ITB - On-Call Tree Removal and Other Tree Services FY27

On-Call Tree Removal and
Other Tree Services Contract FY27
Qualified organizations are invited to respond to the Informal Request for Proposals
Entitled:
"On-Call Tree Removal and Other Services Contract FY27"
Submittals must be received by July 10, 2026, no later than 12:00 p.m (Eastern
Standard Time) and should be sent in digital PDF format to:
Bids@morrisvillenc.gov
Subject Line: On-Call Tree Removal and Other Services Contract FY27
Date Issued
June 26, 2026
Question Due Date
July 7, 2026, 12:00pm EST
Due Date
July 10, 2026, 12:00pm EST

INVITATION TO BID
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town of Morrisville ("Town") invites submittals of
bids for the On-Call Tree Removal and Other Tree Services Contract. The project will be
awarded if pricing is within anticipated funding availability.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS. Bid submissions shall be emailed to
bids@morrisville.gov and must arrive prior to the due date time. No bid shall be
considered if received after the deadline.
All communications concerning this RFP should be directed to:
Streets Maintenance Supervisor
Mike Kowalski
Email: bids@morrisvillenc.gov
SCOPE OF WORK.
The contractor shall provide all materials, equipment, labor and supervision for
this contract. The primary purpose of this contract is to set up on-call tree removal
services, some pruning, stump removal, debris cleanup, or consulting may be requested
depending on the circumstances. The Town's desired service level for this contract is
divided into two categories- non-emergency conditions and emergency conditions. A
Town designee will state if the request is an emergency or non-emergency when
contacting the Contractor. In non-emergency conditions the Town prefers that the
Contractor responds to a work request with a quote within (15) business days, with the
work to be completed on a mutually agreed date and time. For emergency conditions,
the Town would prefer a (24)-hour on-call/after-hours policy. During emergency
conditions, the Town would receive priority service from the Contractor. The Contractor
should follow the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Best Management
Practices, as well as ANSI A300 - 2008, A92.2, and Z133 standards. A Town designee
will complete a visual inspection of the site prior to the payment of any invoices.
INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS
FORM OF BID. All bids shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with the
following requirements. Failure to comply with any requirement shall cause the bid to be
considered irregular and may be grounds for rejection of the bid.
The bid form furnished by Town of Morrisville shall be used and shall not be altered in
any manner. The Bidder shall submit a unit price for every item on the bid form. The
unit prices for the various contract items shall be written in figures limited to two decimal
places. The bid amount for each line shall be determined by multiplying the "Units" by
the "Unit Price" for that item and shall be written in figures in the "Extended Price"
column of the form. The total bid amount shall be written in figures in the proper place
on the bid form. The total bid amount shall be determined by adding the extended price
for each item.

QUANTITIES APPROXIMATE. Any quantities shown in the bid form or elsewhere
herein shall be considered approximations listed to serve as a general indication of the
amount of work or materials to be performed or furnished, and as basis for the bid
comparison. The Town does not guarantee that the actual amounts required will
correspond with those shown. As deemed necessary or convenient, the Town may
increase or decrease the amount of any item or portion of work or material to be
performed or furnished or omit any such item or portion, in accordance with the contract
documents.
ADDENDA. The Town may, from time to time, issue addenda to this bid solicitation.
Bidders are responsible for ensuring that they have received any and all addenda. Each
bidder is responsible for verifying that it has received all addenda issued, if any. Bidders
must acknowledge all addenda in their bid receipt, if any. Failure to acknowledge receipt
of all addenda may cause a bid to be deemed incomplete and nonresponsive.
BIDDER'S EXAMINATION OF SITE AND CONTRACT DOCUMENTS.
Each bidder must carefully examine the project site and the entirety of the contract
documents. Upon submission of a bid, it will be conclusively presumed that the bidder
has thoroughly investigated the work and is satisfied as to the conditions to be
encountered and the character, quality, and quantities of work to be performed and
materials to be furnished. Upon bid submission, it also shall be conclusively presumed
that the bidder is familiar with and agrees to the requirements of the contract
documents, including all addenda. No information derived from an inspection of records
or investigation will in any way relieve the Contractor from its obligations under the
contract documents nor entitle the Contractor to any additional compensation. The
Contractor shall not make any claim against the Town based upon ignorance or
misunderstanding of any condition of the project site or of the requirements set forth in
the contract documents. No claim for additional compensation will be allowed, which is
based on a lack of knowledge of the above items. m Bidders assume all risks in
connection with performance of the work in accordance with the contract documents,
regardless of actual conditions encountered, and waive and release the Town with
respect to all claims and liabilities in connection therewith, to the extent permitted by
law.
SELECTION PROCESS. The Town will take into account such matters as it considers
appropriate in selecting the successful contractor. The Town reserves the right to reject,
for any reason, any and all proposals. Evaluation criteria will include the following:
* The contractor's understanding of the assignment and ability to follow proposal
instructions.
* The experience and qualifications of the contractor.
* References (provide a minimum of three account references) upon request.
* A review by the Town of the contractor's response to the RFP, to determine if the
proposal meets all criteria for consideration.
* Relevant experience, project understanding, project requirements, strength of the
proposal and proposed fees.

