Pre-Advertisement Notice for Community-Based Forestry

EXHIBIT A
GENERAL SCOPE OF SERVICES & COMPENSATION
Vision
City of Atlanta's Tree Protection Ordinance (Section 158-28: Goals and purpose) provides broad
reforestation and forest restoration directives. It is the goal of the City of Atlanta to protect,
maintain and advance a healthy urban forest and to ensure that current and future residents
continue to enjoy the benefits provided by the city's urban forest. These benefits include: improving
public health by reducing air pollution; mitigating stormwater runoff and flooding; lowering the
temperature to reduce the incidence of heat-related illness and death; increasing the usability of
streets and sidewalks, especially for pedestrians and cyclists; decreasing right-of-way
maintenance and stormwater infrastructure costs; providing a healthy ecosystem and habitat for
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birds, pollinators, and other wildlife; enhancing property values and commerce in retail districts;
attracting visitors to conventions and special events; and beautifying neighborhoods.
Tothis end,theDepartment of Parks and RecreatiFon(DPR)seeksto maximizethebenefits oftrees
and treecanopyon public landand in the right-of-wayacross theCity. DPR endeavors toplant and
maintain trees with best managementpractices for their health, longevity, and utility, tomaintain
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trees in nonhazardous condition,and toupholdthehighest professionalarboricultural standards;
beautifyneighborhoods toraiseproperty values;shadeandshelter shoppers to enhance
commerce inretaildistricts; attract conventionsandspecial events to improvethe economy;
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encourage alternative transportationchoices;better public healthby reducing airpollution;
mitigate storm water runoff and flooding; minimize trippinghazards; improve accessibilityand
usability of infrastructure; prevent damage to streets andsidewalks; anddecrease right-of-way
maintenance costsD.
Community-Based Forestry projects shouldconformto these broaddirectives in tree planting, tree
care,and invasiveplant control for thehealthof trees.Community-BasedForestry education
projects should inform, train, and recruit members ofthepublic in theresponsible stewardship of
Atlanta's urban forest. Asa"City in theForest",Cityof Atlanta contracts Community-Based
Forestry services toboth promote civic engagement andrealize cost-savings throughvolunteerism.
Background
The Community-Based Forestry (B) project seeks to continue the decades-long reforestation
programming supported by the City of Atlanta's Tree Trust Fund. This project supplements the work
of the City's staff forestry services with volunteers and enhances the City's community outreach
efforts. The Community-Based Forestry (B) project focuses on engaging, recruiting, and training
community volunteers to plant small and mid-sized trees, remove invasive plants from the City's
naturalized areas, and teaching the public about the importance of, and how to care for, the City's
urban forest through classes, trainings, educational events, school visits, and workforce
development. The Contractor will be expected to work with community members, political
leadership, and City agencies in the delivery of services. As a public entity, the City of Atlanta
expects customer service excellence in engagement with citizens, business owners, and visitors.

Scope of Services
The Contractor is responsible for the selection and planting of two hundred (200) 3-gallon trees,
eight hundred (800) 7-gallon trees, four thousand four hundred (4,400) 15-gallon trees and six
hundred (600) 30-gallon or 1.5-inch caliper trees. These small and mid-size trees hereinafter shall
be referred to, collectively, as the "New Trees." The Contractor is responsible for pruning three
thousand (5,000) trees that are of approximately three (3) to ten (10) years in age. The contractor will
also engage the community in the planting and pruning projects throughout the City. The Contractor
shall maintain and guarantee these New Trees for a period of two (2) years from the time of planting
and shall undertake immediately to care for these New Trees. The Contractor shall perform a
Community Education and Outreach Program to include sixteen (16) guided tree walks or bike
tours, six (6) certified volunteer program series, sixteen (16) tree pruning classes, a tree speaker
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series to include twenty-two (22) lectures or workshops, five hundred (500) APS school visits,
sixteen (16) paid APS high school summer positions, and twenty (20) week-long camp
scholarships. The Contractor shall coordinate andF lead forty-eight (48) volunteer invasive plant
control projects as part of the Community Invasive Plant Control Program.
