RFP - Tenaya Moc Wagner Fuels Reduction Project

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)
For Contracted Services to
TUOLUMNE COUNTY RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
TO ACCOMPLISH TASKS OF THE
Tenaya-Moc Fuels Reduction Project

Tenaya Moc RFP
Table of Contents
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) ............................................................................................................................................. 2
SECTION ONE: ACTIVITIES AND TIMELINES ............................................................................................................................. 3
SECTION TWO: PROJECT BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................... 3
SECTION THREE: SCOPE OF WORK .......................................................................................................................................... 4
OTHER REQUIREMENTS: ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
SECTION FOUR: PROPOSAL PACKAGE REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................................... 9
SECTION FIVE: RFP PROCESS .................................................................................................................................................. 14
Contract for The Tenaya-Moc Fuels Management Project ................................................................................................... 18
Attachment A: Project Maps ................................................................................................................................................. 27
Attachment B: FIRE PLAN FOR CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICE CONTRACTS .......................................................................... 30
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Tenaya Moc RFP
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
CONTACT FOR INFORMATION Frank T. Lewicki - Project Manager
ABOUT THE PROJECT Email: frank@tcrcd.org
Cell: (530) 557-9632
RFP RELEASE DATE Wednesday September 9, 2026
PRE-BID TOUR Attendance at the entire Pre-Bid Tour is Mandatory to bid on the
project. You must have an LTO A or B license to submit a bid. The Pre-
Bid tour will start at Mary Laveroni Park in Groveland at 0900 on Monday
September 14, 2026 and will continue to the Project Area.
Please Contact the Project Manager to RSVP
Questions received before 5:00 PM on Wednesday September
16, 2026 will be answered and distributed to all bidders via
email.
RFP CLOSING DATE Proposals must be submitted electronically to
tricia@TCRCD.org by Wednesday September 23, 2026 5:00
PM PST.
CONTRACTOR SELECTION Project Contractor will be selected no later than Thursday September
24, 2026. All bidders will be notified via email of Contractor selection.
PROJECT Work can begin after the contract has been executed, on a date agreed
COMMENCEMENT DATE upon by the TCRCD and the contractor. Work must commence by
Thursday 10/15/26. Contractor shall meet on-site with the Project Manager
prior to starting work. Some aspects of this contract are seasonal, such as
use of heavy equipment in inclement weather, saturated soil conditions,
during Red Flag days or during Limited Operating Periods (LOP's).
PROJECT COMPLETION All tasks must be completed by 6/15/2027
DATE
All invoices to be submitted no later than 6/30/2027.
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Tenaya Moc RFP
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
The Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District (TCRCD) is seeking proposals from qualified
individuals and/or companies to conduct work detailed in the SCOPE OF WORK. The TCRCD will be the
sponsor and manager of the project.
SECTION ONE: ACTIVITIES AND TIMELINES
Activity Date
Release of RFP Wednesday 9/9/26
Pre-Bid Tour Monday 9/14/26
Deadline for RFP Questions Wednesday 9/16/26
Deadline for Proposals Wednesday 9/23/26
Selection Committee Evaluates and Ranks Proposals Thursday 9/24/26
Notice of Intent to Award Contract Thursday 9/24/26
Notice of Contract Award (Tentative) Thursday 10/1/26
Contract Executed (Tentative) Monday 10/5/26
Project Start Date (Tentative pending NTP. Work must Monday 10/12/26
commence by Wednesday 10/15/26)
SECTION TWO: PROJECT BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
The Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District (TCRCD) was established in 2005 following voter
approval and is a non-regulatory Special District dedicated to promoting and implementing natural
resource conservation throughout Tuolumne County. TCRCD works collaboratively with private
landowners, growers, ranchers, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to address local
natural resource needs and accomplish shared conservation goals.
TCRCD does not receive ongoing administrative funding from Tuolumne County or local taxpayers. Instead,
the District sustains its operations and delivers conservation projects primarily through competitive grants
and other funding opportunities from state and federal agencies, foundations, and partner organizations.
