SOQ/GS/DPR/2605-1260218/Community Based Forestry

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
SOQ/GS/DPR/2605-1260218/Community
Based Forestry
Doug Voss
Interim Commissioner
Department of Parks and Recreation
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Chandra Houston
Chief Procurement Officer
Department of Procurement
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Table of Contents
1Requirements................................................................................................................................................................4
1.0.1Section1.SolicitationRequirements.................................................................................................................4
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1 Requirements
*Response is required
0.1Section 1. Solicitation Requirements
1.
Pursuant to Section 2-1188(I) and other relevant sections of the Procurement and Real Estate Code of the City of
Atlanta Code of Ordinances ("City Code"), the City of Atlanta ("City") issues this Statement of Qualifications seeking
qualified and experienced Offerors (as defined below) to provide community tree planting, maintenance, pruning,
volunteer engagement, education, outreach, and invasive plant control services on behalf of the Department of Public
Works (the "Project").
About this Solicitation
This solicitation process involves two phases:
* Phase I - Statement of Qualifications (SOQ): focuses on qualifications and technical capability.
* Phase II - Invitation for Bid (IFB): focuses on pricing and responsiveness.
Multiple Award(s) may be made at the discretion of the City.
Standard Definitions
Please note that the following key terms are used in this solicitation:
* Award: An award is made when legislation authorizing the award of the contract has been adopted by
the council and approved by the Mayor, provided, however, that the contract will not become binding
upon the City and the City will incur no liability under it until it has been duly executed by the contractor,
returned to the City with all required submittals, including insurance and bonding, if applicable, executed
by the Mayor, attested to by the municipal clerk, approved by the City attorney as to form and delivered
to the contractor.
* Bid Security: A Bid Security shall be a bond provided by a surety company authorized to do business
in the state by the Georgia Insurance Commissioner or the equivalent in cash, cashier's check or certified
check.
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* Contract: A Contract means all types of city agreements, including purchase orders, regardless of
what they may be called, for the procurement or disposal of supplies, services, construction, professional
or consultant services and for the transfer of interests in real property.
* Contractor: Any person having a contract with the City.
* Discussions: An exchange of information or other means of negotiation during which the offeror and
the city may alter or otherwise change the conditions, terms and price of the proposed contract.
Discussions may be conducted in connection with competitive sealed proposals, sole source and
emergency procurement. Discussions are not permissible in competitive sealed bidding, except to the
extent permissible in the first phase of multi-step sealed bidding, when all competitive bids exceed
available funds but the responsive bid does not exceed such funds by more than five percent; or as
otherwise permitted by applicable law.
* Offeror: Any firm that has submitted a bid or proposal in response to the particular solicitation in
question.
Phase I - Statement of Qualifications
Phase I of this solicitation evaluates Offerors' qualifications, experience, and responsiveness without
considering pricing. Offerors must submit comprehensive documentation, including qualification narratives,
financial capability attestations, references, and compliance acknowledgments. Successful Offerors are
shortlisted for the next phase based on their technical expertise, capacity, and qualifications.
Phase II - Invitation for Bid(s)
In Phase II, shortlisted Offerors are required to submit pricing and meet all IFB requirements. This phase also
includes compliance with the Office of Contract Compliance (OCC) goals. Evaluation is based on
responsiveness and pricing, and only Offerors meeting all requirements are eligible for Award consideration.
*2.
Project Information
Project Background
The Community-Based Forestry (B) project seeks to continue the decades-long reforestation programming
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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.
Project Scope
The City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation seeks a qualified contractor to provide community-based
forestry services including tree planting, pruning, maintenance, invasive plant control, volunteer engagement, and
public education services citywide. The selected contractor will furnish all labor, materials, equipment,
supervision, outreach, and related services necessary to plant and maintain approximately 6,000 trees; prune 5,000
young trees; coordinate volunteer invasive plant removal projects; and deliver community education and
workforce development programming including tree walks, pruning classes, volunteer certification courses,
speaker events, school outreach, and youth employment opportunities. Services shall support the City's urban
forest goals through best management practices, community stewardship, environmental education, and
coordination with City staff, community stakeholders, and residents.
PLEASE SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT OF WORK, PSC VIDEO AND PSC
TRANSCRIPT
Attachments:
File Name or URL Type Description
1260218 Scope of Services. File Statement of Work
pdf
PE-66062-NONST-2026- File PSC Video
000000363
PE-66062-NONST-2026- File PSC Transcript
000000363
Select one of the following:
a. I have reviewed the attached Statement of Work
*3.
Project Contract
i. Pro Forma of City's Contract. If the City makes an Award under this
solicitation, it will prepare and forward a Contract for execution. The Contract will include terms
and conditions substantially in the form attached as Contract Terms in Oracle Cloud Application.
ii. Exceptions to the City's Terms and Conditions. Execution of the City's
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Contract within five (5) business days after notification of Eligibility for Award is required. The
City does not intend to modify its standard terms, which are mandated by law and align with
City practices. Any proposed revisions must be submitted in writing with the Offeror's response
and clearly labeled "PROPOSED EXCEPTIONS TO CITY'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS." If
no exceptions are submitted, the Offeror will be deemed to accept all terms. Significant
exceptions may render the Offeror ineligible for Award.
iii. Additions to the City's Terms and Conditions. If the Project Scope
involves technology services, the City may accept reasonable product-specific terms (e.g.,
EULA) that do not conflict with City terms. Offerors must submit these terms with their
response, clearly labeled "POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY PRODUCT-
SPECIFIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR USE."