* The lowest proposal price will not necessarily be accepted. The Town reserves the
right to reject all bids, award the agreement, interview contractors, negotiate the
specific terms of the agreement and make other adjustments as required in
consultation with the successful contractor(s).
INSURANCE. The successful Bidder shall not begin work until it has given the Town
evidence of all required insurance coverage (including all additional insured
endorsements), and the Town has issued a formal Notice to Proceed.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. Definitions:
a) The Contract Documents shall consist of the Contract, the accepted Proposal,
the General Conditions of the Contract, thereof incorporated in the documents
before their execution.
b) Whenever the term "Contractor" is used, it shall be understood as referring
to the General Contractor, subcontractor, and all other contractors or their
duly authorized agent to whom the work here described is awarded by
contract.
c) Whenever the term Town Designee is mentioned, it is understood to mean
the Town Designee of Morrisville, North Carolina, Public Works Department.
d) Whenever the term "Town" is used it is to mean the Town of Morrisville, North
Carolina.
e) The term "Work" of the Contractor or subcontractor includes all supervision,
labor, equipment, tools, materials and supplies necessary to complete the
Contract, unless specified otherwise elsewhere in the Contract Documents.
2. Intent of Contract:
The intent of the Contract is to provide for completion, in every detail, of the work
described. It is further intended that the Contractor shall furnish all labor, materials,
equipment, tools, transportation, and supplies required to complete the work in
accordance with the plans, specifications, and terms of the Contract.
3. Detail Drawings and Instructions:
The Town Designee shall furnish with reasonable promptness, additional instructions,
by means of drawings or otherwise, necessary for the proper execution of the work. All
such instructions shall be consistent with the Contract Documents, true development
thereof, and reasonably inferable therefrom.
4.Order of Completion:
The Contractor shall submit at such times as may be requested by the Town Designee,
schedules which show the order in which the Contractor proposes to carry on the work
with dates at which the Contractor will start the several parts of the work and the
estimated dates of their completion.
5.Contractor's Understanding:
It is understood and agreed that the Contractor has, by careful examination satisfied
himself as to the nature and location of the work, the conformation of the ground, the

