Wasson Creek Watershed Ridgetop-to Estuary Restoration Project

The State of Oregon, through the Department of Administrative Services Procurement Services and on behalf of the Department of State Lands, is seeking a qualified forester to execute the Wasson Creek Watershed Ridgetop-to-Estuary Restoration Project located in the South Slough Reserve in Charleston, Oregon. The primary objective is to promote forest complexity, health, and fuel reduction across a 284-acre project area divided into four Forest Management Units. Deliverables include a detailed cut plan, access plan, and slash management plan, with prescribed treatment involving variable density thinning down to 150-70 Trees Per Acre, creating gaps and skips while managing forest stand structure. Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of 10 years of experience supervising forestry projects and compliance with Oregon environmental regulations. The project requires two years of marbled murrelet surveys and strict environmental protections, with machine noise restrictions if the area is occupied. Key evaluation criteria will include technical approach, proposer qualifications, and price, with the lowest proposed price receiving the highest points. Critical dates include a mandatory pre-proposal conference on November 7, 2023, proposal submissions due by November 30, 2023, potential presentations on December 8, 2023, and anticipated award notification around December 15, 2023, with project completion required by March 31, 2026.

The State of Oregon actively encourages participation from certified disadvantaged businesses, specifically targeting minority-owned, women-owned, emerging small, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. Proposers are required to submit a Certified Disadvantaged Business Outreach Plan detailing steps to ensure equal subcontracting opportunities for Certified Firms. The procurement includes provisions for proposers to list Certified Firms they have previously contracted with and outline strategies for soliciting minority and emerging business subcontractors. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly detailed, the project involves forestry services with potential for logs to be utilized in stewardship contracting, Wasson Creek floodplain restoration, and local restoration efforts. Proposers must complete a comprehensive Responsibility Inquiry demonstrating financial stability, past performance, and organizational capability. The contract will be awarded to a single vendor capable of meeting the technical requirements and environmental standards set forth in the scope of work, with an emphasis on promoting forest health and supporting wildlife habitat restoration in the South Slough Reserve area.