V-BLADE TREE PLANTING SERVICES

The Suwannee River Water Management District is soliciting bids for V-blade tree planting services to reforest approximately 371 acres of forestland across the Withlacoochee Quail Farm, Holton Creek, Mattair Springs, and Woods Ferry Tracts in Suwannee and Hamilton Counties, Florida. The project, scheduled for the 2026-2027 planting season with an anticipated start date of December 1, 2026, aims to establish healthy, vigorous stands of containerized longleaf pine seedlings to support the District’s Land Management Plan objectives for floodplain and habitat protection. Bidders must use crawler tractors equipped with front-mounted V-blades and whiffield-type planting machines that meet strict technical specifications, including the ability to scalp a consistent 1–3 foot wide and 1–2 inch deep strip, penetrate soil to at least 10 inches, and plant seedlings in a vertical orientation with no slanted or J-rooted trees. All seedlings must be handled, stored, and transported with care to prevent damage or heat build-up, and field storage must not exceed two days if temperatures exceed 65 degrees Fahrenheit or expose containers to direct sunlight. Bidders are required to demonstrate at least three years of relevant experience, provide documentation of three similar projects completed in the past three years, and show the capability to supply all necessary equipment with operators possessing a minimum of three years of experience. Proposals must be submitted electronically via DemandStar by 10:00 a.m. on June 10, 2026, and include a completed bid form, equipment list, evidence of insurance coverage including workers’ compensation, motor vehicular liability of at least $1,000,000, and general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate, as well as a completed IRS Form W-9 and certification of ADA-compliant electronic submissions in accordance with Florida Statutes and Section 508. Contracts will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with preference given to minority-owned or veteran-owned businesses in the event of tied bids. Upon award, the contractor must execute the contract within ten days and comply with the District’s “Come Clean, Leave Clean” standard, including equipment inspections before and after operations near non-native weed infestations. All work must be completed and invoiced by February 28,