DFW-2027-038 Firebreak Improvement and Construction at the ACOE Birch Hill Dam

The Army Corp of Engineers Birch Hill Dam Property is under a cooperative management agreement with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife). MassWildlife is soliciting bids from Contractors to construct and improve firebreaks for facilitation of prescribed fire and habitat management during Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) over an approximately a 140-acre parcel at the Army Corp of Engineers Birch Hill Dam Property (hereinafter collectively referred to as ACOE Birch Hill), located in Templeton, Massachusetts (Figs. 1 & 2).

**$40,000** in funding has been identified to complete the work in designated treatment areas.

Treatments will include removing stumps and understory vegetation, grading within the identified firebreak footprint, bank stabilization and creation of truck turn-arounds in accordance with the treatment specifications section below. Understory vegetation primarily consists of shrubs and saplings ranging from 1-6 feet total height. All stumps >3” in diameter will be removed from the site.

The Contractor shall furnish all labor and materials, tools, and equipment and do all the work necessary to complete the work in accordance with the Treatment Specifications described herein.

The desired final product is drivable firebreaks and vehicle turn-arounds established according to specifications listed below and shown on the accompanying map (Figure 2).

**Base Bid** - Firebreak construction and improvements, erosion mitigation, and turn-around construction:

• ~5,500 linear ft total of 12 foot wide firebreaks (“Road Truck” on Figure 2).
• ~200 linear feet total 6 foot wide firebreaks (“UTV” on Figure 2).
• ~400 linear feet of Erosion mitigation measures at locations A, B, and C on Figure 2.
• Construction of three truck turn-around locations (“Turnaround” on Figure 2).

Alternate 1:

• 12 ft. wide firebreaks: ~3,500 linear ft total (“Road-Truck” on Figure 2).
• Construction of one truck turn-around location (“Turnaround” on Figure 2).

Alternate 2:

- 12 ft. wide firebreaks: ~2,700 linear ft total.

Alternate 3:

- 12 ft. wide firebreaks: ~1,400 linear ft total.

The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible and eligible bidder for the treatments described on the Mandatory Bid Sheets.

Bid Sets Available (place, date and time): After November 4, 2026; available on Commbuys. Visit www.commbuys.com and in the bid description box enter DFW-2027-038 and click Perform Quick Search.

All project work, including grading and cleanup of material, must be completed no later than **May 1, 2027**, unless otherwise approved in writing by MassWildlife’s Associate Director of Finance.

The winning bidder(s) shall submit: 1) a performance bond in the amount of **100%** of the total contract; and 2) a payment bond in the amount of **50%** of the total contract price for any contract totaling $25,000.00 or more that results from this request for quote, within ten days of contract award.

Projects included in this request for written quotes are subject to Massachusetts’ prevailing wage rates.

The Contractor shall provide a certificate indicating comprehensive commercial general liability insurance, with coverage for bodily injury, wrongful death, and property damage in the amount of at least **$1,000,000** naming the Commonwealth as an additional insured [...].