character, quality and quantity of materials to be encountered, the character of equipment
and facilities needed preliminary to and during the performance of the work, the general
and local conditions, and all other matters which may affect the work under this Contract.
No verbal agreement or conversation with any officer, agent or employee of the Town,
either before or after the execution of the Contract shall affect or modify any terms or
obligations herein contained.
6.Materials, Appliances, Employees:
Unless otherwise specified, the Contractor shall provide and pay for all materials, labor,
water, tools, equipment, light, power, transportation and other facilities necessary for
the completion of the work. The Contractor shall at all times enforce strict discipline
and good order among his employees, and shall not employ, in the performance of this
Contract, any unfit person or anyone not skilled in the work assigned to them.
7.Royalties and Patents:
The Contractor shall pay all royalties and patent fees. He shall defend all suits or claims
for infringement of any patent rights and shall save the Town harmless from loss on
account thereof, except that the Town shall be responsible for such loss when a
particular process or the product of a particular manufacturer(s) is specified, but if the
Contractor has information that the process or article specified is an infringement of a
patent, he shall be responsible for such loss unless he promptly gives such information
to the Town Designee.
8.Survey, Permits and Regulations:
The Town shall furnish baseline surveys unless otherwise specified. The Contractor
shall be responsible for maintaining the baseline surveys and shall be responsible for
providing all construction surveys. Permits and licenses of a temporary nature
necessary for the performance of the work shall be secured and paid for by the
Contractor. Permits, licenses and easements for permanent structures or permanent
changes in existing facilities shall be secured and paid for by the Town unless
otherwise stipulated. If the Contractor observes that the drawings and specifications
are at variance therewith, he shall promptly notify the Town Designee in writing, and
any necessary changes shall be adjusted as provided in the Contract for changes in
work.
9.Protection of Work and Property:
The Contractor shall continuously maintain adequate protection of all his work from
damage and shall protect the Town's and private property from injury or loss arising in
connection with this Contract. He shall make good any such damage, injury or loss, except
such as made directly due to errors in the Contract Documents or caused by agents or
employees of the Town.
10.Inspection of Work:
The Town Designee and his representatives shall at all times have access to the work
wherever it is in preparation or progress and the Contractor shall provide facilities for
such access and for inspection. If the specifications, the Town Designee's instructions,
laws, or ordinances or any public authority requires any work to be specially tested or
approved, the Contractor shall give the Town Designee timely notice of its readiness for

inspection. Inspections by the Town Designee shall be promptly made, and where
practicable at the source of supply. If any work should be covered without approval or
consent of the Town Designee, it must, if required by the Town Designee, be uncovered
for examination at the Contractor's expense.
11. Deductions for Uncorrected Work:
If the Town Designee deems it expedient to correct work injured or done not in
accordance with the Contract, an equitable deduction from the Contract price shall
be made.
12.Correction of Work before Final Payment:
The Contractor shall promptly remove from the premises all materials
condemned by the Town Designee as failing to conform with the Contract, whether
incorporated in the work or not, and the Contractor shall promptly replace and re-
execute his own work in accordance with the Contract and without expense to the
Town and shall bear the expense of making good all work of other contractors
destroyed or damaged by such removal or replacement.
13.Town's Right to Do Work:
If the Contractor should neglect to perform the work properly or fail to perform any
provision of this Contract, the Town, after two day's written notice to the
Contractor, may, without prejudice to any other remedy he may have, make good
such deficiencies and may deduct the cost thereof from the payment then or
thereafter due the Contractor. If, in the opinion of the Town Designee, such
deficiencies jeopardize the public health and safety the Town Designee may
waive the notification time period.
14.Town's Right to Terminate Contract:
If the Contractor should be adjudged as bankrupt, or if he should make a general
assignment for the benefit of his creditors, or if a receiver should be appointed on
account of insolvency, or if he should persistently or repeatedly refuse or should fail,
except in cases for which extension of time is provided, to supply enough properly
skilled workmen or proper materials, or if he should fail to make prompt payment to
subcontractors or for material or labor, or persistently discharged laws, ordinances or
the instructions of the Town Designee, or otherwise be guilty of a substantial violation
of any provision of the Contract, then the Town, upon the certificate of the Town
Designee that sufficient cause exists to justify such action, may without prejudice to
any other right or remedy and after giving the Contractor fifteen days' written notice,
terminate the employment of the Contractor and take possession of the premises and
of all materials, tools, appliances, there and finish the work by whatever method it
may deem expedient. In such case the Contractor shall not be entitled to receive any
further payment until the work is finished. If the unpaid balance of the Contract price
shall exceed the expense of finishing the work, including compensation for additional
managerial and administrative services, such excess shall be paid to the Contractor.
If such expense shall exceed the unpaid balance, the Contractor shall pay the
difference to the Town. The expense incurred by the owner as herein provided, and
the damage incurred through the Contractor's default, shall be certified by the Town
Designee.