This grant-based model allows TCRCD to leverage outside funding to bring resources into Tuolumne
County and implement projects that benefit local communities, landowners, and natural resources.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Please refer to the Project Overview Map found in Attachment A.
The implementation of this project shall be governed by the statewide Environmental Protection Plan
(EPP). The EPP was developed to fulfill Governor Newsom's State of Emergency Proclamation (SOE) signed
on March 1, 2025, and extended by Executive Order N-38-25, signed on December 31, 2025, seeking to
expedite fuels reduction projects that protect communities and reduce severe risks of catastrophic
wildfire.
The Tenaya-Moc Fuels Management Project is an approximate 516 acre project (338 acres of private
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Tenaya Moc RFP
ground and 178 acres of BLM ground) that will reduce the fuel density between the communities of
Groveland and Big Oak Flat in Tuolumne County. The project will provide wildfire protection for Big Oak
Flat/Groveland areas which have a population of 3,290 (2020 census). The proposed project provides fuel
breaks protecting the south and west sides of Tenaya Elementary School and the surrounding community.
The project also addresses the notable past fires in this area which are the Moc 2020, Flat 2018, Marshes
2016, and Creek in 2001 which burned over 11,000 acres on the south side of Groveland. The project area,
classified as a High Fire Hazard Severity, was developed by TCRCD in collaboration with members of The
Southwest Interface Team (SWIFT) for its strategic location based on fire history, ridgelines, and existing
fuel breaks. The proposed project meets the program strategic goal of fuels management on both federal
and private land and will create a more resilient landscape in a Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) area.
This RFP focuses on fuel reduction and fuel break implementation on an estimated 516 acres
around portions of Merrell Road, Vernal Drive and HWY 120. Fuel breaks will be extended to a width of
300 feet from the Moc Line to El Capitan Way, Vernal Drive, Merrell Road, and Second Garrotte Ridge
connecting the project to the Wagner Ridge Fuel Break. Surface and ladder fuels shall be reduced or
modified by mastication, tractor piling and burning or by hand cutting and chipping or piling and burning.
Mastication and tractor piling and burning may be conducted by a variety of tracked type machines. Hand
work for chipping, as well as piling and burning or lopping and scattering will be conducted by hand crews
using chainsaws and other hand tools. Trees less than 12" in diameter at breast height (DBH), surface fuels
and ladder fuels will be treated to achieve a target residual tree spacing of 25' to 30' between stems. In
areas where no trees are available for retention, aggregations of brush may be retained. Dead trees of any
size may be felled and chipped, piled and burned or masticated. Masticated or chipped material will be left
on site. The reduction in vegetation will create a shaded fuel break condition that will minimize fire
behavior and create a stand structure that is resistant to stand replacing fires.
SECTION THREE: SCOPE OF WORK
It is the intent of these specifications, terms and conditions to describe the services expected by the
TCRCD. Proposals will be evaluated for "best value" not necessarily "lowest price".
The TCRCD has identified several tasks to be addressed in response to this RFP for these units.
TASK 1-MECHANICAL: Contractor will use tracked mastication machines capable of safely operating on
slopes up to 50% and with enough power to cut and masticate standing conifer and hardwood trees and
other vegetation up to 12" DBH. There are roughly 501 acres of mastication work.
Contractor will execute all requirements listed in the Mechanical Treatment Prescription.
Mechanical Treatment Prescription:
* Surface and ladder fuels shall be reduced or modified by mastication, tractor piling and burning on
slopes less than 30%, or chipping. Mastication may be conducted by a variety of tracked type
machines.