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Community Tree Planting and Maintenance
The goal of the Community Tree Planting and Maintenance program is to increase the quantity,
health, diversity, and longevity of the City's tree canopy by utilizing volunteers to plant smaller and
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mid-sized trees, and to water, weed, mulch, prune and otherwise maintain young trees. While
planting and maintenance work is a substantial part of this program, training and educating
thousands of new and experienced volunteers about tree planting and care is an equally important
aspect of the progrDam.
1. Small-tree planting. The Contractor shall plant two hundred (200) 3-gallon trees, eight
hundred (800) 7-gallon container trees and four thousand four hundred (4,400) 15-gallon
container trees along City neighborhood streets, greenspaces, sidewalks, or other rights of
way, on school property, private property, and in parks. All 3-gallon, 7-gallon and 15-gallon
sizes are considered 0.25-inch, 0.5-inch and 1-inch caliper respectively. The 3-gallon, 7-
gallon and 15-gallon trees are also referred to herein, collectively, as "small trees.". A total
of 4,850 caliper-inches of small trees shall be planted over the course of two planting
seasons (October 1 to March 30) by neighbors, volunteers, local school children, and staff.
Two thousand and seven hundred (2,700) small trees will be planted during the 2026/27
planting season, and two thousand seven hundred (2,700) trees will be planted in the
2027/28 planting season. No more than 200 small trees may be planted on private
property.
2. Mid-size tree planting. The Contractor shall plant six hundred (600) mid-size trees along
City neighborhood streets, greenspaces, sidewalks, or other rights-of-way, on school
property, private property, and in parks throughout the City of Atlanta. These mid-size New
Trees shall be 30-gallon container trees (approximately 1.5-inch caliper) nursery trees and

shall be planted by staff, with volunteer participation as appropriate. All 30-gallon container
trees will be considered 1.5-inch caliper, and therefore, at least 900 caliper inches of mid-
size trees must be planted during the two planting seasons. All 30-gallon trees will be
overstory species reaching a mature height of at least 60 feet. The goal for this planting
program is an increase in the planting of shade trees that will help increase overall canopy
coverage in the City. This portion of the contract will be deemed complete when 900 caliper
inches of trees have been planted and approved by the City.
3. Distribution of trees. DPR will request that the City Council member for each Atlanta
Council District, including at-large districts, recommend areas within their district that need
trees. DPR will provide this information to the Contractor who shall distribute at least 120
New Trees in each city council district. The Contractor will focus on planting the remaining
trees in districts and neighborhoods shown to have less than 47% canopy coverage (or less
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than the average canopy cover per the City of Atlanta's most recently published Tree
Canopy Analysis).
4. Schedule. New trees shall be planted duriFng the planting seasons that begin on October 1
and end on March 30. All New Trees shall be planted by March 30, 2028, provided the
contract is approved and signed by October 1, 2026. Otherwise, the deadline will be
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extended into the following planting season to allow additional time to fulfill the contract.
The additional days shall equal the number of days lost between October 1 and the date the
signed contract is delivered to the Contractor.
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5. Maintenance of New Trees. The Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining each of
the New Trees planted subject to this Agreement for a period of two (2) years, measured
from the end of the planting season (March 30) during which the tree was
planted. MDaintaining New Trees, per this agreement, shall mean that the Contractor is
obligated to take such action as is reasonably necessary to water, prune, stake, weed, and
mulch the New Trees. Watering requirements shall include ensuring each New Tree receives
ten (10) gallons per caliper inch every fourteen (14) days. Mulching with fresh arborist wood
chips shall be performed once per season. Mulch material will be maintained six inches
from the stem and will extend to the dripline of the New Tree. Structural pruning shall be
performed to give proper form avoiding traffic and building conflicts. New Trees shall be
kept free of invasive vines. New Trees will be staked as needed. Any stakes on New Trees
shall be removed within two years of planting, or by the end of the contract, whichever is
later.
6. Guarantee and replacement. The Contractor shall replace any New Tree planted that dies
during the two-year maintenance period at no expense to the City, except for trees that die
due to vandalism, vehicular accidents, or acts of God. Replacement trees shall be the
same species as the tree replaced unless the City Arborist approves a compatible species
suitable for the planting location. The Contractor shall replace any New Trees planted that
die due to vandalism, vehicular accidents, or acts of God, and such replacement trees will
be counted toward the total number of New Trees to be planted and not as a replacement.

