V-blade tree planting services

The Suwannee River Water Management District is seeking bids for V-Blade Tree Planting Services through Invitation to Bid (ITB No. 24/25-009 OPS), targeting the reforestation of approximately 250 acres with containerized longleaf pine seedlings across three tracts in Lafayette, Columbia, and Hamilton counties during the winter of 2025-2026. The project involves planting a total of 181,000 seedlings: 50,000 at Adams Tract, 25,000 at Falling Creek Falls Tract, and 106,000 at Jerry Branch Tract, with the primary objective of meeting District Land Management Plan goals. Bidders must demonstrate capability to plant 20 acres per day using crawler tractors with front-mounted V-blades and Whitfield-type planters, and provide comprehensive documentation of previous similar work, equipment lists, and operator qualifications. The bid is scheduled for release on May 1, 2025, with electronic submissions due through DemandStar by 10:00 a.m. on May 9, 2025. Contract execution is planned for May 12-30, 2025, with a project start date of December 1, 2025, and all work to be completed and invoiced by February 28, 2026.

The District encourages participation from minority and veteran-owned businesses and will award the contract to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder. Contractors must retrieve seedlings from Andrews Nursery in Chiefland, FL, and adhere to strict "Come Clean, Leave Clean" equipment standards. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the project suggests a significant investment in reforestation efforts. The procurement process appears open to qualified contractors with demonstrated expertise in large-scale tree planting, particularly those with experience in V-blade planting techniques and longleaf pine seedling management. Bidders will be evaluated based on their technical capabilities, equipment readiness, previous project success, and ability to meet the detailed seedling planting specifications outlined in the bid documents. No specific set-aside designations beyond the encouragement of minority and veteran-owned business participation were explicitly noted in the provided documentation.