Western Silviculture and Fire Works Contracts RFP

Long term contracts for silvicultural activities for both Ballarat & Colac and the South-West are expiring in 2026. HVP's Western Region is undertaking an open and competitive RFP for plantation management and establishment works commencing June 2026. - F26 works for renewal are currently undertaken by four contractors, three for Ballarat & Colac and one for the South-West, with an approximate combined annual spend of $2.5 million. - The total estimated value of works on offer for a 3-year term for the proposed works is $7.5 million. ABOUT THE TENDERER: Melbourne-based HVP is one of Australia's largest private timber plantation companies. The company is owned by a combination of Australian and international investors. Manulife Investment Management Timber & Agriculture Inc (MIMTA), based in Boston, acts as overseeing manager on behalf of investors. Senior management from MIMTA also represent investors on the HVP Board. The HVP Plantations estate is situated across areas of southern Victoria, extending from Gippsland in the east to the border with South Australia in the west and large plantations in the north east of the state. The total area of land managed by HVP equates to over 240,000 ha. About 170,000ha of this land is pine and eucalypt plantation. ABOUT THE TENDER: There are three separate parcels of Silvicultural works on offer for the Ballarat & Colac district and one parcel for the South West which include: 1. Planting and Post Plant activities– these include planting, manual post plant herbicide and manual fertiliser application. 2. Fire prevention mechanical operations – these include slashing and ploughing operations. 3. Fire standby and response personnel and plantation management activities over the fire danger period – plantation management activities include track clearing, woody weed control and plantation maintenance activities. There are silvicultural works which will not be included in the RFP process. These works are currently being undertaken by contractors engaged under either long-term or annual contracts and include: 1. Long term contracts for activities such as aerial spraying, site preparation and heavy plant. 2. Annual contracts for activities such as aerial fertiliser application, drone spraying, ground-based herbicide application, offloading of plants and transport of plants. The intent of the RFP is to offer up to 3-year terms for one or multiple parcels commencing at the start of November 2026 for a three-year term, ending at the end of October 2029. Due to the historical variability in plantation management and establishment works, the contracts will aim to commit to a minimum works commitment rather than contract the full forecast works. With a key selection criterion being the contractor's ability to surge or flex with South-West and Ballarat & Colac region's changing plantation management and establishment workloads and requirements. The committed works will include a minimum number of personnel for summer crew. Stage 1 Selection criteria will include the following: 1. Demonstrated safety & environmental performance and compliance. 2. Company details. Upon completion of the Stage 1 process the shortlisted proponents will be invited to participate in the Stage 2 process at this stage further documentation will be shared with the proponents. REGISTRATION: Tender documents must be obtained after registration and confidentiality agreement being signed and submitted ENQUIRIES: Tender enquiries should be directed via the online forum SUBMISSIONS: Completed responses must be submitted via the electronic tender form CLOSING DATE AND TIME: Tenders close at 17:00 AEST on 17/07/2026 and submissions must be fully received by this time. HVP Plantations is not bound to accept the lowest priced Tender or all or any part of a Tender and reserves the right to conduct the Request for Tender process and select the successful respondent(s) as it sees fit. HVP Plantations staff are unable to respond to verbal enquiries in relation to the proposal. Late, verbal or emailed proposals will not be accepted. Form - Final Date: 20/07/2026 7:00:00 PM