If, in the City's sole discretion, Discussions are necessary to determine responsiveness, the
Department of Law will initiate them. Discussions will be limited to the product-specific terms
and will not alter the City's standard Contract language. The Discussion period will not exceed
five (5) business days from initial contact. Failure to reach agreement within this timeframe may
render the Offeror ineligible for Award.
iv. Expansion and Extension of Rights. The City of Atlanta reserves the
right, at its sole discretion and without the need for a formal amendment to this Scope
of Work, to increase or modify the size, scale, volume, type, or quantity of goods or
services required under this solicitation. This includes but is not limited to the extension
of existing goods or services to additional City departments or using agencies. Any
such increase or expansion shall be made with the expectation that the City will receive
improved pricing or other favorable terms as a result of increased volume or
consolidated procurement.
PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PROJECT CONTRACT
Attachments:
File Name or URL Type Description
1260218 Community Based File
Forest
Select one of the following:
a. I have reviewed the attached Project Contract
*4.
Standards for Prequalification in Phase I
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i. Statement of Qualifications.Offerors must submit a comprehensive Statement of Qualifications that
clearly demonstrates their technical expertise, organizational capacity, relevant experience, and ability to
meet all requirements outlined in this solicitation. Submissions must include all requested documentation,
narrative responses, certifications, and supporting materials necessary for the City to assess the Offerors
qualifications as outlined below:
Firm Experience and Technical Capability
* Minimum 6 years of experience providing community-based forestry services, including but not limited
to volunteer tree planting projects, education & outreach activities, and invasive plant control projects
* Minimum of 6 years of experience planning and executing volunteer-based street tree & park tree
planting projects with neighborhoods, park groups and similar community organizations
* Minimum of 6 years of experience managing maintenance of newly planted trees, including watering,
mulching, staking and pruning
Hint: Please provide details in the narrative space and upload evidence that demonstrates technical expertise,
organizational capacity, relevant experience, and ability to meet this minimum qualification requirement
Response attachments are required.
*5.
Ability to Meet Schedule and Deliver Services on Time
* Records or reports demonstrating that delivery of community-based forestry services was completed
within an agreed upon timeframe
Hint: Please provide details in narrative space and upload evidence that demonstrate a proven history of performing
projects within required timeframes without material delays or service interruptions.
Response attachments are required.
*6.
Company Background and Management Capacity
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* Qualified project manager with 3 or more years of community forestry experience
* Organizational structure supporting community forestry activities
* Operational capacity to accomplish specified tree planting & maintenance numbers, numbers of classes
& classroom visits offered, and number of volunteer invasive plant control projects to be completed
annually
* Capacity and expertise sufficient to provide the specified numbers of qualified speaker series programs,
work with Atlanta Public Schools to provide the specified numbers of APS visits, and provide
educational camp scholarship opportunities
* ISA Certified Arborist or Landscape Architect on staff
* Possession of a current Georgia Commercial Pesticide Applicator's License
Hint: Please provide details in narrative space and upload evidence that demonstrate providing services or supplies
similar in scope and complexity.
Response attachments are required.
*7.
Past Performance on Similar Contracts
* At least 1 completed contract within the past 4 years demonstrating that a full season (October-March) of
volunteer-based tree planting projects were completed, comparable educational services were provided,
and invasive plant control projects were completed
* Record or report demonstrating successful maintenance & tree care activities for volunteer-based tree
plantings
* No significant contract failures or terminations for cause
Hint: Please provide details in narrative space and upload evidence that demonstrate satisfactory performance on
prior projects of similar scope and complexity.
Response attachments are required.
*8.
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ii. Indication of Insurability. Offerors are not required to submit certificates of insurance in Phase I.
Instead, Offerors must upload a signed and dated letter from their insurance broker confirming the
qualification for, and the financial capacity to obtain the required insurance coverages provided.
APPENDIX B
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
IFB/GS/DPR/2605-1260218/Community Based Forestry
A. Preamble
Thefollowingrequirementsapplytoallworkundertheagreement. Complianceisrequired
by all Contractors/Consultants. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the City of Atlanta
("City") reserves the right to adjust or waive any insurance or bonding requirements
containedinthisAppendixBandapplicabletotheagreement.
1. EvidenceofInsuranceRequiredBeforeWorkBegins
No work under the agreement may be commenced until all insurance and
bonding requirements contained in this Appendix B, or required by applicable law,
havebeencompliedwithandevidenceofsuchcompliancesatisfactorytoCityasto
formandcontenthasbeenfiledwithCity. Contractor/ConsultantmustprovideCitywith
a Certificate of Insurance that clearly and unconditionally indicates that
Contractor/Consultant has complied with all insurance and bonding requirements set forth
in this Appendix B and applicable to the agreement. If the Contractor/Consultant is a joint
venture, the insurance certificate should name the joint venture, rather than the joint
venture partners individually, as the primary insured. In accordance with the solicitation
documents applicable to the agreement at the time Contractor/Consultant submits to City
its executed agreement, Contractor/Consultant must satisfy all insurance and bonding
requirements required by this Appendix B and applicable by law, and provide the required
written documentation to City evidencing such compliance. In the event that
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