Hayward Fire Department Vegetation Management Services

The City of Hayward Fire Department is soliciting proposals for vegetation management services through Project 26-036, a comprehensive procurement for on-call tree limb chipping services, residential assistance programs for defensible space, weed abatement services, and large-scale defensible space projects throughout the Hayward Hills and adjacent unincorporated areas. The chipping program operates twice annually (May through June and October through November) on a first-come, first-served basis with weekly property scheduling, while residential assistance and as-needed abatement services are available year-round based on Fire Department surveys and complaints. Qualified contractors must maintain a valid California C-61/D-49 or C-27 Landscape Contractor License, employ at least one Certified Arborist, and hold a current Hayward business license, while maintaining $1,000,000 in general liability, automotive liability, workers' compensation, and employers' liability insurance, plus professional liability coverage. All-inclusive unit rates must be submitted covering labor, materials, equipment, transportation, disposal, licenses, fees, insurance, and permits, with separate pricing required for two-person crew hourly rates and per-cubic-yard chipping rates for both disposal and on-site pile placement options. The evaluation criteria equally weight proposal quality and thoroughness (25%), experience and past performance (25%), meeting City requirements (25%), and cost with ability to perform within timeframes (25%). Electronic proposals must be submitted through the City's eProcurement Portal by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, with questions due by March 13, 2026; City Council approval is scheduled for April 21, 2026, with the Professional Services Agreement to be signed by April 28, 2026.

The procurement does not specify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions on organizational types, though the nondiscriminatory affirmative action certification statement applies to contractors and subcontractors employing more than ten persons or contracts exceeding $10,000 to $25,000 annually. All bidders must submit a non-collusion affidavit, a nuclear weapons non-involvement affirmation in compliance with Municipal Ordinance No. 87024 C.S., and nondiscriminatory employment practice certifications as mandatory components of proposal submissions. Contractors are required to execute labor and materials bonds and performance bonds set at not less than 100 percent of the total contract value, and must comply with prevailing wage requirements under California Labor Code sections 1770-1780 with certified payroll records submitted within ten days of City request. No specific contract budget amount, incumbent vendor information, contract term, or renewal options are identified in the available procurement documentation. The City reserves the right to award to multiple contractors or reject all proposals, with payment terms structured as Net 30 from invoice date.