Cook Canyon Bullhog - BLM (Re-solicitation)

The purpose of this IFB is to enter into a contract with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to provide: for wildland fire hazard reduction and wildlife habitat restoration by mechanically removing/shredding standing live juniper trees and saplings with a wheeled or tracked MECHANICAL MULCHING/SHREDDER (Bullhog). This task order includes the Contractor to furnish labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies and incidentals. Project area totals approximately 987 acres as identified on attached site map. Location and Description: Work under this Contract is located approximately 2 miles northeast of the town of Grouse Creek in Box Elder County, Utah. The total number of acres identified for treatment within the project area is approximately 987. The work location is shown on the general location and site maps. Elevations range from 5,400 to 6,000 feet within the project site. Slope ranges from 5% to 30%. The work will occur on Federal (BLM) and State (SITLA) lands. Rocky areas are present but not consistent throughout the project area. The contractor will be compensated for actual treated acreage of the task order. Acreage: Approximately 987. Of the 987 acres identified for treatment, 189 acres (19%) are considered 2nd entry and have been treated previously. Access to the site: Take Interstate 80 west from Salt Lake City, UT and continue into the state of Nevada. At approximately mile marker 102 take the Oasis exit number 378 and proceed north on Highway 233. At approximately mile marker 34 Highway 233 becomes Highway 30 and proceeds back into Utah. Continue traveling northeast until approximately mile marker 9 on Highway 30. Turn north on the Grouse Creek gravel road and travel approximately 20.5 miles to the town of Grouse Creek. Continue through town approximately 1 mile. Turn right (east) on Pine Creek/Cook Canyon Road and travel about .3 miles to Cook Canyon Road. The project area can be accessed by turning either left or right. Access is by a combination of dirt surface roads and jeep trails. Four (4) wheel drive vehicles are recommended in and around the project area. It will be the contractor's responsibility to get the equipment to the work site. Work Limits: Only areas shown on the Project Map will be treated. Government staff will identify unit boundaries for the work executed under the contract. The project will not be flagged. The contractor will be required to have a either a GPS unit or GPS capable device to use georeferenced maps that will be provided by the Government. The Contractor shall immediately upon entering the project area, begin work, locate control points, section corners, and take such action to prevent their destruction. Mulching: This is a mastication contract. ALLstanding live juniper trees and saplings will be shredded with a wheeled or tracked MECHANICAL MULCHING/SHREDDER (Bullhog) unless they meet the description of a leave tree. Leave trees are defined as bearing trees, old-growth, or wildlife trees. Old-growth trees are defined as large, single stemmed junipers (generally greater than 20" in diameter at ground level) having old-growth characteristics. Wildlife trees are trees with nests showing signs of recent activity or trees with a large nest (nest is greater than 36" in diameter). The contractor will be responsible for identifying and leaving bearing trees, wildlife trees, and large trees with old-growth characteristics once they have been oriented on site by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). The COR will meet with the contractor on site and provide a more detailed written and oral description of wildlife trees, trees with old-growth characteristics and bearing trees. Juniper cover, densities and size are variable across the landscape. However, most trees within the project area are medium sized (10-12' tall). Mulch depth shall not exceed four inches (4"). If mulch exceeds four inches in depth the Contractor shall spread the mulch either mechanically or by hand. All surplus vegetation and slash shall be ground or cut, such that no woody piece is greater than 4 feet (4') in length. No live limbs shall be left on the stump of any ground stem. Stumps shall be no taller than six inches (6") as measured on the uphill side. Equipment Requirements: At least two, mobile, tracked or wheeled, hydraulically or PTO driven, mechanical mulching/shredder (Bullhog) shall be furnished on a fully operational basis, with a competent, fully qualified operator, and shall be capable of mulching/shredding live trees up to twenty (24) inches in diameter at 6 inches above ground level measured on the uphill side. Equipment shall be washed with a high-pressure system before entering and exiting project lands. All soil and plant parts shall be removed to prevent the spread of noxious weeds in and out of the project area. Project performance time: 149 calendar days. Performance window: October 17, 2022, through March 15, 2023. Each bid received shall be evaluated for responsiveness in as outlined in the Utah Procurement Code. This IFB shall be evaluated by the objective criteria described in this IFB. Bids submitted must comply with the prerequisites and questions sections of this IFB. Any bid that does not comply with the prerequisite and questions sections will be deemed non-responsive and will be rejected. Pursuant to the Utah Procurement Code, participation in this solicitation is limited to prequalified contractors only. Bids or quotes submitted by a non-prequalified contractor will not be considered. If you are not on the current Pre-approved/Pre-qualified Vendor list for the State of Utah, please do not submit a bid. Question Submission Close Date 6/23/2022 2:00 PM MDT

Division 01 -	General Requirements.
Division 10 -	Specialties.
Division 11 -	Equipment.