Tree Services for San Antonio State Hospital

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB No. HHS0016129) for comprehensive tree services at the San Antonio State Hospital. The solicitation seeks a qualified contractor to provide professional arborist services, including tree removal, trimming, pruning, inspection, diagnosis, and related maintenance activities. Bidders must be International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified and capable of deploying a 15-20 person crew with a minimum of five years of relevant experience. The contractor will be responsible for responding to service calls within four hours and must provide all necessary equipment, personnel training, and background checks. Mandatory on-site visits are scheduled for July 29, 2025, at 3:00 PM and July 31, 2025, at 9:00 AM, with bid responses due by August 15, 2025, at 10:30 AM. The initial contract term will run through August 31, 2029, with potential extension options for up to one additional year. Evaluation will be conducted on a best value basis, considering both cost and the bidder's ability to meet performance requirements and specifications.

The solicitation includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting Plan with a 26.0% HUB utilization goal for the contract. Contractors must demonstrate good faith efforts to engage HUB subcontractors, including dividing contract work into reasonable lots and following detailed solicitation procedures for HUB participation. The historical spend for similar services is $59,849.99 for the period from 9/13/24 through 8/31/25. Bidders must complete multiple exhibits, including the HUB Subcontracting Plan, Solicitation Affirmations, Pricing Sheet, and Bidder Reference & Contractor Qualifications Form. Failure to submit a completed Exhibit C Pricing Sheet or other required documents will result in bid disqualification. The contract covers multiple NIGP commodity codes, including arborist services, tree and shrub removal, and tree trimming services. Post-award requirements include monthly compliance reporting and potential on-site reviews by the contracting agency, with non-compliance potentially resulting in contract breach and potential debarment from state contracting for up to five years.