* On slopes up to 40% (BLM) and up to 50% (all other areas) masticate all shrubs >12" in height
above the ground and conifer or hardwood trees up to 12" DBH to an average residual spacing of
25-30 feet between boles. Ideal spacing in the treated landscape will be variable and dependent on
vegetation density. Generally, 10-20 foot crown spacing. Where oaks and conifers are lacking in the
overstory, and manzanita >6" in diameter at the base are present, a dominant manzanita may be
retained to achieve retention goals. Create no area void of vegetation >35'. Where feasible, retain a
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Tenaya Moc RFP
minimum of 2-3 of the largest hard snags per acre and 2-3 large (>20" diameter) downed logs per
acre.
* Retained trees <12" DBH to achieve spacing guidelines shall be healthy dominant or co-dominant
specimens with at least 1/3 live crown ratio and not be within the drip line of an overstory tree.
Species preference for retained trees shall be black oak, sugar pine (with no evidence of blister
rust), ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, incense cedar, blue oak, live oak and foothill pine. Retained
multi- stemmed oak clumps with at least 3 or more stems larger than 12" DBH shall have all stems
<12" DBH cut.
* Downed trees or logs greater than 12" in diameter shall be bucked so the segments are in full
contact with the ground. In addition, the contractor shall masticate the exposed tops of bucked
segments and downed logs to open the segments to decay.
* Where feasible, individual pieces of wood created through mastication or chipping shall not exceed
12" long and depth of material shall not exceed 12" in more than 15% of the treatment area. Debris
exceeding the above depth shall be spread to a depth of less than 6" or mulched into the soil.
Chipped material shall not exceed 6" of depth across the project.
TASK 2-HAND TREATMENT and PILE: In areas too rocky or too steep to masticate, within a Watercourse
and Lake Protection Zones (WLPZ) or within other protected sites the Contractor shall use hand treatment
to achieve the same objectives and end results as described in the Mastication Treatment Prescription
under Task 1. There are approximately 15 acres of hand treatment.
* All slash from cut trees or brush shall be chipped, piled for burning or lopped and scattered to a
maximum height of 18".
* Cut trees must be directionally felled away from Equipment Exclusion Zones, protected sites and
watercourses.
* Riparian species (willow, alder, cottonwood, etc.) shall be retained within a WLPZ regardless of size.
TASK 3-TRACTOR PILE and BURNING: A Non-Residential permit and Smoke Management Plan from the
Tuolumne Air Pollution Control District (APCD) will be required. The TRCD will cover this.
* On slopes less than 30% tractor piling and burning is preferred in areas of heavy manzanita. Piles
and concentrations shall be sufficiently free of soil and other noncombustible material for effective
burning.
* Slash burning operations and fire hazard abatement operations shall be conducted in a manner
which will not damage residual trees and reproduction. Make sure piles have at least 10' of
clearance on all sides from other vegetation, have no vegetation directly overhead and are at least
100' from any structure.
* A 10' wide fire line down to bare mineral soil shall be constructed around each pile. If the pile is on
a slope a trench to catch rolling debris shall be constructed below the pile.
* SRA maximum tractor/excavator pile size is 10'W x 10'H.
* Contractor shall have on site an adequate transportable water supply and fire hose capable of fire
suppression.
* The burndown expectation is 90%.
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Tenaya Moc RFP
* Make sure the materials have dried for a sufficient amount of time: 2-4 weeks (0-2 inch diameter),
4-8 weeks (2-6") or > 8 weeks ( 6").
* The piles and concentrations shall be burned at a safe time during the first wet fall or winter
weather or other safe period following piling and according to laws and regulations. Piles and
concentrations that fail to burn sufficiently to remove the fire hazard shall be further treated to
eliminate that hazard. All necessary precautions shall be taken to confine such burning to the piled
slash.
* Burning shall only occur during the burn season. Burn only on a permissive burn day unless a waiver
has been granted (unlikely). Burn between the hours of 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM for maximum smoke
dispersion.
At least three days prior to the commencement of prescribed burning operations, the following must
occur:
1) The Contractor shall post signs along the closest public roadway to the treatment area describing the
activity and timing of the burn and request persons in the area to contact a designated representative
of the TCRCD (contact information will be provided with the notice) if they have questions or smoke
concerns.
