Urban Forestry Consultant (Federal Funding)

The City of Hendersonville, North Carolina is soliciting proposals under RFP #271565001 for urban forestry consulting services covering a tree canopy cover assessment, a tree inventory, and an urban forestry management plan, with proposals due November 6, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. EST. The project is funded in whole or in part with federal financial assistance administered through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, North Carolina Forest Service, and is subject to federal Uniform Guidance and pass-through requirements. The three components are designed as one integrated effort, with the canopy assessment and inventory informing the management plan.

The tree inventory covers approximately 69.31 centerline miles of City street right-of-way and approximately 298.92 acres of City parks and public properties. Contractors must carry workers' compensation insurance, automobile liability insurance with minimum limits of $300,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence, and professional liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence.

Initial evaluation weights are 15% for company background and experience, 30% for capability statement and forestry work samples, 20% for project team and staff qualifications, 25% for project understanding and implementation approach, and 10% for total price. If the City interviews short-listed firms, weighting shifts to 60% technical approach and project team/staffing and 40% price and interview quality. The City will not necessarily award to the lowest-cost bidder. Pricing must remain firm for 90 days after the proposal deadline.

Vendor questions were due October 26, 2026. Proposals must be submitted as one original, three paper copies, and one electronic file to Caitlyn Gendusa, Sustainability Manager, at 305 Williams Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Short-listed offerors will be notified by November 10, 2026, interviews are scheduled for November 17, 2026, and anticipated award is November 23, 2026. The effective contract date is December 15, 2026, with all work completed by September 30, 2028.