Job Type: Contract, on-site
Location: Klickitat County, Washington
Application Due Date: September 24, 2025
Notice is hereby given that Columbia Land Trust (Land Trust) is seeking interest from contractors to provide a variety of prescribed fire (Rx fire) services. The Land Trust intends to rank contractors based on a combination of qualifications, experience, capacity, and rates. As projects develop, the Land Trust will request proposals from the top-ranked contractor and, depending on availability, will work down the list in order of rank.
Project Summary:
The Land Trust is a subaward recipient of a Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) to increase Rx fire capacity in Klickitat County. The Land Trust is looking for a qualified contractor to help develop our prescribed burn program and implement broadcast burns. Tasks will include burn bossing and/or providing leadership on burns, writing burn plans, helping develop internal standards and protocols related to Rx fire, and training/mentoring key staff.
This RFQ does not guarantee respondents work under this CWDG grant award. Respondents that best meet the need of the project work will be added to a ranked contractor list. Project managers will select contractors from this ranked list to develop a scope of work and budget for specific work items, as needed to best meet project work deliverables. Ranking will be based on contractor qualifications and relevant project experience, availability and capacity to deliver needed services, and project rates.
The work under this RFQ shall begin in September 2025 and continue until November of 2029. Most of the work will take place on Land Trust property in Klickitat County, Washington.
Columbia Land Trust reserves the right to re-open the RFQ process as needed during the project work period to ensure that we have contractors that meet current project needs. All respondents will have the opportunity to refresh their submittals if the RFQ is reopening during the project period.
Scope of Services:
Task A - Burn Boss and/or assist:
Lead and/or assist with implementing broadcast burns on Land Trust owned lands. This may include unit layout and preparation. Fuel types include ponderosa pine, oak-pine, and dry mixed conifer.
Task B - Burn plans, permitting:
Lead or assist with writing private lands burn plans and obtaining WA DNR burn permits.
Task C - Develop Land Trust standards and protocols for Rx fire operations:
Review existing standards and protocols and provide recommendations. Engage with key Land Trust personnel to continue developing appropriate standards, protocols, and communications for implementing Rx fire.
• Recommend and/or provide training to staff to increase organizational Rx fire capabilities and capacity.
Requests for Qualifications:
Interested contractors should submit the following information:
Contractor Qualifications and Experience – Fire qualifications and Rx fire implementation experience (NWCG RXB2 burn boss is preferred but not required). Experience with Rx fire in this region (south/central WA, East Cascades) and/or in ponderosa pine, oak-pine, and dry mixed conifer fuel types. Experience with Rx fire on private lands. Rx fire program development experience. Rx fire teaching and training experience. Please provide examples of three projects that represent your qualifications and experience.
Capacity and Availability – Some of this work can be completed throughout the year, while burn implementation is highly dependent on weather windows in the spring and fall. Please describe your general capacity and availability to complete the tasks described in the Scope of Services through the life of this project.
Rates: Please provide a rate sheet for staff and other expenses completing the tasks described in the Scope of Services.