2) The TCRCD shall publish a public interest notification in a local newspaper or other widely distributed
media source describing the activity, timing and contact information.
3) The TCRCD shall send the local county supervisor and county administrative officer (or equivalent
official responsible for distribution of public information) a notification letter or email describing the
activity, its necessity, timing and measures being taken to protect the environment and prevent
prescribed burn escape
Burning operations shall not commence until the TCRCD has received authorization to burn via the PFIRS
website (24 hour notice).
TASK 4-HANDPILE BURNING
Refer to requirements under Task 3.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Watercourse Protection
* Watercourses have been classified into one of the following categories or "classes".
Class I: Domestic Supplies, including springs, onsite and/or within 100 feet downstream of the
o
operations area and/or fish always or seasonally present onsite, including habitat to sustain
fish migration and spawning.
Class II: Fish always or seasonally present offsite within 1,000 feet down stream and/ or
o
aquatic habitat for non-fish aquatic species.
Class III: No aquatic life present, watercourse shows evidence of being capable of sediment
o
transport to Class I and II waters under normal high-water flow conditions.
* Watercourses shall have the following protection measures by classification.
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Tenaya Moc RFP
TABLE I
Procedures for Determining Watercourse and Lake Protection Zone Widths and Protective
Measures
Water Class Characteristics 1) Domestic supplies, 1) Fish always or No aquatic life present.
or Key Indicator Beneficial including springs, on site seasonally present Watercourse showing
Use and/or within 100 feet offsite within 1000 feet evidence of being capable
downstream of the downstream and/or of sediment transport to
operations area and/or 2) Aquatic habitat for Class I and II waters under
2) Fish always or nonfish aquatic species. normal high water flow
seasonally present 3) Excludes Class III waters conditions after
onsite, includes habitat that are tributary to Class completion of Timber
to sustain fish migration I waters. Operations.
and spawning.
Water Class Class I Class II Class III
Slope Class (%) Width Protection Width Protection Width Protection
Feet Measure Feet Measure Feet Measure
<30 75 50 25
30-50 100 75 50
>50 150 100 50
In riparian areas, the Contractor must retain at least 75% of the overstory, of which 75% of the
pretreatment native riparian hardwood tree canopy must be retained and 50% of the understory canopy of
native riparian vegetation within riparian habitats that have been identified in the project area.
Class III: Equipment Limitation Zones (ELZs) will be designated adjacent to Class III watercourses with
minimum widths of 25' where the side-slope is less than 30% and 50' where the side slope is 30% or greater
from the centerline of the watercourse. Equipment may make crossings perpendicular to a dry watercourse
but may not track up and down within the ELZ. Crossings should be limited to as few as possible.
* Watercourse Designation:
Class I: Shall be flagged in solid blue flagging at the edge of the EEZ.
o
Class II: Shall be flagged in solid blue flagging at the edge of the EEZ.
o
Class III shall be centerline flagged in blue and white candy-striped flagging.
o
Equipment Exclusion Zones (EEZ): Prohibit equipment from entering except where there is an
o
established road, crossing or skid trail. No vegetation shall be treated by heavy equipment while
in the EEZ. Equipment operators may reach-in and treat vegetation within the buffer as long as
the tracks remain outside of the EEZ.
* Equipment Limitation Zone (ELZ): Limits equipment from tracking within the established zone
except where noted previously in Class III protections. Equipment may "reach-in" and treat
vegetation within the buffer if the tracks remain outside of the ELZ.
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Tenaya Moc RFP
* Watercourse designation will be indicated on a georeferenced map. The Contractor will be given a
copy of the map and be made aware of the protection measure prior to the start of operations.
* All areas below the stream and lake transition line (high water mark) shall be kept free of slash and
debris. Accidental deposits of material in the watercourse, bed bank or channel shall be
immediately removed.
Endangered or Threatened Species Protections
* Endangered Plants
There are no known special status plants in the project area.
