V-Blade Tree Planting Services

Background
The Suwannee River Water Management District (District) manages approximately 162,000 acres of forestland in North-Central Florida, focusing on the protection of floodplains and associated habitats.

The District's Land Management Program aims to manage and restore lands owned by the Governing Board. This contract seeks bids for V-blade planting of containerized longleaf pine seedlings to reforest areas in alignment with the District Land Management Plan (DLMP) objectives.

Work Details
The contractor will V-blade plant approximately 250 acres of containerized longleaf pine seedlings across three tracts:

- Adams Tract: 68.82 acres, approx. 50,000 seedlings
- Falling Creek Falls Tract: 34.40 acres, approx. 25,000 seedlings
- Jerry Branch Tract: 146.37 acres, approx. 106,000 seedlings

Planting density is set at 726 trees per acre using a 5’x12’ or 6’x10’ grid pattern. Seedlings must be picked up from Andrews Nursery in Chiefland, FL, with a total of about 181,000 seedlings required. All planting operations must be coordinated with the District's project manager and adhere to specified quality standards. The work must be completed by February 28, 2026.

Period of Performance
The anticipated start date for planting is December 1, 2025, with all work to be completed and invoiced by February 28, 2026.

Place of Performance
Planting activities will occur on the Adams, Falling Creek Falls, and Jerry Branch Tracts located in Lafayette, Columbia, and Hamilton counties in Florida.

Bidder Requirements
Bidders must have at least three years of experience in similar projects and provide documentation of at least three relevant projects completed within the last three years. They must also demonstrate access to necessary equipment (crawler tractors with front-mounted V-blades) and submit an Equipment List with their bid.

Insurance requirements include workers' compensation insurance and motor vehicular liability insurance with a minimum limit of $1 million.