Native Tree Seedlings

The City of Houston is requesting proposals for container-grown native tree seedlings for restoration, reforestation, and habitat enhancement projects, with proposals due August 31, 2026. All seed used for propagation must be collected from naturally occurring forest stands within defined Southeast Texas ecological regions—the greater Houston area, Gulf Coastal Plains, South Central Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, East Central Plain, and Cross Timbers ecoregions. No seed sourced from outside Southeast Texas, other regions of Texas, other states, or commercial generalized seed stock will be accepted; this local-ecotype sourcing requirement is the binding capability filter and competitive barrier.

Contractors must supply well-developed container-grown seedlings free from pests, disease, and deformities, properly labeled by scientific and common names, and compliant with American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1) standards. Species must be appropriate to Southeast Texas forest ecosystems, including bottomland hardwood, riparian, and coastal prairie transition zones.

Contractors are required to provide comprehensive documentation: seed collection records with geographic location and habitat type, certification that seed originated from wild or naturalized Southeast Texas stands, and chain-of-custody documentation demonstrating traceability from seed collection through propagation and delivery. Species substitutions and seed source modifications are prohibited without prior written City approval and will never be permitted if non-local or regionally inappropriate genetic stock is involved. All plant materials are subject to inspection upon delivery, and the City reserves the right to reject any materials not meeting specifications or lacking proper documentation, with replacement at the contractor's expense.