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County names 20 contractors to 2025 fuel-reduction pool; officials plan public list and local preference reporting
Summary
Deschutes County added 20 firms to its 2025 qualified pool for fuel-reduction projects, an increase from 17 last year, and staff agreed to provide a follow-up analysis of how many contracts went to local firms in recent years.
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners on March 5 approved a Notice of Intent to Award the 2025 qualified pool of fuel-reduction contractors, adding 20 firms to the pool this year. County Forester Kevin Moriarty told commissioners the increase from 17 to 20 applicants may reflect expanded advertising and that the pool helps speed contract awards when projects are identified.
Moriarty said many smaller projects fall under the county's $25,000 signatory authority and are often awarded without using the full pool process; larger or more complex projects use the pool. He also told the board the county provides the vendor list to local agencies because the pool ensures vendors meet insurance and vetting requirements.
Commissioners asked about local participation. Moriarty said the number of local contractors in the pool declined from 12 last year to nine this year. He agreed to produce a look-back for the last three years showing how many contracts were awarded, how many went to local contractors, and the dollar totals. Commissioners also asked staff to consider a press release with Exhibit A (the contractor list) so residents could identify local firms available for chipping and fuels projects ahead of fire season.
Ending Staff said they would prepare the requested local-contracting analysis for the board and coordinate a press release with communications; they noted the timing advantage of publicizing contractor names before the burn/mitigation season.
