Mt Jumbo Forest Restoration/Fuels Reduction Project

The City of Missoula is soliciting statements of qualifications from contractors for the Mount Jumbo Preserve Forest Restoration and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project. This initiative involves restoring forest conditions and reducing wildfire risk across 53 acres in Marshall Canyon, Montana. The scope of work includes hand thinning, pruning, and slash management via piling and burning or lop-and-scatter methods. Key technical requirements include achieving a 30-foot average crown spacing, removing trees 10 inches DBH or smaller (excluding retained ponderosa pines), and maintaining a 10-foot vertical spacing between understory fuels and conifer branches. All work must be completed by April 30, 2026, with forestry activities specifically targeted for completion by November 30, 2025. Interested firms must attend a mandatory pre-bid tour on May 8, 2025, and submit their proposals by May 14, 2025, at 3:00 PM MST. Submissions must include a cover page, a contractor experience sheet detailing three comparable projects from the last five years, and a project bid sheet. Awards will be based on a best-value trade-off evaluation totaling 103 points, weighted by project cost, schedule adherence, general experience, past performance, workforce approach, and local preference. Contractors are required to maintain liability insurance of 1 million dollars per occurrence and 2 million dollars aggregate, comply with Montana Prevailing Wage laws for projects exceeding 25,000 dollars, and adhere to Streamside Management Zone laws and invasive species prevention protocols.