V-blade tree planting services

The Suwannee River Water Management District is requesting bids for V-blade tree planting services to establish approximately 270,000 containerized longleaf and slash pine seedlings across four forestland tracts in North-Central Florida, with bids due June 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Preference in award selection is given to minority business enterprises and, absent these, veteran-owned businesses when bids are ranked equally.

The scope encompasses V-blade planting of approximately 255,000 longleaf pine seedlings and 15,000 slash pine seedlings across 366 acres on the Withlacoochee Quail Farm (84 acres), Holton Creek (238 acres), Mattair Springs (29 acres), and Woods Ferry (15 acres) in Suwannee and Hamilton Counties. Planting density is 726 trees per acre using either 5'x12' or 6'x10' grid spacing. Work must commence December 1, 2026, and be completed by February 28, 2027.

Contractors must demonstrate a minimum of three years of experience and completion of at least three similar V-blade containerized longleaf pine planting projects within the past three years with documented references. Required equipment includes crawler tractors with front-mounted V-blades, adjustable rollers, and Whitfield-type planters; contractors must provide equipment photographs. Minimum insurance includes workers' compensation and general and motor vehicle liability of $1,000,000.

Bids are evaluated on lowest price from responsible and responsive vendors. Pricing must be submitted as a total full-service cost per acre including mobilization, seedling pick-up from Andrews Nursery in Chiefland, storage, and planting. Seedling pick-up and storage are the contractor's responsibility. Project managers and interested contractors may contact Bill McKinstry at 386.362.1001; contractors may inspect project areas at their convenience. Bids are submitted electronically through DemandStar. The District is exempt from Florida sales tax.