RFP 2702_Nov_5_26_solicitation_doc.pdf

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the Town of Hamden, Connecticut for on-call arborist consulting services. The RFP solicits proposals from qualified arborists to provide consultation services to the Town's Tree Warden on matters including tree pruning, removal, fertilization, planting, and replacement; assistance with tree protest hearings; strategic planning programs such as tree inventory development and management plans; and review of tree planting plans submitted by developers. The arborist will provide support services only and will not perform physical labor. The solicitation period runs from October 1, 2026 through October 27, 2026, with proposals due October 20, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Questions from vendors are due October 13, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. The contract term is one year with no renewal options specified. No estimated total contract value is provided in the solicitation documents.

Proposals must be submitted in sealed format with one original, three hard copies, and one flash drive delivered to the Hamden Government Center Finance Office; faxed or emailed proposals will not be accepted. The primary qualification requirements are current International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certification, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ), and American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) certification. Proposals must include a cover letter, personnel qualifications, relevant project experience, and three to five references. Pricing must be submitted on an hourly rate basis with costs to be determined competitively. Respondents must provide proof of current liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage meeting specified minimum limits. Evaluation criteria include arborist qualifications, work history and references, and competitive fees and rates. The Town reserves the right to award the contract to a responder other than the lowest bidder if deemed in the Town's best interest. The Town will not reimburse proposal preparation costs, and the arborist must comply with Connecticut state and federal regulations including prevailing wage requirements and non-discrimination statutes.