7. Procurement, planting, and maintenance. The procurement, planting, and maintenance
services provided by The Contractor for the New Trees shall include selection of the trees,
shipping, handling, labor, tools, equipment, permitting and other associated expenses
and/or activities associated with selection, planting and maintenance of the New Trees.
8. Species selection. All New Trees shall adhere to a species selection on the City of Atlanta
planting list, as approved by the DPR Commissioner or their designee. Species selection
will be made for both appropriateness to planting sites and species diversity. Tree planting
of any one species shall not exceed 10% of the 6,000 tree total. Tree plantings from any one
tree genus shall not exceed 20% of the 6,000 tree total with the exception of Quercus,
(oaks) which may make up to 50% of the trees planted.
9. Private property plantings. In the event that New Trees are planted on private property,
The Contractor shall ensure that the New Trees are visible from the public right-of-way, and
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in no event shall they be planted more than 30 feet from the right-of-way. Before planting on
private property, the Contractor must secure a written agreement with the property owner of
record, whereby the property owner: 1) graFnts the Contractor a right-of-entry to plant the
New Tree; 2) acknowledges that the property owner shall be the owner of the New Tree and
shall be responsible for maintaining it after the two-year maintenance period expires; and 3)
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agrees to hold the City harmless for any liability attributable to the planting or presence of
the New Trees on the private property. The form of this agreement must be approved by the
City's Law Department prior to its use. No New Trees shall be planted on any privately-
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owned parcel until the DPR Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation
("Commissioner") or the Commissioner's designee receives a signed copy of the agreement
fully executed by the property owner of record for that parcel of private property.
10. Record-keeDping. The Contractor shall keep a record of its plantings and maintenance of all
New Trees as described above and shall add this information to the City of Atlanta's tree
inventory. Trees shall be added to the City's tree inventory on a quarterly basis. The
Contractor shall provide the City access to the Contractor's tree planting records and tree
inventory system upon request.
11. Pruning. The Contractor shall prune five thousand (5,000) trees approximately 3-to-10 years
old along City neighborhood streets, in parks and greenspaces, along sidewalks, on school
property, or other rights-of-way. These trees shall be pruned by volunteers trained by the
Contractor or by the Contractor's staff, and debris will be removed by the Contractor from
the premises and properly disposed of. The goal of this pruning program is to encourage
healthy branch structure, remove dead and diseased limbs, and raise canopy clearance as
necessary for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Two thousand five hundred (2,500) trees
shall be pruned during the 2026/27 planting season, and two thousand five hundred (2,500)
trees shall be pruned during the 2027/28 planting season.
Community Education and Outreach
The goal of the Community Education and Outreach program is to teach members of the public
about the importance of trees and create future caretakers of the City's urban forest. These

projects target different age groups, interests, and abilities. Education opportunities are outlined
below and will take place throughout two years. The first year will start on October 1, 2026, and end
on September 30, 2027, and the second year will start on October 1, 2027, and end on September
30, 2028.
1. Guided Tree walks or Bike Tours. The Contractor will host sixteen (16) guided tree walks or
bike tours. The Contractor will host eight (8) of these guided tree walks or bike tours during
the first year of the contract, and eight (8) during the second year. A certified Arborist,
Horticulturist or Landscape Architect will guide the Walks. Each event will last 1.5-2.0
hours. Tree Walks or Bike Tours will be held in interesting or notable sections of the City of
Atlanta's urban forest. Tour areas may include natural forests, planned forested areas,
public parks and greenspaces, and neighborhood arboretums as identified by the
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Contractor. Participants will learn about tree identification, urban tree care, ecology, history
of the forest or other notable topics related to trees. The Contractor will provide all
planning, marketing, outreach and follow uFp for each Tree Walk or Bike Tour. The sixteen
Tree Walks or Bike Tours will provide a minimum of 240 total contact hours (averaging 10
participants per event). The tours will be free of charge to participants.
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2. Certified Volunteer Training Courses. The Contractor will conduct two (2) volunteer
training courses referred to hereinafter as The Community Tree Keepers Series and four (4)
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volunteer training courses referred to hereinafter as The Community Forest Restoration
Series. Arborists, landscape architects, foresters, ecologists, and horticultural experts will
teach each course series. One of each course will be taught per year.
