SLCo PAR040326 Tree Utah Tree Planting Materials - RFI

Salt Lake County's Division of Contracts and Procurement is soliciting responses to a Request for Information (RFI) regarding a proposed sole source standardization contract for tree planting materials to support Tree Utah's ongoing tree planting services. The procurement seeks to supply trees, mulch, soil amendments, and related sundries necessary for planting approximately 1,500 trees across County parks over a five-year contract period. The primary objective is to establish standardization and ensure compatibility with Tree Utah's existing tree planting and establishment services, with the deliverables designed to support environmental and public health initiatives while maintaining quality standards consistent with the County's Million Tree program. Key requirements include materials at a fully loaded cost of $330 per tree, reflecting Tree Utah's discounted rates secured through established supplier relationships developed through their non-profit status. The RFI was posted on April 3, 2026, with a deadline for comments and responses due by April 10, 2026, at 1:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time. No site visits or bidders' conferences have been scheduled. The evaluation will focus on whether the sole source justification is valid or whether competing vendors should be considered.

This procurement is restricted to Tree Utah, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, as the sole source vendor being considered for standardization purposes with the County's existing tree planting services contract. The sole source justification emphasizes that while the County could theoretically obtain comparable materials from alternative vendors, doing so would likely result in significantly higher costs and create logistical complications that would undermine the compatibility and efficiency of Tree Utah's established planting operations. Tree Utah's mission alignment with County environmental and public health objectives, combined with their existing volunteer efforts and prior management of the Million Tree program, supports the standardization rationale. The estimated total contract value is $495,000 over the five-year term, representing a significant investment in urban forestry with the expectation that planted trees will have a projected lifespan of 50 years or more with proper establishment and maintenance. Any party opposing the sole source designation must submit objections to the Salt Lake County Contracts and Procurement Division prior to the April 10, 2026, deadline.