Tree Planting at Manchester State Forest

The South Carolina Forestry Commission is requesting bids for tree planting services at Manchester State Forest under an Invitation for Bid, with proposals due August 17, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and questions due August 13, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.

The scope comprises two line items totaling 400 acres: 19 acres of containerized Longleaf Pine with improved genetics (10,336 seedlings at 8 feet by 10 feet spacing, 544 trees per acre) and 381 acres of bareroot Loblolly Pine, open-pollinated third generation (197,358 seedlings at 7 feet by 12 feet spacing, 518 trees per acre). The contractor must supply all seedlings, perform all planting labor and equipment operations, repair operational damage, remove tree boxes and debris, comply with Best Management Practices and EPA standards, and adhere to OSHA safety regulations. Planting must occur after December 1, 2026 but no later than March 15, 2027. The contractor must guarantee 60% survival rate after one year unless a drought condition is declared.

Bidders must be registered as South Carolina vendors and may claim in-state preferences under SC Code Section 11-35-1524 if applicable. Pricing shall be submitted on a cost-per-acre basis as unit prices, with separate pricing for each line item. The contract term runs from December 1, 2026 through March 15, 2027 with no renewal options. Award will be made to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder and is scheduled for August 18, 2026. Place of performance is Manchester State Forest, 6740 Headquarters Road, Wedgefield, SC 29168. Site visits may be arranged by appointment with Ben Melton at 803-494-8196 or bmelton@scfc.gov. Attachment A and Attachment B provide area-specific maps for the Longleaf Pine and Loblolly Pine planting zones respectively.