Rfqp 25-003

The City of Jackson, Michigan, is soliciting proposals through RFQP 25-003 for a comprehensive tree inventory and management plan focused exclusively on trees, stumps, and potential planting sites within public rights-of-ways. The project encompasses approximately 155 centerline miles of city roadways and 8 centerline miles maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation, specifically excluding trees in parks, city-owned parcels, and private lands. The selected firm will be required to develop a detailed inventory using GPS technology, forestry data collection applications, and GIS software, capturing precise data on tree locations, species, size, health conditions, and maintenance requirements. Proposals are due by December 12, 2024, with an anticipated council award on January 28, 2025, and the project is funded through a USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant. The evaluation criteria will assess consultant experience, understanding of project objectives, methodological approach, and pricing, with cost proposals only reviewed for the most qualified candidates. The project timeline requires completion of the detailed tree inventory by June 27, 2025, and the comprehensive management plan by August 29, 2025.

The project specifically targets disadvantaged communities, with 85% of Jackson's census tracts identified as disadvantaged according to the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST). The city is requesting a match waiver due to the project's focus on historically disinvested neighborhoods and aims to address long-standing urban forest challenges, including impacts from Dutch elm disease and emerald ash borer. The total project cost is $757,275, with plans to invest approximately $180,000 annually over three years for urban forest improvements, including planting approximately 85 new trees each year. The city intends to use a combination of city staff and contracted professionals to implement the program, with key personnel including Chandra Willinger as Project Manager, Jeremiah Spencer as Assistant Project Manager, and Libbye Tellor as GIS Coordinator. The project's ultimate goals include increasing urban forest biodiversity, mitigating urban heat island effects, and improving the resilience of the tree canopy in historically underserved areas.