Winter Ridge Aerial Seeding - Uintah and Grand Counties

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing and Department of Natural Resources are seeking aerial seeding services for 938 acres of School and Institutional Trust Lands (SITLA) in Uintah and Grand Counties, located south of Vernal, Utah. The Request for Quotes (RFQ) requires a contractor to provide aerial seeding using GPS-equipped aircraft capable of applying a grass/forb seed mix at a rate of 13 lbs/acre, totaling approximately 12,232 lbs of seed. The project necessitates a single-pass seeding operation at elevations between 7,200-7,400 feet, with work to commence as soon as possible after October 1st, 2025, and be completed by October 12th, 2025. Contractors must transport government-furnished seed from a warehouse in Ephraim, Utah, and be prepared to conduct seeding operations starting at 8:00 a.m. to avoid windy conditions, with a requirement to halt operations if wind speeds exceed 10 mph. Evaluation of quotes will be conducted according to the Utah Procurement Code, with the contract awarded to the responsive and responsible vendor submitting the lowest cost quote, and multiple or alternate quotes will not be accepted.

The RFQ does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types such as disadvantaged enterprises. The procurement appears open to qualified aerial seeding contractors with appropriate equipment and capabilities. While no incumbent vendors are identified, the project requires contractors to have GPS-enabled aircraft, radio communication systems, and the ability to execute precise seeding across challenging terrain. The contractor must provide their own aircraft and transportation logistics, with dirt-surface landing strips located 8-16 air miles from the project area. Although a specific budget range is not disclosed, the procurement will be evaluated on a cost-per-acre basis, suggesting that pricing will be a critical factor in vendor selection. The project is funded through the Utah Department of Natural Resources and involves seeding on SITLA lands, indicating potential involvement of state-managed trust land resources.