Ministry of Forests

Province of British Columbia

TENDER PACKAGE FOR INTENDING APPLICANTS

FOR A WOODLOT LICENCE

(designed for web-based access)

Applications in sealed and properly designated envelope for Woodlot Licence #W______(‘the Licence’), located at ______will be received at the office of the District/Regional Manager, ______Forest District/Regional Office, at ______, until ____ hours on ______, 2009 (‘the closing date’). A tender information meeting is scheduled for ______, 2009 at ______(public information meeting is optional).

The information included in this package as well as other information pertinent to woodlot licences can be found at the following websites:

Ministry of Forests: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hth/woodlots/woodlot-program.htm

Federation of BC Woodlot Associations:

Throughout this document there are ‘hotlinks’ identified in the text. By clicking on the hotlinks you will be directed to the applicable document or information.

There is information that you should be familiar with before you submit an application for a woodlot licence. Please read and understand the following documents, that can be found through the ‘hotlink’ and at the office listed above:

  • the sample woodlot licence document
  • the management plan template
  • the woodlot licence plan template
  • the Application for a Woodlot Licence(page 6 of this document) which you will complete and submit
  • the map(region/district to provide link)of the Crown land component of the proposed woodlot licence
Mandatory Requirements

Certain information and submissions are mandatory. Applications not including these mandatory items will not be considered to be eligible and will not be scored. The following is required to be included in an application for a woodlot licence:

  • Bonus Offer – the amount committed will be required to be paid in full by the successful applicant once the woodlot licence document has been signed by both parties and is deemed issued.
  • Bid Deposit - $1000 certified cheque, bank draft or money order payable to the Minister of Finance
  • Sworn affidavit(page 10 of this document) attesting to the eligibility of the applicant
  • Proof of Ownership of private land
  • Privateland assessment, including straight line distance from the applicant’s principal residence, as defined in the Woodlot Licence Regulation,B.C. Reg. 68/2006, as applicable, and straight-line distances between the Crown land and private land parcel(s) that have been certified by a registered forest professional
  • Completed Application
PrivateLand

For the purpose of paragraph (d) of the definition of proposed private land in the Woodlot Licence Regulationproposed private land must meet the following requirements:

  • Only land that is productive, from a forest management aspect, will be eligible for evaluation. Non-productive land is comprised of areas of rock outcrops, rock slides, permanent roads, homesites, swamps, water, cultivated land, etc. that are each greater than 0.25 hectares. Non-productive land areas will be totaled and deducted from the total land area of each parcel that is offered for inclusion in the woodlot licence.
  • Each parcel of private land proposed for inclusion shall have a productive area of at least 10 hectares. Where there are two or more parcels of private land that are each comprised of at least 10 hectares of productive land, the final score received will be the sum of the scores for each of the parcels.
  • Only not satisfactorily restocked (NSR) land that the applicant commits to get satisfactorily restocked (SR) within 10 years of entering into a Woodlot Licence agreement will be evaluated.
  • Privateland submitted with this application must include state of title certificate or Band Council Resolution over ReserveLand and legal survey maps of the titled or Reserve land. If the entire parcel is not to be included in the application, clearly indicate the portion of the parcel that will be offered in the application.
  • Privateland included with this application must be owned by the same entity as the name on the application. Details on land ownership can be found in the Woodlot Licence Evaluation Procedures.
  • You cannot include private land in this application that is currently included in another existing woodlot licence.
  • All private land submissions must be signed and sealed by a registered forest professional attesting to its status and distance to the Crown land portion of the woodlot licence opportunity.

The Woodlot Licence Evaluation Procedures have a detailed description of the adjudication of the eligibility of private land for evaluation for inclusion in a woodlot licence.

Certification of Information

Section 2 of the Woodlot Licence Regulationspecifies that the requirements for affidavits and certification may be stipulated in the tender package. A completed tender form must contain or be accompanied by both of:

  • a sworn affidavit attesting to the applicant’s eligibility as detailed in s.44 (3) to(5) of the Forest Act, and
  • signing and sealing by a registered forest professional that assures that the information regarding the place of residence and the location and character of private land provided in the application is valid and accurate (including the straight line distance between the principal residence and the Crown land and the straight line distance between the private land and the Crown land).

False information may result in cancellation of the woodlot licence and forfeiture of all deposits and bonus offers.

Principal Residence

“principal residence”,in relation to a woodlot licence application made in response to an invitation under s.44 of the Forest Act is clearly defined in the Woodlot Licence Regulation

General Information

LEGISLATION & REGULATIONS

You should be familiar with the portions of the following provincial acts and regulations as they apply to woodlot licence operations. Provincial and Federal legislation that applies to operations on a woodlot licence are not limited to those that are listed below. It is the responsibility of the licence holder to be familiar with all applicable Federal, Provincial and Municipal legislation and by-laws as they may affect woodlot licence operations.

