University of Florida Austin Cary Forest Timber Sale

The University of Florida is seeking sealed, per-unit timber sale offers for harvesting merchantable pine and timber at the Austin Cary Forest located in Waldo, Alachua County, Florida. The procurement involves a comprehensive timber sale across approximately 100 acres comprising three distinct pine stands: a 35-acre 1973 Planted Slash stand to be clearcut, an 18-acre 1987 Planted Slash stand to be clearcut, and a 47-acre Natural Mixed-Pine stand to be selectively harvested. Sealed offers will be accepted until 3:30 PM on September 25, 2025, with the timber sale opening at 4:00 PM the same day. Bidders must provide per-ton pricing for pine pulpwood, dimensional pine products, and blended hardwood, and must demonstrate Master Logger status. The successful contractor will have one year from contract signing to complete harvesting operations, with potential extensions considered only under extraordinary circumstances. Evaluation will be conducted on an "All-or-None Offer Total Offer" basis, with the University reserving the right to reject any and all offers.

Potential bidders must provide a mandatory $5,000 security deposit within 30 days of award notification or two days prior to harvesting. Contractors are required to maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including commercial general liability, worker's compensation, and automobile liability policies. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were mentioned, the procurement appears open to qualified logging contractors with appropriate credentials. Payment terms stipulate submissions no less than every two weeks, with the first payment due within two weeks after harvesting commences. Though a specific budget range was not explicitly stated, the timber sale involves harvesting approximately 300-350 trees per acre across different stands, suggesting a potentially significant contract value. The timber sale includes detailed specifications for tree removal, with sale boundaries delineated by roads and yellow paint, and trees marked for selective harvesting identified with blue paint at approximately 6 feet above ground level.