The CommDunity Tree Keepers Series will prepare individuals to lead planting and tree care
projects in their communities. This course will be taught each summer through seven (7)
three-hour lessons. All participants will receive training materials, access to all program
outings, and a tree seedling.
The Community Forest Restoration Series will prepare individuals to lead invasive plant
removal and restoration projects in their communities. This course will be taught each fall &
spring through eight (8) three-hour lessons. All participants will receive training materials,
access to all program outings, and an invasive plant identification guidebook.
A certificate of completion will be issued to each participant who completes the courses
outline for either program. A certified volunteer hat will be given to each student who
completes their community project(s). The Contractor will provide meeting space,
planning, marketing, registration and administration, and outreach, and will provide three
(3) scholarships for each course. In total, the two courses will include a minimum of 900
total contact hours (averaging 15 participants per session).
3. Tree Pruning Classes. The Contractor will offer sixteen (16) 3-hour hands-on pruning
classes. Eight (8) classes will be offered during year 1, and eight (8) classes will be offered
during year 2. ISA Certified Arborists will teach classes, and participants will learn how to

properly prune young trees. The Contractor will provide all planning, marketing and
outreach, and provide tools, learning materials and follow up. The sixteen classes will
include a minimum of 384 participant contact hours (average eight (8) participants per
class) for Atlanta residents or City staff. The classes shall be free of charge to participants.
4. Speaker Series. The Speaker Series will, over two years, host twenty-two (22) speaking
events or workshops aimed at educating the public about the importance and impact of
trees in an urban environment. Eleven (11) speaking events or workshops will be offered
during year 1, and eleven (11) will be offered during year 2. Speakers and teachers will be
selected based on subject matter and tree expertise for events lasting from one hour to 2.5
hours. The Contractor will provide meeting space, planning, marketing, registration and
administration, and outreach. The twenty-two (22) events will include a minimum of 660
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participant contact hours (averaging 20 participants per class). Any cost assessed to
participants requires City approval.
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5. In-School Education Program. The In-School Education Program focuses on the urban
forest ecosystem and tree science for K - 12 students in APS schools (including afterschool
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programs and Centers of Hope). The Contractor shall lead lessons which apply
STEM/STEAM fundamentals to describe and explain the benefits of Atlanta's urban forests.
Lessons shall be conducted both indoors and out so that students can learn through
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hands-on experiences while connecting with nature. The Contractor will visit each
participating classroom up to four (4) times throughout the school year, and lessons are
designed to meet the learning requirements and expectations of each grade level. The
Contractor Deducates students on Atlanta's urban forests, leaf and tree identification, the
benefits and role of trees, pollinators and urban wildlife, community connections, and
environmental stewardship. When possible, students may visit and learn about the Atlanta
BeltLine Arboretum and its design in Atlanta's urban ecosystem. All lessons shall meet
Georgia Performance Standards. The Contractor will provide all staffing, curriculum
development, and a program evaluation for five hundred (500) individual classroom visits
spread over the two school years.
6. High-School Summer Employment. The High-School Summer Employment program shall
provide paid summer jobs to a diverse group of students from numerous APS and other high
schools in the city of Atlanta, many of whom have had little or no exposure to environmental
career paths. Students shall be selected for this summer employment through a
competitive process. This program will give students hands-on experience with tree and
plant care, forest management and restoration, and park management in City of Atlanta
parks and neighborhoods, and teach tree science and plant identification. The contractor
will provide students will the opportunity to interact with green industry professionals.
Students will also participate in financial literacy classes throughout the summer. Funding
will support sixteen (16) students, eight (8) students during each summer (2026 and 2027)

working 25-hours per week for seven (7) weeks, including wages, Friday lunch, apparel,
bikes/equipment and transportation costs incurred for projects or enrichment activities,
along with a portion of program administrative costs.
Community Invasive Plant Control
The goal of the Community Invasive Plant Control program is to conserve the existing canopy within
our urban forest by removing invasive plants. These invasive plants out-compete native plants,
reduce native biodiversity, decrease the health of our City's forests, directly affect our current
canopy, and prevent the natural regeneration of canopy.
