Tree Removal and Pruning

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service seeks quotations for tree removal and pruning services at the United States National Arboretum in Washington, DC, with proposals due September 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside; the small business size standard is $9.5 million.

Place of performance is Washington, DC. A mandatory site visit is scheduled for September 21, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET. Work scope includes pruning 24 trees and removing 145 trees across four line items tiered by diameter at breast height: trees 8–20 inches (36 trees), 21–34 inches (80 trees), and greater than 35 inches (29 trees). All work must comply with ANSI A300 pruning standards and ANSI Z133 safety requirements. Supervision by an ISA Certified Arborist with at least two experienced climbers and one ground worker is required during climbing operations, and a dedicated rescue kit must remain on-site. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Debris management includes chipping woody material less than 6 inches into mulch at government-designated locations and stockpiling larger wood on the Arboretum campus; the government provides storage locations with no tipping fees. Stump grinding is required to 6 inches below ground level unless directed otherwise by the Contracting Officer's Representative. The contractor bears responsibility for traffic and pedestrian control, barricading, signage, and coordination with Arboretum staff. No weight restrictions apply to heavy equipment on USDA roads, bridges, or trail surfaces.

Contract period is six months from award on a firm-fixed-price basis. Service contract labor standards apply; prevailing wages are $19.60 per hour for pruners and include fringe benefits per Wage Determination 2015-4281. Evaluation uses lowest-price-technically-acceptable approach, considering price, technical acceptability (detailed capability statements required), and past performance. Quotations are submitted via email to amber.sampson@usda.gov and must include pricing for all four line items with prices firm for 90 calendar days.