CPW - Cherokee SWA Forest Habitat Improvement

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources, acting on behalf of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, is soliciting proposals for forest habitat improvement services across up to 332 acres within the Cherokee State Wildlife Area’s Upper Unit. The RFP, issued on July 31, 2026, and amended on August 10, 2026, requires offerors to submit detailed implementation plans, equipment lists, and schedules outlining how they will conduct habitat enhancement activities while adhering to strict seasonal restrictions that prohibit work between September 2 and November 22, 2027. Projects must begin no earlier than one week after contract execution, achieve 75% completion by June 30, 2027, and be fully completed by September 1, 2028. All work must occur within Colorado, and contractors are required to certify that 100% of the performance will be in-state. Payments are tied to completed acreage and submitted monthly, with ACH/EFT being the preferred but not mandatory method. The contract is structured as a personal services agreement without a stated contract type, and evaluation is based on a best-value trade-off approach that considers qualifications, implementation plan quality, equipment adequacy, schedule reasonableness, and overall price—without assigning numerical weights or using a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable model. Proposals must be submitted electronically through either the Colorado Vendor Self-Service (VSS) system or Google Forms by September 2, 2026, and must include a completed submission form, certifications, and optional pricing for decking and hauling services. Additional requirements include compliance with Colorado Revised Statutes related to accessibility, SDVOSB preferences, and resident bidder advantages; submission of liability insurance documentation with provisions for public entities to self-insure; and strict prohibitions against subcontracting without prior written approval. Contractors are subject to a process audit within six months of award or every three years, and all deliverables, including plans, reports, and materials generated under the contract, become the exclusive property of the State. Proposals containing proprietary information may be submitted in redacted and unredacted formats, and former state employees are barred from contracting within six months of leaving state employment. The State reserves the right to conduct clarifications, reject all proposals, and award based on overall advantage to Colorado, without guaranteed minimum performance levels or formal inspection protocols beyond performance-based acceptance.