00_Source Sought_Arboretum Assessment.docx

Request For Information: Arboretum Assessment

Notice Type:

Request for Information (RFI) Posted Date:

Response Date:

November 15, 2024 at 5:00 pm EST

October 28, 2024

NOTICE INFORMATION

Agency/Office:

Architect of the Capitol/US Capitol Grounds and Arboretum

Location:

Washington, D.C

Title:

Arboretum Assessment

Description:

This request for information is issued solely for information and planning purposes to gain knowledge of potential sources capable of fully satisfying a potential requirement. This is not a solicitation announcement, nor does it promise a solicitation in the future. Quotes are not being requested or accepted at this time and a contract will not be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement. All submissions will become Government property and will not be returned. The government will not provide any feedback or evaluations regarding the information submitted.

Prior Government contract work is not required for submitting a response under this request for information notice.

Please confirm if your company can provide services for a tree inventory and advanced tree risk assessments using the Davey TreeKeeper 8 Software, and required technologies for performing advanced tree risk assessments, including sonic tomography. Your company must demonstrate the ability to meet the basic specifications outlined below. Please provide an explanation of how this need will be addressed by your company or subcontractors.

TASKS:

1. INVENTORY AND LEVEL 2 TREE RISK ASSESSMENT (Base + 4 option periods) An existing tree inventory will be provided by AOC in the Davey TreeKeeper8. The Contractor shall provide an inventory and Level 2 assessment of all tree sites, approximately 5,500, using the required software. The assessment shall include protocols set forth by the International Society of Arboriculture. The assessment shall be performed by a Contractor who is a Certified Arborist that holds the ISA's Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ). Option periods have been outlined to account for alternating seasons of leaf-on and dormancy, but may be altered with approval of the COR.

Base Period (FY25): February 2025-April 2025 Option Period 1 (FY26): April 2026-June 2026 Option Period 2 (FY27): September 2027- November 2027 Option Period 3 (FY28): May 2028-July 2028 Option Period 4 (FY29): September 2027- November 2027

2. LEVEL 3 TREE RISK ASSESSMENT (Base + 4 option periods) The Contractor shall provide a Level 3 advanced tree risk assessment of 25 AOC identified trees. The assessment shall include one or multiple forms of approved advanced techniques to determine the extent of damage or decay following protocols set forth by the International Society of Arboriculture.

The assessment shall be performed by a Contractor who is a Certified Arborist that holds the ISA's Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ). Level 3 assessments require an advanced analysis that could not be conducted in a level 2 assessment. The methods used on each tree will vary depending on the specific conditions and locations of each tree. The AOC will require that between 10-15 Level 3 tree risk assessments must include the use of sonic tomography for each option period.

Other approved advanced techniques include:

· Laboratory Analysis (i.e. soil analysis, nutrient tissue analysis, pest and pathogen analysis, etc.)

· Arieal investigation (Aerial lifts, provided by AOC, may be used to more closely observe and test possible defects identified for some tree assessments)

· Ground Penetrating Radar for assessment of root and/or above ground tree defects

· Sonic tomography

· Resistance Drilling

· Root investigation with a pneumatic air excavation tool to determine the extent and severity of any defect, damage or decay.

· Load testing

· Storm/wind load analysis

· Wind reaction monitoring over a defined interval

· Measuring and assessing the change in trunk lean

· Hand pull

· Measured static pull

At the conclusion of the assessment period, assessment findings and reports shall be provided to AOC for review. The contractor shall ensure that all advanced Level 3 tree risk assessment data is also updated in the GIS system, Treekeeper 8.

3. INSPECTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL TREE SUPPORT AND LIGHTENING PROTECTION SYSTEMS (TSLPS) (Base + 4 option periods) The Contractor shall provide an assessment of AOC identified trees with tree support and/or lightening protection systems. Inspections of these systems will include a visual assessment of system configurations, as well as examining all system components for proper functionality, compliance with manufacturer, BMPs, and ANSI A300 Standards, presence of wear, damage and/or degradation.

