6-Chipping Services General Notes and Technical Specs 2025.docx

General Notes and Technical Specifications General Information Williamson County is seeking qualified companies to provide experienced tree limb chipping crews and equipment to chip tree limbs that have been cut by County crews in County right of way, and remove/dispose of the chips.

As set out in this IFB, all Bids received will be evaluated on the best value for the County. Best value will be determined by considering the following:

· Price

· Bidder’s experience and reputation

· Quality of the Bidder’s goods and/or services

· Bidder’s safety record

· Bidder’s proposed personnel

· Bidder’s financial capabilities

· Any other relevant factors specifically listed in the IFB

Definition of Terms

County: Williamson County acting through the Williamson County Road and Bridge Division.

Contractor: Successful Bidder of the IFB.

Inspector and/or Engineer: Employee of Williamson County supplied full time to the Contractor's crew for the oversight of the work. Should the work, as well as the geographical location, allow, the County may supply one Inspector for multiple crews.

Chipping Crew: Four (4) working persons minimum and all equipment necessary to perform and complete the work.

Specifications: These Bid Specifications and the Texas Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Construction and Maintenance of Highways, Streets, and Bridges 2024.

TxDOT: Texas Department of Transportation

Working Day: Tuesday through Friday (excluding County approved holidays), if weather permits the performance of the Contract (as determined by the Inspector) for a continuous period of no more than 8 hrs. (including lunch) between 7:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. Time charges begin with chipping crew on site with equipment and end when chipping crew leaves the site.

Scope of Work

Contractor shall furnish tree limb chipping services, including but not limited to crews and equipment, to chip tree limbs that have been cut by County crews in the County right of way throughout the County, and remove/dispose of the chips. Contractor shall coordinate and work in conjunction with County crews to chip tree limbs as they are being trimmed. Chipped tree limbs shall be considered the property of the Contractor, but the County will supply dumping site if requested. Otherwise, the Contractor is responsible for proper disposal.

Contractor is expected to have wood chipping equipment capable of chipping tree limbs up to 12 inches in diameter.

Contractor is expected to have at least one 12-15 cubic yard chipper truck, or two 5-6 cubic yard chipper trucks.

All work shall be performed in accordance with the Specifications.

Performance and Progress

The County’s Inspector and the Contractor's Designated Representative must, 24 hours in advance, coordinate the work location(s) for the next day’s work. A minimum of 24 hours’ notice shall be given to the Contractor prior to commencing any work at a new location. All work designated for a specific Working Day by County must be fully and finally completed by Contractor by no later than 4:30 P.M. on such Working Day.

Measurement and Payment

This work will be measured and paid for by the hour of each individual chipping crew. All other items necessary for the proper performance of the work shall be included in the unit pricing. The Contractor will only be paid for the hours that all members of the chipping crew are working, and all equipment is functioning satisfactorily, as determined by the Inspector. The Inspector and the Contractor’s Designated Representative will document and sign off on total number of hours worked on each Working Day.

Should the Contractor not receive notice from the County’s inspector prior to 4 am, and the Contractor mobilizes its crew to the work site but is unable to work due to inclement weather, Contractor will be allowed to bill one (1) hour of work per crew.

Should the Contractor fail to report to the work site, Contractor shall be responsible for paying liquidated damages of $500/day.

County shall not be required to pay for any work that is not performed in accordance with the Specifications.

General Notes

If during the contract period, Contractor opts to store equipment on Williamson County’s property (Central Maintenance Facility), this will happen at the Contractor’s risk. Williamson County will not be liable for any damages to or loss of Contractor’s property.

All construction equipment involved in roadway work shall be equipped, as approved by the Inspector, with a permanently mounted 360 degree revolving or strobe warning light with amber lens. This light shall have a minimum lens height of 5 inches and a diameter of 5 inches.

This light shall have a mounting height of not less than 6 feet above the roadway surface and shall be visible from all sides. This equipment shall also have attached at each side of the rear end of the vehicle an approved orange warning flag mounted not less than 6 feet above the roadway surface.

Care shall be exercised to prevent damage to all areas of the right of way. The Contractor shall, at its own expense, restore any area disturbed as a result of its operations to a condition as good as, or better than, that present prior to this contract.

The Contractor must ensure that the Contractor’s Designated Representative and crew leader of each crew is fluent in English.

Contractor will, at all times, be responsible for initiating, maintaining, and supervising all safety precautions and programs in connection with any services to be provided hereunder. The safety program shall comply with all applicable requirements of the current federal Occupational Safety and Health Act and all other applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

The County will provide all traffic control measures to prosecute the work.

The Contractor shall have stand-by equipment ready and available within 24 hours to resume work should equipment malfunction.