractors must maintain crew sizes of 10 to 20 workers with qualified forepersons and attend a pre-work conference with the Compliance Forester before commencing operations.

The estimated contract value is $300,000. Payment is based on per-acre rates determined through competitive bidding and verified through circular plot sampling and compliance inspections. Evaluation allocates 60 points to cost and 40 points to qualifications and references, plus up to 5 additional preference points for firms without mandatory individual arbitration clauses. A 10 percent preference for Washington State Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses and Washington Small Businesses does not apply because the project is funded entirely by federal dollars through the U.S. Forest Service. Contractors must provide performance security equal to 10 percent of the award within 10 business days of award and carry commercial general liability insurance with $1 million per occurrence limits and workers' compensation coverage. Pre-proposal questions are due July 13, 2026, with DNR answers posted July 16. The Apparent Successful Bidder will be announced August 5, 2026, with contract work expected to begin August 12.