Tree Removal and Pruning Services

Agency:	City of Berkeley
State:	California
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	S - Utilities and Training Services
Posted:	Nov 21, 2023
Due:	Dec 19, 2023
Solicitation No:	23-11588-C
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Finance Department

General Services Division

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Specification No. 23-11588-C

FOR

TREE REMOVAL AND PRUNING SERVICES

PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE OPENED AND READ PUBLICLY

Dear Proposer:

The City of Berkeley is soliciting written proposals from qualified firms or individuals for tree removal and pruning

services. As a Request for Proposal (RFP) this is not an invitation to bid and although price is very important, other

factors will be taken into consideration.

The project scope, content of proposal, and vendor selection process are summarized in the RFP (attached). Proposals

must be received no later than 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. Proposals are to be sent via email with

the “Specification No. 23-11588-C and Tree Removal and Pruning Services” clearly indicated in the subject line

of the email. Please submit one (1) PDF of the technical Proposal with the filename saved as, “Proposal Vendor

Name - 23-11588-C Tree Removal and Pruning Services.” Corresponding pricing proposal shall be submitted as

a separate document with the filename saved as, “Pricing Vendor Name - 23-11588-C Tree Removal and Pruning

Email Proposals to:

City of Berkeley

Finance Department/General Services Division

purchasing@berkeleyca.gov

Proposals will not be accepted after the date and time stated above. Incomplete proposal or proposals that do not

conform to the requirements specified herein will not be considered. Issuance of the RFP does not obligate the City

to award a contract, nor is the City liable for any costs incurred by the proposer in the preparation and submittal of

proposals for the subject work. The City retains the right to award all or parts of this contract to several bidders, to

not select any bidders, and/or to re-solicit proposals. The act of submitting a proposal is a declaration that the proposer

has read the RFP and understands all the requirements and conditions.

Optional Pre-Bid Meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, November 28, 2023 11:00 a.m.

1326 Allston Way, Willow Room, Berkeley, CA 94702

The meeting will be followed by a site visit to show examples of tree pruning specifications. Contractors are not

required to attend this meeting to submit a proposal. The project manager will be present to accept questions from

potential contractors. These questions will be combined with emailed questions. Answers will be posted on the City

of Berkeley’s website. Please contact Thomas Dodge, Senior Forestry Supervisor, via email at

tdodge@berkeleyca.gov no later than December 8, 2023. Answers to questions will not be provided by telephone or

email. Answers to all questions or any addenda will be posted on the City of Berkeley’s site at Bid & Proposal

Opportunities | City of Berkeley (berkeleyca.gov). It is the vendor’s responsibility to check this site.

For general questions concerning the submittal process, contact purchasing at 510-981-7320.

We look forward to receiving and reviewing your proposal.

Sincerely,

Darryl Sweet

General Services Manager

City of Berkeley

Tree Removal and Pruning Services

SUMMARY

Specification No. 23-11588-C

Page 2 of 24

Release Date 11/20/2023

The City of Berkeley (the “City”) Parks Recreation & Waterfront (PRW) Department has a need for pruning and

removal of public trees, and grinding of stumps. The work will consist of street, median, park, and pathway trees,

and trees on city owned property. The parks and paths trees may be in relatively remote locations that can be difficult

to access.

Services are required on an as-needed basis, as determined by the Urban Forestry Unit. There is no guarantee of

quantity of trees to be removed or pruned. The number of trees removed over the past three (3) years by a contractor

is approximately 150 trees per year.

In addition to tree removal services, tree pruning services may be requested. The tree pruning may include the pruning

of Mexican fan palms (Washingtonia robusta) over 70 feet in height, London plane (Platanus x hispanica) in specific

areas (lump sum pricing); and pruning of street, median, park, and pathway trees, and trees on city owned property.

See the Exhibit B, Price Proposal (Section 5.) for lump sum pricing tree pruning locations.

Optional Pre-Bid Meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, November 28, 2023 11:00 a.m.

1326 Allston Way, Willow Room, Berkeley, CA 94702

The meeting will be followed by a site visit to show examples of tree pruning specifications. Contractors are not

required to attend this meeting to submit a proposal. The project manager will be present to accept questions from

potential contractors. These questions will be combined with emailed questions. Answers will be posted on the City

of Berkeley’s website.

