Des Moines County Conservation - Forest Resiliency Restoration Services RFP - 2026
Des Moines CountyCounty · Des Moines County, IA- Due
- Oct 23, 2026
- Deadline passed
- Posted
- Sep 22, 2026
- Contract term
- 4 years
- Primary contact
- Tanner Gebhardt
- (319) 572-6865
The 30-second brief
Des Moines County Conservation invites proposals for forest resiliency restoration services across four public conservation properties: Big Hollow Recreation Area, Hickory Bend Conservation Area, Hunt Woods, and Starr's Cave Park and Preserve. The work is supported by the Iowa Forest Resiliency Partnership Program Grant and includes mechanical invasive-species removal, herbicide application, mid-story thinning, crop-tree release, site preparation, and hardwood tree planting. Contractors may submit proposals for one or more bid items and are not required to bid the entire project. Proposals are due by October 23, 2026, at 3:00 PM. A pre-bid field tour is scheduled for October 15, 2026. Required contractor qualifications include Iowa commercial pesticide applicator licenses and commercial general liability and pollution insurance.
Big Hollow Phase 1 invasive species control, Big Hollow mid-story thinning/site prep, Big Hollow Phase 2 foliar control, Hickory Bend Stand 3 invasive/brush removal, Hickory Bend Stand 4 invasive removal, Hickory Bend Stand 4 Phase 2 foliar control, Hickory Bend crop-tree release, Hunt Woods Phase 1 invasive species control, Hunt Woods Phase 2 foliar control, Starr's Cave site preparation, Starr's Cave tree planting, Starr's Cave Year 1 competition control
Responsiveness to scope and technical specifications, relevant forestry and restoration experience, equipment and staffing, references and past performance, licensing and insurance compliance, price and overall value
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Summary
Des Moines County Conservation invites proposals for forest resiliency restoration services across four public conservation properties: Big Hollow Recreation Area, Hickory Bend Conservation Area, Hunt Woods, and Starr's Cave Park and Preserve.
The work is supported by the Iowa Forest Resiliency Partnership Program Grant and includes mechanical invasive-species removal, herbicide application, mid-story thinning, crop-tree release, site preparation, and hardwood tree planting. Contractors may submit proposals for one or more bid items and are not required to bid the entire project. Proposals are due by October 23, 2026, at 3:00 PM. A pre-bid field tour is scheduled for October 15, 2026. Required contractor qualifications include Iowa commercial pesticide applicator licenses and commercial general liability and pollution insurance.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
6- Responsiveness to scope and technical specifications
- Relevant forestry and restoration experience
- Equipment and staffing
- References and past performance
- Licensing and insurance compliance
- Price and overall value
REQUIRED DELIVERABLES
12- Big Hollow Phase 1 invasive species control
- Big Hollow mid-story thinning/site prep
- Big Hollow Phase 2 foliar control
- Hickory Bend Stand 3 invasive/brush removal
- Hickory Bend Stand 4 invasive removal
- Hickory Bend Stand 4 Phase 2 foliar control
- Hickory Bend crop-tree release
- Hunt Woods Phase 1 invasive species control
- Hunt Woods Phase 2 foliar control
- Starr's Cave site preparation
- Starr's Cave tree planting
- Starr's Cave Year 1 competition control
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
8- Contractor contact information
- Completed Bid Sheet
- Qualifications and relevant experience
- Three references
- Iowa commercial pesticide applicator license number(s) and categories
- Proposed subcontractors
- Exceptions/assumptions/clarifications
- Certificate of insurance
- Submit to
- [email protected]
- Scope location
- Burlington, IA
Questions about this RFP
How do I respond to this RFP from Des Moines County?
Review the full solicitation document for submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. The submission deadline is October 23, 2026. The solicitation specifies required deliverables that must be addressed in your response. Be sure to include all required attachments as outlined in the solicitation. Submissions should be delivered to: [email protected]. For questions, contact Tanner Gebhardt.
Can small businesses or minority-owned firms bid on this RFP?
Most government agencies, including Des Moines County in IA, encourage participation from small businesses, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MBE/WBE/DBE). Check the full solicitation for any small business participation goals.
What happens after the RFP submission deadline?
After the deadline, the issuing agency reviews all submissions against the stated evaluation criteria. This typically includes a compliance check, technical evaluation, cost analysis, and may involve oral presentations with shortlisted vendors.
Can I ask questions about this solicitation before submitting?
Yes, most solicitations allow vendors to submit questions during a designated period. The primary contact is Tanner Gebhardt at (319) 572-6865. Questions and answers are typically shared with all prospective bidders.
What are the key deliverables?
The solicitation specifies the following deliverables: Big Hollow Phase 1 invasive species control, Big Hollow mid-story thinning/site prep, Big Hollow Phase 2 foliar control, Hickory Bend Stand 3 invasive/brush removal, Hickory Bend Stand 4 invasive removal, Hickory Bend Stand 4 Phase 2 foliar control, Hickory Bend crop-tree release, Hunt Woods Phase 1. Proposals should clearly address how each deliverable will be met.
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What are the evaluation criteria for this solicitation?
This solicitation includes specific evaluation criteria that will be used to score proposals. The criteria include: "Responsiveness to scope and technical specifications, relevant forestry and restoration experience, equipment and staffing, references and past performance, licensing and insurance compliance, price a..." Vendors should carefully align their proposals with each criterion to maximize their score.
Where can I find more RFPs from Des Moines County?
All active and historical solicitations from Des Moines County are tracked and searchable. As a county agency, Des Moines County regularly publishes solicitations. Visit the agency profile to see current open bids, past contracts, vendor relationships, and decision-maker contacts.
What is the contract term for this solicitation?
The anticipated contract term is 4 years. Contract terms may include renewal options.
What documents are required to bid on this RFP?
Requirements vary by solicitation, but common documents include a technical proposal, cost/price proposal, proof of insurance, relevant certifications, past performance references, and any forms specified in the solicitation. This solicitation specifically requires the following attachments: Contractor contact information, completed Bid Sheet, qualifications and relevant experience, three references, Iowa commercial pesticide applicator license number(s) and categories, proposed subcontra. Review the full document from Des Moines County for the complete list.
What is the scope of this project?
This solicitation defines a specific project scope. The scope covers the following locations: Burlington, IA. Review the full solicitation for detailed scope requirements.