15. Contractor's Right to Stop Work or Terminate Contract:
If the work should be stopped under an order of any Court, or other public authority, for
a period of three months, through no act or fault of the Contractor or of anyone
employed by him or if the Town Designee should fail to issue any estimate for payment
within seven days of this maturity and presentation, any sum certified by the Town
Designee or awarded by arbitrators, then the Contractor may, upon seven days written
notice to the Town and Town Designee, stop work or terminate this Contract and
recover from the Town payment for all work executed and any loss sustained upon any
plant or material and reasonable profit and damages.
16. Payment Withheld:
The Town may withhold or, on account of subsequently discovered evidence, nullify
the whole or a part of any request for payment to such extent as may be necessary
to protect itself on account of:
* Defective work is not remedied.
* Claims filed or reasonable evidence indicating probable filing of claims.
* Failure of the Contractor to make payments properly to
subcontractors or for materials or labor.
* A reasonable doubt that the Contract can be completed for the balance
unpaid.
* Damage to another contractor.
When the above items have been cleared to the satisfaction of the Town Designee,
payment shall be made for amounts withheld because of them.
17. Indemnification and Liability Insurance:
To the maximum extent allowed by law, the Contractor shall defend, indemnify, and save
harmless the Town of Morrisville, its agents, officers, and employees, from and against all
charges that arise in any manner from, in connection with, or out of this contract to the
extent resulting from the negligent acts, errors or omissions of the Contractor or sub or
anyone directly or indirectly employed by any of them or anyone for whose acts any of
them may be liable. In performing its duties under this section, the Contractor shall at its
sole expense defend the Town of Morrisville, its agents, officers, and employees with legal
counsel reasonably acceptable to the Town. As used in this subsection - "Charges" means
claims, judgments, costs, damages, losses, demands, liabilities, duties, obligations, fines,
penalties, royalties, settlements, expenses, interest, reasonable attorney's fees, and
amounts for alleged violations of sedimentation pollution, erosion control, pollution, or other
environmental laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, or orders. Nothing in this section shall
affect any warranties in favor of the Town that are otherwise provided in or arise out of this
contract. This section is in addition to and shall be construed separately from any other
indemnification provisions that may be in this contract. This section shall remain in force
despite termination of this contract (whether by expiration of the term or otherwise) and
termination of the services of the Contract under this contract.
b. The firm must have the financial ability to undertake the work and assume liability. The
Contractor will be required to furnish proof of insurance coverage, which shall be
maintained at all times with minimum limits as follows:

Coverage Minimum Limits
General Liability $1,000,000 per occurrence ($2,000,000 aggregate)
Automobile Liability $1,000,000
Professional Liability (E & O) $1,000,000 per occurrence ($2,000,000 aggregate)
Workers' Compensation Statutory Limits
Employers' Liability $ 500,000
18.Damage Claims:
Any claim for damage arising under this Contract shall be in writing to the party liable
within a reasonable time of the first observance of such damage.
19.Subcontractors:
The Contractor shall, as soon as practicable after the signing of the Contract,
notify the Town Designee in writing of the names of subcontractors proposed
for the work and shall not employ any that the Town Designee may within a
reasonable time object to as incompetent or unfit. The Contractor agrees that
he is as fully responsible to the Town for the acts and omissions of his
subcontractor and of persons either directly or indirectly employed by them; as
he is for the acts and omissions of persons directly employed by him. Nothing
in the Contract Documents shall create any contractual relation between any
subcontractor and the Town.
20. Points and Instructions:
The Contractor shall provide reasonable and necessary opportunities and facilities for
setting points and making measurements. He shall not proceed until he has made
timely demand upon the Town Designee for, and has received from him, such points
and instructions as may be necessary as the work progresses. The work shall be
done in strict conformity with such points and instructions. The Contractor shall
carefully preserve benchmarks, reference points and stakes, and in case of willful or
careless destruction, he shall be charged with the resulting expense and shall be
responsible for any mistakes that may be caused by their unnecessary loss or
disturbance.
21.Status of Town Designee:
The Town Designee shall be the Town's representative during construction and shall
decide questions which may arise as to the quality and acceptability of materials
furnished and work performed and shall interpret the intent of the Contract Documents
in a fair and unbiased manner. The Town Designee shall have access to the
construction site at any time to determine if the work is proceeding in accordance with
the Contract Documents. The Town Designee will not be responsible for the
construction means, techniques, sequences, procedures, or construction safety, which
items will be under the control and direction of the Contractor and carried out within the
intent of the Contract Documents and in compliance applicable laws and generally
accepted practices of the construction industry.
22. Town Designee's Decisions:
The Town Designee shall, within a reasonable time after their presentation to him, make
decisions in writing on all claims of the Town or the Contractor and on all other matters