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES

1. General Standards

a. The contract is anticipated to begin on February 1, 2024 and continue through January 31, 2027, with an

option to extend the contract for two additional years.

b. Work performed must meet all requirements contained in the most recent edition of the American National

Standards Institute (ANSI) Z133 Safety Standard.

c. Contractor must abide by the City of Berkeley Noise Ordinance (13.40). The Ordinance can be found on the

City of Berkeley website at http://codepublishing.com/ca/berkeley/

d. The contractor must abide by the City of Berkeley’s Pest Management Policy (Resolution No. 54,319-N.S.

adopted June 2, 1988).

e. The contractor shall be responsible for purchasing and posting approved tree removal/pruning signs for “No

Parking” a minimum of 72 hours prior to the start of any tree work operation.

f. The contractor shall be responsible for any required permits and all traffic control devices needed to complete

the work. The Contractor shall provide traffic control within all work zones throughout the contract, as

needed for the various traffic situations, in full conformance with the BNi (Building News) California Manual

of Temporary Traffic Controls.

g. Each work site shall be cleaned and cleared of all logs, branches, limbs, twigs, and debris at the end of each

day, except with prior approval by the Project Manager. The clean-up operation shall include removal of all

debris including sawdust to be cleaned-up with a street broom or battery-powered blower. The use of gas-

powered blowers is not permitted in the City of Berkeley (13.40.070).

h. The contractor shall, at their own expense, dispose of all logs, branches, wood chips and other debris resulting

from the tree removal and pruning operations. The City encourages the recycling of wood waste from the

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Tree Removal and Pruning Services

Specification No. 23-11588-C

Page 3 of 24

Release Date 11/20/2023

removed and pruned trees. This includes milling and using the lumber for woodworking or construction and

using woodchips for mulch or compost.

Note: All wood from American or European Elm and Monterey Pine must be completely removed

from the City of Berkeley.

i. Contractor shall be responsible for all damage to public and/or private property resulting from any tree or

stump removal or pruning operation. Such damage could be either above or below ground. If such damage

occurs, Contractor shall repair or restore damaged property to its condition prior to the damage having

occurred. This includes, but is not limited to: electric, phone, or cable wires; damage to structures, walkways,

driveways, steps, sidewalks, curbs or streets; and any underground utility, drainage or irrigation system.

j. All pruning shall adhere to the practices published in the most recent editions of the American National

Standard for Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices

(Pruning) (ANSI) A300 (Part 1) and the companion publication Best Management Practices, Tree Pruning.

2. Tree Removals

a. All tree removals shall include having the stump removed unless otherwise directed by the Project Manager.

Stumps to remain shall be cut as close to the ground as practical. Stump removal standards are listed below

(Section 3.).

b. The City periodically issues a Tree Removal List usually containing between 30 and 60 tree locations.

Contractor must begin tree removals within thirty (30) calendar days from the issue date of the list and

complete all tree removals within ninety (90) calendar days from the issue date of the list.

c. If the work has not been completed within the required ninety (90) day time period, the City shall deduct a

retention fee of ten (10) percent from the amount of the invoice.

d. Contractor shall submit a separate invoice for each Tree Removal List, after all of the listed jobs have been

completed. This includes the completion of the stump removal.

3. Stump Removal

a. Contractor shall be responsible for marking all stump removal locations with water-based marking paint in

accordance with the guidelines of USA North’s California Excavation Handbook. Contractor shall contact

Underground Service Alert and wait the required time prior to any excavation. All excavation, including

stump removal, shall be done with care to protect all utilities. In the event a utility is contacted, scraped,

dented, nicked, or in any other way damaged, the Contractor shall contact the City and utility owner.

Contractor shall comply with all California laws and regulations regarding excavations.

b. Every stump, unless otherwise directed by the Project Manager, shall be completely ground to a minimum

depth of fifteen (15) inches below grade. All above ground roots and portions of the trunk buttress or root

flare contiguous with the stump shall be ground to a depth of fifteen (15) inches below grade. Each stump

removal site shall be filled with the stump grindings/soil mixture to a maximum height of six (6) inches above

the surrounding grade. The grinding mixture shall be compacted by hand to eliminate voids. All excess

grindings shall be hauled offsite by the contractor.

4. Tree Pruning

Tree Pruning Specifications that Apply to all Trees:

a. Remove all dead, dying, and diseased branches one (1) inch in diameter or greater, and any cracked or broken

branches.

b. Remove any branches that have been hit and/or wounded by vehicles.

c. Clear service wires from the pole to the structures. Prune to eliminate tension on the service wires caused by

branches (for additional information regarding service wires, see Minimum clearance distances below).