  • Forest Act

▪Woodlot LicenceRegulation

  • Forest andRange Practices Act

▪Woodlot Licence Planning and Practices Regulation

▪Government Actions Regulation

▪Invasive Plants Regulation

  • Wildfire Act

It must be recognised that legislation is not static and amendments to legislation that may take place from time-to-time may affect the management of a woodlot licence.

FOREST SERVICE POLICY

All Forest Service policies can be found on this linkedpage. However, you should be very familiar with the following policy and procedures that are specific to the woodlot licence programme:

  • Policy 8.9 - Woodlot Licence Program – Competition, Evaluation and Award

▪Woodlot Licence Application Evaluation Procedures

▪General Procedures for Policy 8.9 – Woodlot Licence Program – Competition, Evaluation and Award

TIMBER PRICING

Timber pricing is a critical component of managing a woodlot licence. You should be familiar with the following pricing topics:

  • Coast Appraisal Manual or Interior Appraisal Manual, as it applies to your geographic location
  • Provincial Logging Residue and Waste Measurement Procedures Manual
  • BC Scaling Manual

GOVERNMENT OBJECTIVES & HIGHER LEVEL PLANS

All woodlot licences are required to be consistent with the objectives set by government and Higher Level Plans that overlap the woodlot licence area. The timber supply area objectives matrix(region/district to provide link)will indicate important information that will be required for developing a management plan and a woodlot licence plan. Higher level plans will be an integral part of the objectives matrix.

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION

All woodlot licensees are required to complete various electronic submissions for, but not limited to, annual reporting, harvest commencement, application for cutting permits, waste & residue and free growing declaration. Electronic submissions will be by way of the Electronic Submissions Framework. It is not uncommon for woodlot licensees to have to pay service providers (consultants) to do this work on their behalf.

FIRST NATIONS

The preparation of a management plan and a woodlot licence plan requires that the successful applicant make reasonable efforts to discuss management of the woodlot licence area with the local First Nations Bands and integrate the identified concerns into those plans.

The following First Nations have asserted traditional territory over this woodlot licence opportunity:

▪List all First Nations

WOODLOT LICENCE DOCUMENT

Signing a woodlot licence document will only be a requirement of the successful applicant.

PRIVATELAND

All private land boundaries not following cadastral boundaries must be GPS traversed to ILMB Standards prior to the submission of your management plan. Privateland does not have to be GPS traversed for its inclusion in the application for this woodlot licence.

MANAGEMENT PLAN

The management plan is only required to be completed and signed if you are the successful applicant. The management plan must be completed within six months of the award of a woodlot licence and include both the Crown and private land portions of the woodlot licence area. Following approval of the management plan by the district manager, the woodlot licence will be issued. If you are the successful applicant, it is highly recommended that you use the management plan template as it is there for your convenience.

WOODLOT LICENCE PLAN

The woodlot licence plan is only required to be completed if you are the successful applicant. If you are the successful applicant, it is highly recommended that you use the woodlot licence plan template as it is there for your convenience. Although the woodlot licence plan may be completed after the licence is issued, no harvesting can commence until it is approved by the district manager. However, the cut control period for the woodlot licence commences the same year that the woodlot licence document is issued. It may therefore be advantageous to complete both the management plan and the woodlot licence plan at the same time and have them both approved prior to the issuance of the woodlot licence.

Description of the Woodlot Licence Opportunity Area

A general location map and a detailed map of the Crown land portion of the woodlot licence opportunity and the allowable annual cut (AAC) analysis can be found at this linked website.(region/district to provide link)

Aspects of the evaluation of an application for a woodlot licence involve distances from the Crown land parcel(s). So that the applicant may properly submit these distances, a digital map of the Crown land that comprises the woodlot licence opportunity can be found at this linked website.(region/district to provide link)

The AAC of Woodlot Licence #W______has been determined to be ______m3. If you are successful in obtaining the woodlot licence you have the option of using this AAC in your management plan or completing a new management plan which proposes a new AAC for approval by the district/regional manager. If you choose to complete a re-inventory then it must be done to Forest Analysis & Inventory Branch (FAIB)Standards at your cost. You should be aware that if you choose to complete a new management plan, the full consultation process will be implemented as part of its review.

Tender Forms

The tender form (page 7 of this document)must be completed and include a $1000 bid deposit in the form of a certified cheque, bank draft or money order payable to the Minister of Finance. Cash will not be accepted. If you are the successful applicant, you will have untilthe woodlot licence document is signed by both parties and is deemed issued to submit the bonus offer. If the successful applicant chooses to not submit the bonus offer ,the $1000 bid deposit will be forfeited to the Crown. If you are an unsuccessful applicant, the Advertising, Deposits, Disposition and Extensions Regulation, B.C.Reg.55/2006, specifies that the deposit may be returned if the district/regional manager is satisfied that there is no need for the deposit.

APPLICATION FOR WOODLOT LICENCE #W_____

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING APPLICATION FORMS

1.Read and understand:

  • sample management plan template;
  • sample woodlot licenceplan template;
  • sample woodlot licence document. This is the document that will be signed by the successful applicant and the district manager or regional executive director after approval of the management plan;
  • the Tender Package for Intending Applicants for a Woodlot Licence (this document).

