Urban Forestry Tree Inventory

The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department is requesting proposals to conduct a comprehensive tree inventory on developed parkland under RFP 8600 MLJ3012, with proposals due July 14, 2026. The M/WBE Procurement Program applies; however, no M/WBE subcontracting goals have been assigned due to insufficient subcontracting opportunities, though bidders using subcontractors must still comply with program requirements. A living wage requirement of $22.05 per hour applies to all employees and subcontractors directly assigned to the contract, and wage theft training must be completed within 30 days of award.

The scope encompasses inventory of approximately 450,000 trees across more than 20,582 acres of parkland, 288 miles of trails, and 382 parks. The contractor shall collect data for all trees 4 inches or larger in diameter at breast height (DBH) in developed parkland and trees 8 inches or larger in 20-foot buffer zones adjacent to developed areas. Data may be collected using LIDAR technology, AI-assisted technologies, conventional methods, or combinations thereof, and must be delivered in ESRI File Geodatabase format using NAD 1983 State Plane Texas Central projection. Required attributes include geolocation with one-meter GPS accuracy, botanical and common names with 95% accuracy, trunk diameter, and condition ratings.

Contractors must demonstrate completion of a minimum of three comparable municipal tree inventory projects with references, five years' experience with proposed technologies, and employment of ISA Certified Arborist(s) for quality control and species verification. Key staff resumes must be submitted.

The contract term extends from the effective date until deliverables are complete or the City terminates the engagement. All pricing must be all-inclusive, with no separate charges permitted for administrative costs, overhead, transportation, travel time, fuel surcharges, mileage, or stop fees. Joshua Erickson serves as Contract Manager; Marissa Jones is the Procurement Specialist.