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Tree Removal and Pruning Services

Specification No. 23-11588-C

Page 4 of 24

Release Date 11/20/2023

d. Lighten and shorten heavy and/or over-extended branches.

e. Clear streetlights so they remain unobstructed and the light will illuminate the street below.

f. Clear traffic signals and regulatory traffic signs to allow unobstructed visibility from approaching vehicles.

g. Remove all water sprouts on the main trunk.

h. Vines shall be completely removed from the tree trunk and crown.

i. Minimum clearance distances:

 Fourteen (14) feet over the street surface and ten (10) feet over the sidewalk and private property on low

traffic residential streets

 Twenty (20) feet over the street surface, sidewalk, and private property on main arterial streets and in

commercial districts

 One (1) foot from service wires, measured radially from wires

 Ten (10) feet from buildings

These are the standard distance requirements, but may not be feasible or attainable for every tree based on the

size, structure, or placement of the tree. Remove entire branch where possible, without removing primary

scaffolding branches.

Additional Specifications for Trees Under High Voltage (primary) Electrical Lines

These are trees that were previously topped and rounded over, and are now being V-trimmed by the utility

(PG&E) tree contractor.

a. Reduce the upright and lateral branches that were not pruned during the utility pruning.

b. These branches shall be pruned to lateral growth near the original reduction cuts.

c. If no lateral growth is present near the original reduction cuts, heading cuts will be acceptable.

d. The new pruning cuts will usually be near, or below, the level of the low voltage (secondary) electrical lines.

5. Mexican Fan Palm Pruning

a. Remove all dead and mostly-chlorotic fronds and the flower stalks, fruit, stems and loose petioles. Fronds

shall be severed close to the petiole base. Shape freshly-cut petiole bases into a tight ball.

Contractor shall complete all services listed for an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 for a three (3) year contract with

an option to renew for an additional two years, contingent upon Contractor’s full compliance with all requirements

of the RFP. After three (3) years, the Contractor may adjust the Rate Schedule annually by the increase in the

Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose Metropolitan Area that is published annually

in April. Contractor shall provide the City with written notification of the amount and date of any such increases,

along with an updated Rate Schedule, which will take effect on the date of the annual renewal.

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Tree Removal and Pruning Services

Specification No. 23-11588-C

III. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Page 5 of 24

Release Date 11/20/2023

All proposals shall include the following information, organized as separate sections of the proposal. The proposal

should be concise and to the point.

1. Contractor Identification:

Provide the name of the firm, the firm's principal place of business (see section VII, F. – Local Vendor

Preference), the name and telephone number of the contact person, and company tax identification number.

2. Client References and Experience:

Provide a minimum of three (3) client references. References should be California cities or other large public

sector entities. Provide the designated person's name, title, organization, address, telephone number, and the

project(s) that were completed under that client’s direction. Provide details of large, long-term contracts held

with public agencies. Include information that describes the type and quantity of work performed and the duration

of the contract.

3. Price Proposal:

1. Tree Removal – Price to remove any tree, including the stump, in the following diameter size categories:

• 10” and under $____________

• 11” through 20” $____________

• 21” through 30” $____________

• 31” through 40” $____________

2. Tree Removal – Price to remove any tree, including the stump, based on the cost per diameter inch in

the following diameter size categories:

• 41” through 50” $____________

• 51” through 60” $____________

• 61” through 70” $____________

• 71” through 80” $____________

• 81” and over $____________

Note: Tree diameter is measured at 4.5 feet (54 in.) above grade, which is the diameter at standard height (DSH).

When the DSH cannot be measured, all measurements shall adhere to the Field Adjustments to Measuring

Diameter as outlined in the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers, Guide for Plant Appraisal, 10th Edition.

This includes, but is not limited to: If the main branch union prevents measuring the DSH of a single stem tree,

measure the diameter at the narrowest point below the branch union. If a wound, gall, or other deformity prevents

measuring the DSH, measure the diameter immediately above the irregularity at the point it ceases to affect the

stem Trees growing on slopes will be measured at 4.5 feet from the uphill side. Leaning trees will be measured at

a right angle to the trunk on the compression side (underside) of the tree. If low branches prevent measuring the

DSH, measure the diameter immediately above the attached branch. The diameter of a multi-stem tree will be the

combined total of the DSH of each stem measured.

3. Stump Removal – Price to remove any stump, measured immediately above the trunk flare, in the

following diameter size categories:

RFP Revised Nov2022

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Tree Removal and Pruning Services

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