2. The woodlot licence area(region/district to provide link)should be thoroughly examined by the applicant, on the ground, before a decision to apply is made.

3.Complete this Application for a Woodlot Licence.

4.Seal the completed Application for a Woodlot Licence and the $1000 bid deposit in the tender envelope provided and deliver to the district/regional manager at the ______Forest District/Regional Office______(address) by no later than

______hours on ______, 2008(the closing date)

NOTE:If you have any questions about this application, or the woodlot licence program in general, please contact (name and title) at (___) ______, or email ______

TO:______,

District/Regional Manager,

______Forest District/Regional Office,

______

______

1.Deposit

A deposit of $1000 in the form of a certified cheque, bank draft or money order, payable to the Minister of Finance, is enclosed. If this application is not approved, it is understood that the deposit may be returned.

2.Bonus Offer

I agree, in addition to other amounts identified in the Forest Act, to pay a bonus offer in the amount of $______. This bonus offer will be paid once the woodlot licence document has been signed by both parties and is deemed issued. Failure to submit the bonus offer will result in the $1000 bid deposit being forfeited to the Crown.

The bonus offer, once received by the Crown, is non-refundable.

Complete sections 3, 4 and 5 for each applicant included in the application. The names of all applicants included will appear on the licence document if you are the successful applicant.

3.Applicant Identification

Name: ______

Address: ______

Telephone No.: ______

Email Address: ______

hereby makes application for Woodlot Licence #W______

4.Applicant Eligibility

Consistent with the eligibility as set out in s.44 of the Forest Act, I, the applicant, am (check  three boxes, as applicable):

a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada who is 19 years of age or older; or,

a Band as defined in the Indian Act (Canada); or,

a corporation, other than a society, that is controlled by persons who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada who are 19 years of age or older. (Provide Registration No., the names of the Directors and information about share distribution below.); and

do not hold more than one woodlot licence in the Province of British Columbia (I hold W_____); and,

I have included a sworn affidavit attesting to the above facts.

5.Other Considerations

I, the applicant (check  boxes as applicable):

am an employee of the Ministry of Forests;

have a spouse currently employed by the Ministry of Forests. My spouse’s name is ______and he/she works in the ______office in the ______position;

6.PrivateLand

Table 1 contains a summary of the Private forest land that is owned by the applicant. Support documentation is attached and includes legal survey maps, State of Title Certificates or Band Council Resolutions over Reserve land, as appropriate. Maps (at a scale of 1:20,000 or other suitable scale) must detail legal boundaries and productive SR, productive NSR, and non-productive areas. The information presented in Table 1 must be certified by a registered forest professional.

Table 1 – Summary of private forest land proposed for inclusion in this woodlot licence.

Legal (1) Description
(by parcel) / Land Status
(Private, Indian Reserve) / Certificate No. / Total Area Included in this Application
(Ha) / Total productive SR land Included in this Application
(Ha) / Total productive NSR land Included in this Application
(Ha) / Total non productive land Included in this Application
(Ha) / Shortest Horizontal Distance in a Straight Line from the Private Land Parcel to the CrownLand
(Km)(2)

1 Include map (at a scale of 1:20,000 or other suitable scale) delineating legal boundaries and productive SR, productive NSR, and non-productive areas. All lands contributed must be managed in accordance with Forest and Range Practices Act and the Woodlot Licence Planning and Practices Regulation)

2 The shortest distance between the Crown land and each private land parcel is measured. Where there are two or more Crown land parcels, the one closest to the private land is used in the determination.

7.Proximity of Residence to CrownLand

The distance from my principal residence (as defined in s.3(1) of the Woodlot Licence Regulation) to the Crown land portion of the woodlot licence opportunity is ______km straight line distance from my principal residence. If more than one name is included in the application, please specify the person who has the closest principal residence to the Crown land.

“Principal residence” includes the Band office of a First Nation

8.Certification

I certify that the information contained in Sections 6 and 7 above has been verified and is accurate

______

RFP's Signature & Seal Printed NameDate

9.Commitments and Signatures

I/we agree that if I/we am/are the successful applicant(s) to, within six months of being offered the woodlot licence submit a management planfor approval by the district manager and, upon it’s approval, to enter into a woodlot licence agreement with the district/regional manager.

I/we agree that if I/we am/are the successful applicant(s) to get all not satisfactorily restocked (NSR) private lands submitted with this application to a satisfactorily restocked (SR) status within ten years of entering into the Woodlot Licence agreement.

It is my responsibility to notify the district/regional manager immediately of any changes to the information in this application.

The signatures of all parties included in the application are required.

______

Applicant's Signature Printed NameDate

______

Applicant's Signature Printed NameDate

______

Applicant's Signature Printed NameDate

______

Applicant's Signature Printed NameDate

______

Authorized Official (if signing for a Corporation or a First Nation)Date

SWORN AFFIDAVIT