* Special-Status Birds
All treatment activities conducted during the nesting bird season (February 1 - August 31) could
result in direct loss of active nests if ground nests or trees or shrubs containing nests are destroyed.
If conducting some treatments outside of the nesting bird season is determined to be infeasible
focused nesting bird surveys will have to be conducted by a qualified RPF or biologist prior to
implementation of treatment activities.
Survey for special status nesting bird sites no more than 14 days prior to implementation.
Survey for other nesting birds no more than 21 days prior to treatment.
Archaeological Sites
There are several sites within this project. Protected sites are flagged in red and blue flagging.
Equipment shall be excluded from the area within the flagged boundary. Vegetation within the flagged
boundary may be cut by hand. Hand piles may be burned within the equipment exclusion zone.
Invasive Plants and Wildlife Mitigations
Prevent Spread of Invasive Plants, Noxious Weeds, and Invasive Wildlife. The contractor will take the
following actions to prevent the spread of invasive plants and noxious weeds.
Clean clothing, footwear and equipment used during treatments of soil, seeds, vegetative matter,
other debris or seed-bearing material or water (e.g., rivers, streams, creeks, lakes) before entering the
treatment area or when leaving an area with infestations of invasive plants, noxious weeds or invasive
wildlife.
For all heavy equipment and vehicles traveling off road, pressure wash, if feasible, or otherwise
appropriately decontaminate equipment at a designated weed-cleaning station prior to entering the
treatment area from an area with infestations of invasive plants, noxious weeds or invasive wildlife.
Anti-fungal wash agents will be specified if the equipment has been exposed to any pathogen that
could affect native species.
Inspect all heavy equipment, vehicles, tools or other treatment-related materials for sand, mud or
other signs that weed seeds or propagules could be present prior to use in the treatment area. If the
equipment is not clean, the RPF or his designee will deny entry to the work areas.
Stage equipment in areas free of invasive plant infestations unless there are no uninfested areas
present within a reasonable proximity to the treatment area.
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Identify significant infestations of invasive plant species (i.e., those rated as invasive by Cal-IPC or
designated as noxious weeds by California Department of Food and Agriculture) during
reconnaissance-level surveys and target them for removal during treatment activities. Treatment
methods will be selected based on the invasive species present and may include herbicide application,
manual or mechanical treatments, prescribed burning and/or herbivory. The treatments will be
designed to maximize success in killing or removing the invasive plants and preventing reestablishment
based on the life history characteristics of the invasive plant species present. Treatments will be
focused on removing invasive plant species that cause ecological harm to native vegetation types,
especially those that can alter fire cycles.
Treat invasive plant biomass onsite to eliminate seeds and propagules and prevent reestablishment or
dispose of invasive plant biomass offsite at an appropriate waste collection facility (if not kept on site).
Transport invasive plant materials in a closed container or bag to prevent the spread of propagules
during transport.
Implement Fire and Fuel Management BMPs outlined in the "Preventing the Spread of Invasive Plants:
Best Management Practices for Land Mangers" (Cal-IPC 2012, or current version).
SECTION FOUR: PROPOSAL PACKAGE REQUIREMENTS
PROPOSAL FORMAT
For proposals to be considered complete, proposers must provide all requested information:
Each proposer must submit one original proposal in electronic format (Adobe pdf is preferred) to the
recipient and by the deadline outlined in the timeline.
A. PROPOSAL ELEMENTS
1. Cover Sheet to include:
Title of Proposal.
Name and address of company.
Contact person, phone and email address.
2. Qualifications and Experience
Provide an overview of your experience with similar projects and comparable work. Describe
your experience coordinating with project managers, state agencies, and lead agencies. Include
information pertaining to licenses, permits, etc.
3. References
Include at least three references who can speak about your past performance and capability on
similar projects, including at least one reference who has worked with you within the last 18
months.
4. Approach
Describe your approach to providing the Scope of Services described in the RFP in a high
quality, cost-effective, environmentally sound manner that will meet the TCRCD's proposed
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