Buffer Zone & Tree Fall - Hou Street (Michele Kukahiwa)

The Hawaii District Land Office seeks bids for the creation of an 188-foot by 50-foot buffer zone along the boundary between state land at Hawaiian Beaches, Waiakahiula, Puna, TMK: (3) 1-5-009:009, and private property at 15-2673 Hou Street, TMK: (3) 1-5-079:014, along with the removal of a fallen tree from the state property onto the adjacent private parcel. The work requires clearing all vegetation within the buffer to within six inches of the ground, cutting debris into pieces no longer than three feet, and laying it flat on state land without stacking. All cut vegetation and stumps must be treated with herbicide to prevent regrowth, and the fallen tree must be fully removed from the private property. The contract mandates that all tree-related work be supervised by an onsite certified arborist, and both the contractor and arborist must be registered with Hawaii Compliance Express (HCE). Insurance policies must name the State of Hawaii as an additional insured, provide a 30-day notice prior to cancellation, and include acceptable excess coverage. Work must not commence before 8:00 a.m. to comply with local noise ordinances, and all debris must be managed to minimize windblown impact on nearby residences. Completion requires photographic documentation of the site to accompany the invoice for government verification. The solicitation, issued under number Q26003531 with a response deadline of August 4, 2026, is managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources through its Land Division in Hilo, Hawaii. No formal Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses apply, as this is a state-level procurement with customized requirements. The contract does not specify a monetary value, and while the evaluation methodology is not explicitly defined, the non-negotiable technical criteria—certified arborist supervision, HCE registration, valid insurance, photographic proof of completion, and strict adherence to vegetation and debris handling rules—serve as pass/fail conditions for award. The sole attachment, Exhibit A, outlines the buffer zone and tree location, and all proposals must be submitted to Pua Ishibashi, Land Agent, at 180 Kalanikoa Street, Hilo, HI 96720, with compliance verification processed through HCE. Invoicing is contingent upon government acceptance at the site,