1. Volunteer Invasive Plant Control. The Contractor will organize, coordinate, and lead
volunteers under the supervision of a certified Arborist, Landscape architect, ecologist, or
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horticulture expert in the removal of invasive plants on public land. All invasive plant control
efforts including location, species to be controlled, and removal timing and methodology must
be approved by the DPR Commissioner or theiFr designee. Forty-eight (48) volunteer projects will
be paid for by the city, with twenty-four (24) volunteer projects taking place from October 1,
2026, to September 30, 2027, and twenty-four (24) volunteer projects taking place from
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October 1, 2027, to September 30, 2028. The volunteer projects will be three (3) hours in length,
and an average of ten (10) volunteers per project will be reached. These volunteer invasive
plant control projects are to be a fixed rate per project, are limited to control methods 1 or 2
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outlined in Section 4.3.7., and should take place in various natural areas within parks, nature
preserves, or future planting locations around the City. Specific project locations may be
determined by the DPR Commissioner and their designee. No volunteers shall use pesticides of
any kind or motDorized equipment during these volunteer projects. Any other services will be
provided at no cost to the City and the Contractor shall indemnify the City.
Terms of Services Provision
1. Required Qualifications
The minimum required qualifications are as follows:
* Contractor must have a minimum of three (3) years of work experience performing invasive
plant control services within the past five (5) years, a minimum of three (3) years of work
experience with tree installations and maintenance within the past five (5) years, a
minimum of three (3) years of work experience leading volunteer groups within the past five
(5) years, and a minimum of three (3) years of work experience developing and hosting
environmental education events and programming within the past five (5) years.
* Contractor must have an ISA Certified Arborist or a Landscape Architect on staff.
* Contractor must possess a Georgia Commercial Pesticide Applicator's License.
Tree Planting and Maintenance Requirements

1. Species and Planting Location Selection Standards
When determining which New Trees shall be planted in which locations, the Contractor
shall abide by the following standards:
1. The DPR Commissioner or their designee or the City's Tree Conservation
Commission may request certain species and specific locations for the New Trees.
2. Tree planted in parks and on private properties are restricted to species native to the
Southeastern United States. The Contractor will make tree species selections for all
planting locations from the City's approved planting list. The DPR Commissioner or
their designee may approve species that are not on the list if they deem it an
appropriate species and suitable for site conditions.
3. Trees planted in natural areas in parks and on private properties are restricted to
species native to the Georgia Piedmont and must be straight species. Natural area
is defined as an area dominated by native vegetation where the regeneration of
native vegetation is not restricted by humanTs except for the purpose of ecological
restoration.
4. Planting of any one tree species shall not exceed 10% of the six thousand (6,000)
New Tree total. Planting of any oneF tree genus will not exceed 20% of the six
thousand (6,000) tree total. The genus Quercus is the exception and can exceed
20% but cannot exceed 50% of the six thousand (6,000) tree total .
5. Trees selected for planting must be compatible with the specific site conditions
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including but not limited to soil quality, sun, reflective heat, soil saturation,
overhead restrictions, nearby structures, and proximity to a road or
sidewalk. Canopy trees (over 60 feet mature height) and mid-sized trees (between
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30-60 feet mature height) are required to be planted wherever there is adequate
space with no overhead restrictions. Never plant any tree that reaches a mature
height greater than 30 feet directly under power lines or within 10 feet of the pole-to-
pole center line. Distribute plantings across the City. The Contractor will seek to
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plant equally across all of the City of Atlanta's twelve City Council Districts, however
the City acknowledges reforestation needs vary across the City. No fewer than one
hundred and twenty (120) New Trees of the six thousand (6,000) tree total must be
planted in each City Council District. This equates to 2% of all New Trees must be
planted in each City Council District. Plant a minimum of four hundred (400) trees of
the six thousand (6,000) tree total on private properties abutting rights-of-way. New
Trees planted on private property must be planted no further than thirty feet from
rights-of-way. Tree plantings on private property are conditional upon securing
written permission from the property owner. Identify and plant trees according to
reforestation and tree canopy restoration needs. Utilizing the City of Atlanta's Tree
Canopy Analysis, the Proponent will attempt to prioritize the remaining four
thousand and two hundred and sixty (4,260) unallocated tree plantings into areas
falling under the City's 50% tree canopy goal.
