2025 Fall Tree Planting and Danger Tree Assessing/Falling, Mt. Athelstan…

To all potential bidders please note that in addition to any other reservation of rights set out in the RFP, the Province reserves the right, in its sole discretion to modify the terms of the RFP at any time prior to the Closing Date and Time, including the right to cancel the RFP at any time prior to entering into a Contract with a Proponent. This opportunity consists of planting of approximately 200,000 seedlings in the fall of 2025 across 158ha within the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District. Seedlings are to be planted on eight (8) blocks located on the western flank of Mt. Athelstan in the Upper Lillooet area northwest of Pemberton, British Columbia. Planting includes both straight planting and fill planting. All seedlings are to be fertilized with teabag fertilizer packs (Chilcoltin mix, 10g packs) which have been purchased by the Ministry. Coordination of the transport seedlings from the nursery and the fertilizer from the Ministry of Forests (MOF) Squamish office to the planting locations will be the responsibility of the Contractor.

The Mt. Athelstan area was impacted by wildfire in the summer/fall of 2023 (fire ID V31300). This project involves underplanting in burned plantations and mature timber.  A more detailed description of the planting sites and prescription can be found in the planting maps and site descriptions document, as well as the specimen contract.

All planting sites will require a Danger Tree Assessment (DTA) by a certified Danger Tree Assessor and if required the establishment of No Work Zones or fell danger trees as required. A DTA report must be provided to the Ministry for each planting site. The requirements of the DTA report can be found in the specimen contract. For each completed planting site the Contractor will provide to the Ministry a planting map and label. The requirements of the planting map can be found in the specimen contract.

Access to Mt. Athelstan is by truck along the Lillooet River FSR. Planting sites are accessible by truck, or by ATV and walk-in. Sites accessed by ATV may require some access improvements (i.e. brushing) and additional funds have been allocated for these access improvements. If required, additional MOF funds are also available for the use of a helicopter to sling trees into select sites indicated in the specimen contract for up to a maximum of three (3) hours of flying time. All flights are at the Ministry’s discretion and will be booked by a Ministry Representative.The use of a helicopter for the Mt. Athelstan sites is for tree delivery and not for the transport of tree planters or foreman.

Due to the proximity to the Mt. Meager volcanic complex the Upper Lillooet valley is within a landslide hazard zone. The Contractor will be responsible for monitoring landslide hazard levels and adjust operations accordingly as access to the Upper Lillooet is restricted when landslide hazard levels are rated high or extreme. A contractor prepared safety plan is a requirement for all MOF contracts.

In addition, as part of a planting trial, approximately 2000-3000 Whitebark pine seedlings are to be planted at two locations between Squamish and Whistler, British Columbia. A description of the Whitebark pine planting sites and prescription can be found in the planting maps and site descriptions document. Access to these sites will be by helicopter; all seedlings, tree planters and foreman will be flown in by helicopter. All flights are at the Ministry discretion. Flights will be booked by the Ministry and the Ministry Representative may accompany the Contractor during Whitebark Pine planting operations.

All activities will adhere to the Forest Investment Program General Standards and the Forest Investment Program Planting Standards provided in the specimen contract. The work will be monitored by a Ministry Representative and the successful bidder of the associated tree planting implementation contract to ensure that all planting objectives are in accordance with all standards outlined in specimen contract.

The estimated term of the contract will be from September 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. The exact planting start date will depend on local weather conditions and soil moisture.

Further details as to the scope of this opportunity and the requirements can be found within the attached RFP documents.

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