FAC 120 - Firebreak Maintenance and Hazard Tree Removal in Nickserson State Park FY27

Department of Conservation & Recreation, a State Executive Agency, is requesting proposals for the following work.

The selected vendor(s) will be responsible for the following task(s):

• Task 1 – Firebreak Maintenance: Cut and remove trees, mulch small trees, and mow brush along Ober Road
• Task 2 – Hazard Tree Removal and Mitigation: Remove and mitigate hazard trees throughout Nickerson State Park; including, but not limited to: campgrounds, internal roads, internal bike path

Bidders may bid on a single task, or both tasks. DCR reserves the right to award tasks separately to each vendor.

Task 1 – Firebreak Maintenance

All marked live white pine, live pitch pine, and live hardwood trees shall be felled and removed from the project area. All live trees are within 12 feet of Ober Road. All marked standing dead trees shall be removed. Standing dead trees are within 50 feet of Ober Road. All marked dead and down trees shall be either removed or mulched in place. [...] All tree stumps shall protrude no more than 2” from the ground surface at the conclusion of all treatment activities. All felled material shall be removed from the project area. Trees are marked with orange paint on the side facing the road.

Approximate number of trees:

• Live white pine: 8 trees, diameter range: 5in to 18in
• Live pitch pine: 9 trees, diameter range: 12in to 19in
• Hardwood: 18 trees, diameter range: 5in to 16in
• Standing dead: 60 trees, diameter range: 5in to 23in
• Dead and down: 22 trees +/-, diameter range: 5in to 22in

All trees (live or dead) under 5 inches in diameter at breast height (4.5 ft above the ground) within 12 feet of Ober Road shall be felled and removed from the project area or mulched in place. All brush (shrubs, vines, brambles, grasses, etc.) within 12 feet of Ober Road shall be completely mowed/mulched in place (e.g. with an ASV machine with a mulching head) to approximately 6 inches in height. [...] No skidding of material will be allowed. Ober Road will be cleared of all debris upon completion.

Mulch from all the activities described above shall consist of shredded, non-compacted, woody material. Mulch shall be as evenly dispersed as feasible and shall not exceed 3” in depth in order to minimize packing and to maintain air space to promote drying and decomposition.

Task 2 – Hazard Tree Removal and Mitigation

The Contractor shall provide all labor, materials, equipment, supervision, and other services and permits required to complete the work in accordance with the specifications for Task 2 of FAC 120 Firebreak Maintenance and Hazard Tree Removal in Nickerson State Park FY27 as prepared by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (“DCR”). [...]

All marked or designated trees and downed woody material shall be completely removed. [...] All tree stumps from marked trees must be cut as low as possible to the ground.

Responses (bids/quotes) are to be submitted to DCR electronically via the “Create Quote” function contained in Commbuys system. If you are a vendor on FAC 120 and have not registered on Commbuys, you are required to do so. Help is available from the Commbuys Help Desk at 617.720.3197.

**Completion of the included Bidder Response Form (required).** Bids submitted without this form will not be considered.

**Bid submission deadline:** Tuesday, November 17, 2026 @4pm. Answers to Questions will be submitted by: 4pm, Monday, November 16, 2026.

Bidder Response Requirements also include:

• Certified copies of each subcontractor’s insurance policies, which must meet the same insurance coverage levels as required under FAC 120
• Three references (names, telephone number, and addresses) related in scope to projects similar to the Tree Removal contract.

DCR reserves the right to evaluate all bid submissions on past similar experiences, available resources, reference checks, and costs. DCR reserves the right to award one or more contractors. Contracts will be awarded based on available funding.

Wage Rates must be in accordance with G. L. c. 149, §§26 and 27D the Prevailing Wage Rates as instructed in FAC120.

The Contractor shall guarantee their workmanship for one year after completion and acceptance by DCR.

Estimated Project Start Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Task 1 – Friday, January 15, 2027. Task 2 – Thursday, December 31, 2026.