Daughtery Hill Wildlife Area - Yuba Narrows Unit Permit for Excess Vegetation Control P2026202

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is soliciting proposals under RFP P2026202 to issue a two-year permit for excess vegetation disposal through cattle grazing on approximately 613 acres of the Yuba Narrows Unit within the Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area in Yuba and Nevada Counties, California. The permit, authorized under Fish and Game Code Sections 1010 and 1745.1(a), requires the permittee to conduct grazing operations aimed at reducing hazardous fuel loads from annual grasses, controlling invasive plant species including medusahead, Italian thistle, milk thistle, and yellow star thistle, promoting regeneration of oak species such as blue oak, interior live oak, and black oak, enhancing wildlife habitat, and improving public access to the Yuba River for recreation. Proposals must comply with the Grazing Plan for Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area and include detailed site operation plans, legal descriptions of the premises, and maps as exhibits. Bidders must demonstrate experience and organizational capacity through a Statement of Qualifications, provide evidence of financial and operational stability through disclosure of bankruptcy or legal claims within the last ten and five years respectively, and certify compliance with all RFP requirements via a signed Proposal Certification Sheet. The permit will commence on November 15, 2026, or upon state approval, and will terminate on June 30, 2031. Proposals must be submitted by July 24, 2026, at 3:30 PM under sealed cover with specific labeling requirements and must include eleven mandatory attachments, including a Transmittal Letter signed in ink, Site Inspection Certification confirming mandatory attendance at the June 26, 2026 site tour, Disclosure Statements covering conflicts of interest and financial standing, and a Fee Proposal Form structured as a rate per Animal Unit per month. Insurance must include Commercial General Liability of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate, with Fire Legal Liability of $300,000, workers’ compensation with $1 million employer liability and a waiver of subrogation in favor of the State, and policies must be issued by companies rated A- or higher by A.M. Best. All insurance documentation must be approved by the Department of General Services Office of Risk and Insurance Management. Proposals are evaluated on a best-value basis using weighted criteria: knowledge and experience (1–10 points), ability to respond to emergencies (1–10 points),