relating to the execution and progress of the work or the interpretation of the Contract
Documents. All such decisions of the Town Designee shall be final except in cases where
time and/or financial considerations are involved, which, if no agreement in regard thereto is
reached, shall be subject to arbitration.
23. Cleaning Up:
The Contractor shall, as directed by the Town Designee, remove from the Town's
property and from all other public and private property, at his own expense, all
temporary structures, and rubbish, and waste materials resulting from his own
operations.
24.Traffic Control:
The Contractor shall, where necessary, provide and maintain access to and from all
properties along the line of his work. Where single-lane bypasses are provided, the
Contractor shall furnish signalmen to control traffic operations and minimize delays. The
Contractor will also provide proper signs, signal lights, flagmen and other warning
devices for the protection of traffic in conformance with the latest NCDOT Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways and amendments or
supplements thereto.
25. Safeguards:
The Contractor shall provide, erect and maintain adequate barricades, warning signs,
and lights at all excavations, closures, detours and points of danger.
26.Opening Sections of Road to Traffic:
Completed work shall be opened to traffic when and where directed by the Town
Designee, but such opening shall not constitute final acceptance of the work.
Maintenance shall be at the Contractors expense.
27.Existing Utilities and Structures:
The existence and location of underground utilities shall be investigated by the
Contractor and verified in the field before starting work. The Contractor shall be held
responsible for any damage to, and for maintenance and protection of, existing utilities
and structures.
28.Contractor's License:
The Contractor shall be properly licensed to perform the work as described according to
the plans and specifications and shall furnish satisfactory proof that he is duly licensed
under the terms of General Statutes of North Carolina, Chapter 87, Article1, and that he
has paid the license tax required by the Revenue Act of the State of North Carolina then
in force so as to be qualified to bid upon or contract for the work called for in this
Contract.
29.Laws to be Observed:
The Contractor shall keep fully informed of all Federal and State laws, all local laws,
ordinances, and regulations and all orders and decrees of bodies or tribunals having
any jurisdiction of authority, which in any manner affect those engaged or employed
on the work, or which in any way affect the conduct of the work.

He shall at all times observe and comply with all such laws, ordinances, regulations,
orders, decrees; and shall protect and indemnify the Town Designee, the Owner and
all their officers, agents, or servants against any claim or liability arising from or based
on the violation of any such law, ordinance, regulation, order of decree, whether by
himself or his employees.
30.Environmental Protection:
The Contractor shall comply with all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations
controlling pollution of the environment. He shall take necessary precautions to
prevent pollution to streams, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs with fuels, oils, bitumen,
chemicals, or other harmful materials and to prevent pollution of the atmosphere from
particulate and gaseous matter.
31 Inspection of the Work:
All materials and each part or detail of the work shall be subject to
inspection by the Town Designee. The Town Designee shall be allowed access to all
parts of the work and shall be furnished with such information and assistance by the
Contractor as is required to make a complete and detailed inspection. Should the
Contract work include relocation, adjustment, or any other modification to existing
facilities, not the property of the (Contract) Town, the authorized Town Designee of such
facilities shall have the right to inspect such work. Such inspection shall in no sense
make any facility Owner a party to the Contract and shall in no way interfere with the
rights of the parties to this Contract.
32.Claims for Adjustment and Disputes:
If for any reason the Contractor deems that additional compensation is due him for
work or materials not clearly provided for in the Contract, plans, or specifications or
previously authorized as extra work, he shall notify the Town Designee in writing of
his intention to claim such additional compensation before he begins the work on
which he bases the claim. If such notification is not given or the Town Designee is
not afforded proper opportunity by the Contractor for keeping strict account of actual
cost as required, then the Contractor hereby agrees to waive any claim for such
additional compensation. Such notice by the Contractor and the fact that the Town
Designee has kept account of the cost of the work shall not in any way be construed
as proving or substantiating the validity of the claim. When the work on which the
claim for additional compensation is based has been completed, the Contractor
shall, within 10 calendar days, submit his written claim to the Town Designee who
will present it to the Owner for consideration in accordance with local laws or
ordinances. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as a waiver of the
Contractor's right to dispute final payment based on differences in measurements or
computations.
33.Limitation of Operations:
The Contractor shall only be permitted to work on Saturdays or holidays with prior notice
being given the Town Designee if said work does not require inspection by the Town.