UF IFAS Millhopper Timber Sale

The University of Florida is soliciting sealed, per-unit pay-as-cut offers for the harvesting of merchantable pine and hardwood timber at the UF/IFAS Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Millhopper Unit in Alachua County, Florida. The total sale area encompasses approximately 232 acres and includes three distinct harvest types: a plantation clearcut of 17.3 acres, a selective harvest of pine plantation and natural pine-hardwood, and a third-row thin with operator select in a 2016 Loblolly plantation. While the sale is considered best-suited for in-woods chipping, other products may be applicable. Bidders must provide a single per-ton harvested rate for all blended products, and the award will be made on an all-or-none basis to the single best offeror. The successful contractor will have one year from the date of the agreement to complete all harvesting operations, with a critical deadline of January 1, 2027, for a specific 6.8-acre stand of 2004 Slash pine to avoid forfeiture due to imminent development. Requirements for bidders include proof of Master Logger status and the submission of a 5,000 dollar security deposit, which is refundable upon a successful compliance inspection. The contractor must adhere to Florida Silviculture and Forestry-Wildlife Best Management Practices, maintain a drug-free workplace per Florida Statutes, and comply with the university's tobacco-free campus policy. All offers must be submitted by 3:30 PM on September 24, 2026, using the official offer form and sent to the designated point of contact.