Mechanical Site Prep: Cherry West Item 1

The County of Tuolumne is soliciting qualified contractors to perform fuels‑reduction, mastication, hand‑thinning, piling and related mechanical site‑preparation treatments on approximately 535.9 acres of the Cherry West project in the Stanislaus National Forest. Work must begin on priority units (M014A & M014C) no earlier than June 2027 and be finished by 31 Oct 2027, with all remaining units completed by 31 Oct 2028 to allow reforestation planting in Spring/Fall 2028. The contract is for a two‑year term (with possible extensions) and is subject to California prevailing‑wage rules. Contractors must attend a pre‑work kickoff meeting, may be required to conduct a site visit, and must submit proposals electronically by 13 Nov 2026. • Scope: Mechanical site preparation – mastication, hand‑thinning, chipping, piling, fuel‑break construction, road barrier installation, and optional biomass removal. • Location: Cherry West area, Tuolumne County, CA, ~6,000 ft elevation, potentially snow‑impacted. • Timeline: RFP released 16 Oct 2026; questions due 30 Oct 2026; proposals due 13 Nov 2026; award notice 20 Nov 2026; work to start June 2027. • Contract term: 2 years (possible 3‑month extensions). • Mandatory compliance: California prevailing‑wage, insurance, safety, environmental protection, equipment specifications. • Evaluation criteria: qualifications/experience (30 %), service delivery/methodology (40 %), price (30 %).