Certified Arborist Contract Services

The City of Pooler, Georgia, located in Chatham County, is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure professional arborist services for tree management and municipal tree ordinance administration. The selected Certified Arborist will provide comprehensive services including document review of landscape and development plans, pre-application and development review meeting attendance, pre-construction meeting participation, tree bond site monitoring, inspection of newly planted trees, tree ordinance compliance consultation, expert testimony in legal proceedings, ongoing consultation with City staff and residents, development and oversight of tree care plans for public properties, management of on-site work crews, emergency tree care services, and coordination with the Planning & Development Director. Required qualifications include current International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) certification, commercial liability insurance of $1,000,000 with the City listed as an additional insured, an active Georgia business license, and demonstrated experience in municipal tree management projects. The contract will be awarded for an initial 36-month term with one one-year renewal option, potentially extending to four years total, with a tentative contract start date of October 1, 2025. Critical dates include a mandatory pre-proposal meeting on July 30, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., a written questions deadline of August 6, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., and a proposal submission deadline of August 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. The City will publicly open proposals at Pooler City Hall, with award notification tentatively scheduled for September 2, 2025. Evaluation criteria include the arborist's qualifications, relevant municipal experience, proposed hourly rates, and overall value to the City.

The RFP does not specify any set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or preference programs for responding organizations. Applicants must submit proof of insurance, bonding, Georgia business registration, current certification, at least three client references, and execute required compliance affidavits including indemnity provisions, Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act attestations, E-Verify authorization, and non-collusion affidavits. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are referenced in the documentation. Payment terms are established at Net 30 days from invoice receipt. The RFP does not specify a budget or funding source, and no award value or budget range is disclosed; rather, proposals must include hourly rate(s) for arborist services with any additional fees for specific tasks, allowing the City to evaluate costs as part of the selection process. The City reserves the right to select the most qualified provider regardless of proposal price and may terminate the contract for cause with thirty days' notice or for convenience at its discretion.