PL26TGC002 - Summer Tree Planting in Prince George

*****Amendment 1 – October 16, 2024*****
Discard and Replaced: 16 Appendix I – Overview Map with 16 Appendix I – Overview Map Revised
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The proposed contract requires the planting of approximately 1,540,000 estimated BCTS seedlings and 906,000 teabags of fertilizer in the Prince George Business Area. The openings that are to be planted can be found throughout the BCTS Prince George Business Area. Summer planting must be completed by August 7th, 2025. Refer to the Schedule B1 for specific prescribed seedling information. Access comments on the Schedule B1 are also for guidance only. 

If there are seedling allocation or area discrepancies between planting maps and the Schedule B1, then the Schedule B1 is the primary source of information for bidding. There have been a few changes to the contract documents in the last few years, please review Schedules before submitting a bid package. 

Some of the key highlights include:
•    It is the contractor’s responsibility to complete permitting for any silviculture camps on crown land, for example having a special use permit to occupy a gravel pit. It is required that contractors submit their expected camp locations with bids, to facilitate filing of permit documents for the upcoming season.
•    Shipping costs for seedlings from nurseries will be reimbursed up to Prince George. See Schedule C for details.
•    A pre-determined set of rate increases will be applied to any Substantial Access Changes that occur after the tender closing date and before the planting start date.
•    Data to support regen declarations is to be collected and summarized by Standard Unit not Planting Unit.

Questions & Answers
All contract related questions must be submitted in writing ONLY to the following email address: Forests.PrinceGeorgeTimberSalesOffice@gov.bc.ca.  

Deadline for receiving questions is 4:30 pm on October 24, 2024.

If questions are received, a Question & Answer document will be posted to BC Bid by  October 25, 2024.
    
Tender submissions must be submitted in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the tender package.
    
If your bid deposit is in the form of cash, money order, certified cheque or bank draft, you will not be able to e-bid. See allowable submission delivery method(s) above. Also see Conditions of Tender for acceptable bid securities.

The lowest priced or any tender will not necessarily be accepted.

This Solicitation is using the BCTS Planting Contractor Rating System to evaluate tenders.  Please see the ‘Information to Bidders’ for Tendering Process and ‘Frequently Asked Questions and BCTS-Planting Contracting Rating Form’ documents for information on the Rating System.

Be aware that BCTS has made changes to its EMS and SFM programs to meet the updated 2022 Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Forest Management Standard. Changes impacting BCTS clients include new training requirements (Table 008-1, 008-1A, Tailgate Training, SFI Awareness documents, and new Indigenous rights awareness training, as well as changes to training frequency and a new continuing education component). In addition, note changes to EMS/SFM Environmental Field Procedures and Incident Reporting Procedures which occurred June 1, 2022. 

Supervisors and workers will need to be familiar with these changes prior to commencement of operations. These documents are posted on our external EMS/SFM website at BC Timber Sales - Business Area Environmental Management System (EMS) and Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) - Province of British Columbia (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/bc-timber-sales/forest-certification/ems-sfm).  More information on SFI available at www.forests.org.

Unverified bid results will be posted to BC Bid after tender opening and once awarded the contract award results will be available on BC Bid.
    
Please see the following website for
important BCTS Contracting advisory notices and guidance information:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/bc-timber-sales/contracting
    
Timber Sales Manager
Prince George Business Area
BC Timber Sales