REBID District 8 Tree Removal

The State of Illinois Department of Transportation, Finance & Administration division, awarded a tree removal contract to Meister Tree Care on May 21, 2026, under open market competitive sealed bidding for a total contract value of $146,521.00. The initial contract term extends through April 1, 2027, with a maximum overall contract duration of ten years including any renewals or extensions. Meister Tree Care was selected as the lowest priced responsive and responsible bidder from a competitive field that included five other respondents, with competing bids ranging from $162,100.00 to $490,052.20.

The contract encompasses tree removal services across Illinois Department of Transportation District 8, spanning seven counties: Greene, Jersey, Bond, Madison, St. Clair, Marion, and Randolph. Services include the removal of dead and dying trees that pose safety threats to traveling public along state-managed roadways, with work distributed across eight line items specifying tree removal quantities and unit pricing at designated yard sectors in each county, including Carrollton, Jerseyville, Greenville, Wood River, Troy, Belleville, Salem, and Steeleville locations. The contractor is responsible for cutting trees flush to the ground and removing all debris, with tree removal prohibited between April 1 and September 30 annually due to endangered bat habitat considerations. The contract requires general commercial liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, prohibits subcontracting, and requires prevailing wage compliance as applicable under Illinois law.