Reforestation - Chilcotin Military Training Area (CMTA)

The Chilcotin Military Training Area (CMTA), located north of the small community of Riske Creek and about 47 kilometers west of Williams Lake, consists of approximately 41,000 hectares of land owned by the Department of National Defence (DND) and is used as a military training area. The management of forest resources on this property is the responsibility of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada(DIAND) through an Order-in-Council P.C. O.I.C 1961-807. In the summer of 2010, approximately 15,000 hectares of Douglas-fir dominated stands in the eastern half of the property were damaged by a severe crown fire and a light to severe ground fire. In addition, in the last decade, this property has also been adversely impacted and approximately 10,000 hectares of Lodgepole pine dominated stands in the western half of the property have been damaged by the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB). As a result, DIAND has initiated a reforestation program on the property as part of DIAND’s due diligence to rehabilitate the forested land base. DIAND is looking to establish a contract for a period of up to one (1) year to carry out reforestation services in support of DIAND’s due diligence to rehabilitate the forested land base.

The objectives are to qualify the supplier(s) in the re-forestation services to plant in the appropriate microsites on cut blocks. This will include 2014 spring planting for of the following tree species by hectare for artificial regeneration: • Lodgepole Pine • Douglas Fir - Interior • Ponderosa Pine

All bidders must be available for a site visit at the work site on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 located at 47 KM West of Williams Lake, British Columbia at 0930 hrs. Bidders will be required to confirm no later than two business days before the scheduled visit and sign an attendance form. Site visit will be at the bidder’s expense, travel and other costs and/or fees will not be reimbursed. Bidders will be assessed based on firm experience, knowledge of tree handling procedures, health and safety and be in good standing with WorkSafeBC. Bidders will be required to have first aid crew member(s) in accordance with WorkSafeBC. Bidders must have a project supervisor/manager with five planting season of project supervision experience and six planting seasons of tree planting industry experience. Foreperson(s) must have two planting seasons experience and five seasons of tree planting industry experience. Experience may be concurrent Bidders will need sufficient resources to plant 2.3 to 3Million trees within six (6) weeks of snow and frost free conditions estimated to be mid April to early May 2014. Bidders should include Aboriginal involvement in the undertaking of this contract. This procurement is subject to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)