Tree Services and Maintenance as needed for the San Antonio State Hospital

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is soliciting competitive bids for comprehensive tree services and maintenance at the San Antonio State Hospital, located at 6711 S New Braunfels Ave, San Antonio, TX. The solicitation (HHS0016807) requires a contractor capable of performing extensive tree management services including disease and pest inspections, air spading, branch trimming, tree thinning, removal of soft, hard, and diseased wood, stump removal and grinding, thicket clearance, and wood chipping across a multi-acre campus with various tree species. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of two years of relevant experience, with personnel required to have at least two years of experience and applicable International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certifications. The contractor must be prepared to mobilize a 15-20 person crew and respond to service calls within four hours during business hours or two hours for emergencies. Mandatory on-site visits are scheduled for December 15 and 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., with bid responses due by January 12, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. The initial contract term runs from the award date through August 31, 2026, with potential three one-year renewals.

The solicitation includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting Plan with a statewide HUB utilization goal of 26.0%, indicating significant opportunities for minority and disadvantaged business enterprise participation. Subcontracting opportunities are specifically identified in tree and root cutting, tree and shrub removal, and tree trimming services. All bidders, regardless of HUB certification status, must submit a completed HUB Subcontracting Plan using one of five prescribed methods demonstrating good-faith efforts to include HUB vendors. Bidders must provide three verifiable references for similar contracts completed within the last two years and submit comprehensive background checks for all personnel. Insurance requirements are substantial, including workers' compensation ($1,000,000), commercial general liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence), commercial automobile liability ($1,000,000), professional liability ($1,000,000), and umbrella liability ($1,000,000). The award will be made to the bidder offering the best value to the State, considering ability to meet requirements, performance delivery capability, and price, with final approval by the HHSC Executive Commissioner or designee.