2. Planting Plan and Approval Requirements
The following criteria must be met for a planting plan to be approved:
1. The Contractor shall submit to the DPR Commissioner or their designee a planting
plan, in a format mutually agreed upon by the City and the Contractor ("Planting
Plan"). At a minimum, the Planting Plan will include:

a. A site plan mapping the exact location of each New Tree.
b. The proposed planting date of each New Tree.
c. The address or adjacent address where each New Tree will be planted, including
street number, street name, quadrant, and council districts.
d. The species and size of each New Tree.
e. If the New Tree will be planted on a sidewalk, median, grass strip, planter, or in
other public rights-of-way, the New Tree will be labeled "Street" or "S." If the New
Tree will be planted on private property, the New Tree will be labeled "Yard" or
"Y." If the New Tree is a replacement treeT, the New Tree will be labeled
"Replacement" or "R."
f. One of the following must be suFbmitted: a copy of the flyer and map of
properties flyered, name of community group who approved the Planting Plan
with contact information, or private property owner written agreements.
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g. Permission must be secured through the agency responsible for the
maintenance of are outlined in the Planting Plan.
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h. The Planting Plan shall also indicate whether the planting involves the cutting
and removal of concrete.
2. The Contractor must follow the Community Outreach Requirements outlined in
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Section 4.2.3.
3. For plantings within City parks, the Contractor must attend Park Design Review and
obtain approval of the plan before planting. Planting plans prepared for Park Design
Review must be submitted with both satellite and topographic basemaps.
4. The contractor is responsible for performing underground utility research to avoid
utility conflicts.
5. The DPR Commissioner, or their designee, will approve or disapprove with
explanation each New Tree described in the Planting Plan at a rate of at least 50
small or mid-sized New Trees per three-week period, beginning from the date that
the Planting Plan is submitted to the DPR Commissioner. If the DPR Commissioner
or their designee is unable to provide feedback on at least fifty (50) New Trees per
three-week period, those portions of this Agreement pertaining to the planting of
New Trees will be automatically adjusted, without formal amendment, so that the
Contractor will have a proportionate amount of additional time in which to plant the
remaining New Trees.
3. Community Outreach Requirements

The following are the minimum requirements for community outreach prior to installation of
New Trees:
1. For trees to be planted in parks, the Contractor must obtain approval of the proposed
Planting Plan from the Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU), neighborhood association,
Friends of the park group, park conservancy, or other stakeholders to which the park is
associated. After the Planting Plan has been approved, the Contractor shall notify the
community group of the approved tree plantings and an approximate time frame for tree
planting.
2. For trees to be planted in rights-of-ways or other public areas, the Contractor must
notify private property owners adjacent to rights-of-way of the proposed Planting Plan
by providing flyers or notices on each property adjacent to the plantings. After the
Planting Plan has been approved, the ContractoTr is required to flyer a second time
notifying property owners of the approved tree plantings and an approximate time frame
for tree planting. The flyer must be approved by the DPR Commissioner or their
designee. F
3. Plantings installed on private property, must be within thirty feet from the public right-of-
way. The Contractor is responsible for securing a written agreement with the property
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owner(s) of record, whereby the property owner(s):
a. Grants the Contractor a right of entry to plant the New Tree
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b. Acknowledges that they shall be the owner of the New Tree and shall be responsible
for maintaining it after the two-year maintenance period expires
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c. Agrees to hold the City harmless for any liability attributable to the planting or
presence of the New Trees on the private property.
The form of this agreement must be approved by the City's Law Department prior to its use. No
New Trees shall be planted on a particular parcel of private property until the DPR
Commissioner, or their designee receives a signed copy of the agreement fully executed by the
property owner(s) of record for that parcel of private property.
4. Quality Standards for New Tree Procurement
New Trees must be of good vigor at the time that they are procured by the Contractor. Though
the determination of vigor is subjective and depends upon the species of the tree, in general the
Contractor shall procure trees that meet the following criteria:
1. Only healthy trees with a well-developed root system and a well-formed top
characteristic of the species shall be procured.
2. The New Trees should have intact terminal buds.
3. The New Trees must be free from injury, pests, disease, or nutritional disorders at the
time that they are procured.