GBNERR Mastication Project

The GBNERR Mastication Project is a solicitation issued by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources for the selective mastication of 480 acres of woody vegetation to promote herbaceous understory development and the construction of approximately 8,900 feet of 30-foot-wide firelanes east of Bayou Heron Road in Mississippi. The work must be performed using low ground pressure heavy equipment and power tools, adhering to Best Management Practices as directed by Grand Bay NERR staff, with all firelanes scraped to bare mineral soil and tree trunks and roots mulched below the surface. Bidders must submit an all-inclusive price with pricing locked for the life of the contract and meet strict responsiveness requirements, including completion and signature of the Bid Cover Form, Bid Form, and Bidder’s Checklist. The procurement follows a lowest responsive, responsible bidder award process, with responsibility determined by a pass/fail reference scoring system requiring a minimum combined score of seven from two references. The contract has an initial one-year term with a one-time option for an additional year at MDMR’s discretion, contingent on funding and contractor agreement. All contractors must comply with Mississippi state laws and regulations, including the Mississippi Public Records Act and Accountability and Transparency Act, with contract details such as unit prices and total cost required to be posted on transparency.ms.gov. Insurance requirements include a $1,000,000 aggregate general liability policy, $500,000 per occurrence coverage, $50,000 fire damage coverage, and $5,000 medical expense coverage, along with workers’ compensation as mandated by state law, all issued by Mississippi-licensed insurers. No bonds are required, but bidders must certify they are not debarred, have not engaged in price collusion, have not used contingent fees or gratuities, and have no conflicts of interest. Proposals must be submitted via the MAGIC portal by July 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CST and in a sealed envelope to the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration, with no fax or email submissions accepted. Invoices must include contract and purchase order numbers, date of completion, and be sent by mail to Biloxi or via email to Procurement@dmr.ms.gov, with payments processed within 45 days of approval and remitted electronically to the contractor’s chosen bank account. The contract, governed by Mississippi law, allows termination for convenience by