Would be a good idea to look at site first and figure out access, and what kind of mess there is left for you prior to "bidding" on anything. See if everything is covered in mud.
Have tops been down all summer? date says march 2013.......
It is always quite miserable trying to walk through a woods in the few years just after logging. more sunlight = brush everywhere=no productivity
Bingo
With no disrespect intended, if you bid blind before walking the job you're nuts.
You need to know the terrain, (skidding on steep sidehills sucks), how scattered the tops are through the lot, where are the wetlands, how big are the tops, etc. etc. Pulling small, scattered tops a long distance eats a lot of fuel and time. Even if they're close to the landing as the crow flies, if wetlands are in between a short hitch just became a long road. Will the landowner agree to multiple landings or are you restricted to the one(s) the logging operation used?
You don't mention a surety deposit and the conditions involved in either losing or getting it back. Insist on a written contract from the landowner detailing exactly what is expected. Verbal agreements go down the tubes fast if he decides you've damaged his property or you're not working fast enough. (Also watch out for nephew Charley and neighbor Steve being promised 10 or 15 cord each of the gravy wood.) What are the terms of payment? Do you have to pay surety and 1/2 bid total up front or the entire cost prior to start? What is the project completion requirement and does it grant any extensions for conditions created by bad weather? If you run out of time due to being shut down the landowner has every right to sell the remaining wood out from under you or renegotiate terms if this is not addressed up front.
When bidding, yes you want to go low as you can, but remember here in the Northeast, coming out of a cold winter firewood prices are on the upswing and the landowner is going to expect the bid(s) to reflect that. There's also a growing demand for chips and if one of those guys is involved they can pay more, harvest and be gone very fast with no brush left behind.
Are there any restrictions on transporting the white ash? They took a good chunk of bd ft of white ash, does a forester have to certify they're pest free prior to transport?
I'm in no way trying to discourage you, to the contrary I hope you get the job if you want it and do well. Just trying to alert you to some of the things that have either bitten me, or guys I was subcontracting for in the past.
Good luck to you
Take Care
