Specifications include, but are not limited to: 2.1 Contractors shall furnish and install approximately 203 trees for planting at designated locations throughout the City during the Spring 2024 season. 2.2 Spring 2024 tree planting shall be completed between April 1, 2024 and May 31, 2024, unless prior written approval to work outside of this time period is given by the ReLeaf Program Manager, Carole Teator. 2.3 Trees shall be inspected by the City Staff prior to planting and any items found to be in non-compliance of the following specifications will be rejected. For the inspection, the trees will need to be organized so City Staff can easily evaluate the canopy, trunk and root ball of each tree. If this inspection is not performed, the awarded vendor will be required to remove and replace any trees deemed unacceptable by the City Staff during the Quality Control check. The contractor shall provide daily updates with location planted so that City Staff may complete a Quality Control Check on planting depth, size, condition, etc. 2.4 Contractors shall supply all labor, materials and necessary equipment for the planting of all trees to be purchased on this bid. A list of locations and species to be planted in several quadrants of the City will be provided to the awarded Vendor. 2.5 City staff will also provide an app for a tablet or cell phone. The Contractor shall enter the tree species and date planted. This app will allow the Contractor to place the asset into the GIS system at the correct location. 2.6 Specifications for Trees: 1. All deciduous trees shall be a minimum of 1.5 inches caliper, with a minimum height of 5 feet, unless otherwise specified. 2. All material shall be single stemmed, No. 1 grade trees unless otherwise specified. 3. Trees shall be dug and balled with heavy-duty burlap and laced with rope. Ball shall have sufficient moisture according to best nursery practices. Substitutions to potted trees may be allowed if B&B trees cannot be sourced. If potted trees are used, the tree’s root system must be developed to holds its soil together, firm, whole and moist when taken from the container. 4. A discussion on planting process expectations will be required for this substitution. 5. Only vigorous, healthy plants with a well-developed fibrous root system with no encircling roots, a well-formed canopy with a strong, intact central leader, straight trunk and specific characteristics of the species will be accepted. Trees shall be stout, show good twig growth for the past 3-5 years, normal twig development shall have 4 to 18 inches of growth per year characteristic to the species. Branches shall diverge from the main trunk with good U-shaped crotches. The bark shall be firm on the trunk with no indication that the trees have suffered from frost cracks, sun scald, lightning, mechanical injury, suckers or improper pruning. All trees shall be free from insects, insect damage, diseases and disease damage. Material found lacking in any of these characteristics shall be rejected at time of delivery or during the quality control check. 6. Trees shall not be sheared or formally shaped prior to planting. Any tree with evidence of pruning for a formal aesthetic, resulting in stubs or a reduced central leader, will be rejected. Any tree that has had the central leader reduced will be rejected. This determination will be at the discretion of the ReLeaf Program Manager. 7. All trees shall have a tag showing the species and variety. 8. Supplier shall provide proof with their bid submittal that all trees were grown as Midwest Nursery Stock from Hardiness Zones 6a or lower/colder.
