Willamette National Forest Aerial Seeding Under Good Neighbor Authority

The Oregon Department of Forestry is soliciting bids for aerial seeding application services to reforest 5,024 acres within the Willamette National Forest near Oakridge, Oregon under Good Neighbor Authority, with bids due October 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM Pacific Time. Questions and clarifications must be submitted by October 5, 2026.

The scope requires aerial seeding of conifer seed (provided by the agency) at rates of 1.5 to 2.0 ounces per acre across three elevation zones from 3,000 to 6,000 feet. Seeding operations must occur between November 1, 2026 and January 15, 2027, preferably over snow cover. Work is restricted during the Cascade Elk Season (November 7–13, 2026). The contractor must furnish one helicopter that is airworthy, equipped with VHF radio with direct communication capability, GPS receiver, and external load equipment compliant with Federal Aviation Regulations, and capable of carrying and applying a minimum of ten pounds of seed per flight. The contractor must designate and maintain a Key Person (pilot) with current FAA Second-Class Medical certification, minimum 1,000 hours pilot-in-command helicopter experience, 100 hours in the specific aircraft make and model, 50 hours in the past 12 months, and 25 hours of external-load experience, plus three years of professional experience providing comparable services.

Bidding is on a unit-price-per-acre basis for all 5,024 acres; the bid total is calculated by multiplying estimated acreage by the submitted unit cost. All travel, per diem, transportation, and other expenses must be included in the unit cost with no separate payment for move-in, move-out, or demobilization. Payment is contingent upon agency inspection and certification of acceptable work quality. The contractor must maintain comprehensive insurance including workers' compensation, commercial general liability ($1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate), automobile liability ($1 million combined single limit), aircraft liability ($2 million per occurrence), and professional liability ($1 million per claim/$2 million aggregate). The contractor must obtain a Pay Equity Compliance Certificate prior to award and certify compliance with nondiscrimination and sexual harassment prevention policies.

One contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder whose bid substantially complies with all requirements. The notice of intent to award is anticipated October 21, 2026, with contract execution targeted for November 2, 2026. Bids are firm for 180 calendar days from closing. Bidders must submit Attachments B (Bid Cover Sheet), C (Bid Submittal Form), D (COBID Certification/Outreach Plan), and E (Responsibility Inquiry) electronically through OregonBuys. Addendum 1 clarifies that the state is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages submissions from minority-owned, women-owned, emerging small, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. Contractors must use recyclable products to the maximum extent economically feasible.