Climbing operations will be necessary in to access tree support and lightening protection systems. In these cases, the contractor shall require either ISA Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialists and/or ISA Certified Arborists with a demonstrated minimum of 5 (five) years climbing experience. The contractor shall be responsible to supplying all equipment required for the scope of this work. Work site controls, safety, and other means and methods shall be executed in accordance with the ANSI Z133 standards, industry best practices, contractor’s operational safety plan, AOC policy, and any special requirements promulgated by the COR.

A report of findings and recommendations for repair and/or replacement of tree support and lightening protection systems shall be provided to AOC for review and approval prior to the 100% document review deadline. All findings and mitigation or work recommendations shall be uploaded in TreeKeeper 8.

4. ARBORETUM MANAGEMENT PLAN (Option 1 period) Using the information gathered in the Level 2 and Level 3 assessments, the Contractor shall prepare an Arboretum Management Plan summarizing the findings of Capitol Ground’s tree inventory and risk assessment findings and provide scheduled tree maintenance recommendations with a focus on management of tree risk, long-range planning and tree preservation. The plan shall incorporate benchmarking recommendations based on similar public garden, university and government urban forestry and arboretum management plans. The existing Capitol Grounds and Arboretum Management Plan will be provided to the Contractor for reference.

Based on benchmarking recommendations the contractor shall develop a plan outline in collaboration with the COR and present a final plan concept for AOC to review and approve. The approved document shall be developed as the Capitol Grounds Arboretum Management Plan.

The Capitol Grounds Arboretum Management Plan shall summarize the tree inventory findings and analyze collected data, assisting with AOC’s understanding of the structure and composition of its arboretum and woody plant collections. The plan shall also provide insight into current tree maintenance needs and the threats that trees face, which impact the AOC’s grounds fiscally, aesthetically, and emotionally. The Arboretum Management Plan shall identify tree maintenance workload, and schedules, which shall be provided in an AOC approved format in an editable Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, which shall be uploaded into AOC’s GIS system, as applicable.

5. COLLECTIONS DISASTER PREPARDNESS PLAN (CDPP) (Option 1 period) Using the information gathered in the tree inventory, and in the Arboretum management plan, the contractor shall prepare a Collections Disaster Preparedness Plan that will identify short and long-term threats to living asset collections, and methods to safeguard and proactively plan for the long-term health of woody plant collections.

The AOC requests the following information in response to this request for information notice:

a) Is your company capable of meeting the specifications outlined in the requirement? If yes, please provide a brief explanation of how this need will be met including use of any subcontractors, and applicable technologies to complete the field inventory and risk assessments.

b) Will your company be interested in submitting a quotation for this requirement if an RFQ is issued?

c) Can your company perform this requirement under its GSA Schedule contract? If so, what is the GSA Schedule contract number? What SIN is this usually performed under?

d) What questions do you have for the Government?

e) Please provide examples of past contracts within the past three years that are either completed or ongoing that have the same or similar scope of work. Please provide the awarded contract dollar amount as well.

f) Any other information you believe will be of interest to the Government.

Interested contractors shall submit an electronic copy of the requested information via e-mail to the Contracting Officer, Desmond Scott, at Desmond.Scott@aoc.gov no later than November 15, 2024, at 5:00 pm. Any attempt to hand deliver or mail a response to any location in the U.S Capitol Complex will be rejected.

Primary Point of Contact:

Desmond Scott, Contracting Officer Email: Desmond.Scott@aoc.gov Phone: 202.355.4552

Contracting Office Address:

Ford House Office Building Second and D Streets, S.W. Room H2-263 Washington, District of Columbia 20515 United States

Place of Contract Performance:

Architect of the Capitol 2nd & D Streets S.W. Washington, District of Columbia 20515 United States