REQUEST FOR BIDS FOR CONTRACTED TREE REMOVALS, TREE TRIMMING AND STUMP REMOVALS IN JACKSON COUNTY

Jackson County is accepting bids for Professional Tree Removal Services to provide Jackson County with tree work along primary and local roads beginning February 22, 2027.

Through this process, it is the goal of Jackson County to secure a contractor that will provide work crews on a daily basis for Tree Removals, Tree Trimming, and Stump Removals to the Jackson County Department of Transportation (JCDOT).

It is the intention of Jackson County to competitively award to a qualified company that has demonstrated their ability for comparable work.

As a result of this RFB, Jackson County will work with the CoPro+ Cooperative Bid Program to market and extend the resulting contract to other government municipalities throughout the State of Michigan. The contract will enable public municipalities to "piggyback" and purchase tree removal, tree trimming, and stump removal services through this competitive process.

The Contractor's base hourly rate shall include a minimum of a five (5) person crew, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and services necessary to perform the services as described in the specifications herein. Equipment supplied for the base hourly rate should include at a minimum: aerial truck (60 Ft boom), chip truck (Minimum capacity of 8 Yards), chipper, and chainsaws of adequate size for the diameter of trees being removed. Travel time to and from the Contractor's location to the jobsite and lunch breaks will not be allowed in the hourly rate. Contract may include work on state trunk lines.

Tree work completed by awarded contractor as a result of this solicitation shall be in compliance with Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) specifications and Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Device guidelines. Tree work specifications shall also include the following:

• All trees designated by JCDOT representatives shall be removed. Said designation is a PINK dot painted on the road side of the tree, approximately at Diameter Breast Height (DBH).
• For tree removals, JCDOT will supply a loader and wood truck for removal of trees. A list of trees to be removed, roads to be trimmed, and stumps to be ground will be sent to the awarded contractor every morning.
• Each tree shall be flush cut at ground level, regardless of stump grinding requirements.
• A licensed arborist must be on company payroll and called out when requested by JCDOT.
• The normal work day will consist of five 8 hour days during the winter months and four 10 hours days during the summer months.
• All brush less than three (3) inches in diameter shall be chipped immediately and removed from the work site on the same day.
• Trees may not be dropped across the roadway.
• All wood and brush disposed of must be in accordance with the Michigan Department of Agriculture regulations concerning Emerald Ash Borer and Oak Wilt Disease.
• The Contractor must provide and maintain proper signing barricades, lighted arrow panels, and flaggers, to properly protect the work site, persons, and property against injury.
• The contractor shall comply with all related MIOSHA safety regulations and requirements and specifically Part 53, Tree Trimming and Removal of the Michigan Department of Labor Occupational Safety Standards.
• The Contractor shall keep a daily log of the tree removal operation to include hours worked at each location and equipment used, and shall provide JCDOT with a copy of this log on a daily basis.

**Submission method:** Submit an electronic version of your Bid to Jackson County via email to jcouling@mijackson.org not later than **10:00 a.m.** **DO NOT submit bids through BidNet.** Bids will not be accepted via U.S. mail or any other delivery method.

The subject line of your email must include "RFB #206" with Company Name, and "message 1 of 3" as appropriate if the proposal consists of multiple emails.

Bids will be publicly opened via Teams virtual meeting at 10:15 A.M. To attend, RSVP by providing your name and email address to Jim Couling.

**Bid contents:** Pricing - *Attachment D*; at least three (3) references; Qualifications of Firm; *Attachment A* (Non-Collusion Affidavit); *Attachment B* (Certificate of Authorization for Contract Execution); *Attachment C* (Legal Status of Bidder); list of equipment; number of employees.

Evaluation criteria:

• Pricing
• References
• Qualifications of Firm

**Contract term:** Two (2) year base contract with one (1), one-year renewal option at the discretion of the County, for a total contract period not to exceed three (3) years.

**Insurance:** Commercial General Liability Insurance with limits of liability not less than **$1,000,000** per occurrence and **$2,000,000** Aggregate; Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance not less than **$1,000,000.00** per occurrence; Workers' Compensation Insurance, including Employers' Liability Coverage. Bids must remain valid for at least ninety (90) days from the opening date.

All pricing shall include 1.5% administrative/remittance fee to be remitted to CoPro+ by the awarded vendor.