RFP 26-061 Arborist Services

The City of Albany, Georgia is requesting sealed proposals for arborist services to support tree ordinance compliance and management activities, with proposals due July 13, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. and a pre-proposal conference on June 17 at 10:00 a.m. The City strongly encourages participation from Small Business firms, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, and women and minority-owned businesses, though these are not exclusive set-asides.

The scope encompasses field inspections of city trees to evaluate health, structural integrity, and risk to public safety and infrastructure; documentation with photographs and findings summaries; and recommendations regarding pruning, monitoring, or removal. The City may also request construction-plan review for tree-requirement compliance, evaluation of species selection and site suitability for plantings, assistance with annual Tree City USA certification, grant-opportunity identification, and technical support at City Commission and Tree Board meetings. All work must meet International Society of Arboriculture standards and employ ISA-certified arborists.

The City will use a cost-per-unit-of-work contract structure with compensation at hourly rates plus a fixed travel fee if applicable. Payment terms are Net 30 unless otherwise specified. Proposers must carry comprehensive insurance, including general liability ($1 million per accident), professional liability ($1 million per claim), and workers' compensation at statutory Georgia limits, with the City named as an additional insured. All corporations must submit corporate seals, Secretary of State Certificates of Incorporation, and listings of corporate principals. Proposers must comply with the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act.

Evaluation criteria weight firm and staff experience with arborist projects (20 points), past performance with three references (20 points), ability to meet time and budget requirements (20 points), office location and proximity to Albany (15 points), project-management capability (20 points), and fee proposal (5 points). Written questions are due June 25, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. Proposals must include one original, one electronic PDF copy, and five hard copies submitted to the City of Albany Procurement Division at 222 Pine Avenue, Suite 260, Albany, GA 31701.