Tree and Brush Removal for District 9

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Highways, is issuing a Request for Bid (RFB) for tree and brush removal services in District 9 (Flemingsburg District) through the Fayette County jurisdiction. The procurement seeks a master agreement contract for comprehensive tree and limb removal services comprising ten distinct line items: limb removal (40 crew hours), small tree removal for trees 0-4 inches in diameter (40 crew hours), tree removal across six diameter categories ranging from 5-12 inches through 61+ inches (quantities varying from 15 to 65 trees per category), and stump grinding for stumps up to 20 inches in diameter and exceeding 20 inches in diameter (100 each). Bidders must be prequalified by the Department with a Certificate of Eligibility for work items I-36 (Right of Way Tree Trimming and Brush Removal) and I-37 (Traffic Control), possess a minimum of 36 months' experience in right-of-way tree removal, maintain specified crew capacity, and achieve a 24-hour emergency response time. The solicitation was posted May 1, 2026, with written questions due by May 6, 2026, and responses provided by May 11, 2026; bids are due May 19, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with a tentative award date of June 1, 2026. The initial contract period runs from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027, with four optional one-year renewal periods available. Award will be made on a best value basis using two criteria: price (95 points, with the lowest bidder receiving maximum points) and response time (5 points, with the best response time receiving maximum points).

Bidders must submit responses exclusively through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service (VSS) eProcurement system and must bid all line items to be considered responsive; hard copies and emailed bids are not accepted. Contractors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, automobile liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence if applicable, Kentucky workers' compensation insurance, and a Category 6 Pesticide Applicators License prior to contract award for employees performing herbicide applications. Pricing is firm for the first 12 months, with price increases permitted only after submission of written justification based on industry-wide price changes. Performance penalties include $500 for each occurrence of non-conforming work, $250 for each failure to remove debris requiring work shutdown, and $720 per day for failure to respond to emergency notifications within 24 hours. No set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, incumbent vendors, or budget ranges are specified in the procurement documents; contractors are responsible for all traffic control operations in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and Kentucky Standard Drawings, and must comply with standard Commonwealth requirements regarding equal employment opportunity, non-discrimination, and records retention for three years post-final payment.