IFB Wildfire Fuel Reduction Vegetation and Tree Removal Services in San Diego County

Background
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is issuing this Invitation for Bid (IFB) #56A0840 for Wildfire Fuel Reduction Vegetation and Tree Removal Services in San Diego County. The goal of this contract is to provide mission-critical vegetative wildfire fuels reduction services to enhance safety and protect infrastructure, natural resources, and communities from wildfire risks.

Work Details
The contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, supplies, tools, equipment, incidentals, travel, and disposal fees necessary to provide wildfire fuel reduction services. Specific tasks include:

1) Removal of dead trees and timber across various locations in San Diego County;
2) Traffic control measures including lane and ramp closures;
3) Environmental protection measures such as bird protection and water pollution control;
4) Collection and reporting of vegetation management data.

A total of 168 dead trees are to be removed from specified routes within the county. The work must comply with Caltrans standards and regulations.

Period of Performance
The contract is expected to commence on September 15, 2025, and will expire on August 1, 2026. Services are to be performed Monday through Friday from 6:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., excluding holidays.

Place of Performance
The services will be performed in various locations throughout San Diego County as specified in the contract documents.

Bidder Requirements
Bidders must possess a valid Motor Carrier Permit from the California DMV at the time of bid submission. They must also hold a C-61/D-49 Tree Service Contractor or C-49 Tree and Palm Contractor license issued by the California Contractors State Licensing Board (CSLB), along with a C-31 Construction Zone Traffic Control Contractor license. Additionally, bidders must have a Certified Arborist with Tree Risk Assessment Qualifications (TRAC). The bid must include participation from certified Small Businesses (SB) or Micro Businesses (MB), with a minimum participation goal of 25% for subcontracting. A DVBE participation requirement of 3% also applies.