Project Information

Bid Title

2026 Spring Tree Maintenance RFP

Issuing Agency

Town of Shelburne

Location

Vermont

Published Date

Jun 1, 2026

Closing Date

Jun 11, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

2026 Spring Tree Maintenance RFP

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Town of Shelburne

REQUEST FOR BIDS and BID FORM

Shelburne Tree Work – Spring 2026

June 1, 2026

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this Request for Bids is for activities to support

the health and survival of trees in the Town of Shelburne to consist by conducting maintenance

in the form of: pruning trees and removing invasive species in select areas; and planting of

several new trees in various locations on town property.

DEADLINE FOR BID SUBMISSION: Sealed bids for the project known as “Shelburne Tree

Work – Spring 2026” from pre-qualified contractors shall be accepted until 4 pm, prevailing time

on June 11, 2026. Bids may be submitted electronically as a PDF to Rachel Tobler at

rtobler@shelburnevt.org and copied to ghendersonkingla@gmail.com and

treewarden@shelburnevt.org. Alternately, bids may be submitted to the Attention of Rachel

Tobler, P.O. Box 88, 5420 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, Vermont 05482 and marked in the lower

left-hand corner: Shelburne Tree Work – Spring 2026.

Bid opening will occur immediately after the bid submittal. The time of receiving and opening

bids may be postponed due to emergencies or unforeseen conditions.

TAX EXEMPT STATUS: The Town of Shelburne is exempt from State of Vermont Sales Tax.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS: The contractor is responsible for the following tree work

within the town roads rights-of-ways and on town land as defined below.

Tree Maintenance

The following maintenance is needed on existing trees on Town property. All trees that need tree

maintenance noted below shall be reviewed in person with the tree warden prior to any pruning

work being done.

Parade Ground – Church Street

1. A row of hemlock trees along the northern property line of the Parade Ground has invasive

plants growing within them: grape vines and buckthorn. The invasive plants need to be

removed by their roots and out of the hemlock trees along with general cleanup around these

plants. Clean up and mulch the hemlock trees.

2. There are 11 trees on the Parade Ground that need pruning. They consist of:

- 7 Maple trees bordering Church Street

- 2 Oak trees bordering Shelburne Road

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Request for Bids: Shelburne Tree Work – Spring 2026

June 1, 2026

- 1 Pin Oak tree bordering Falls Road

- 1 Sycamore tree along northern property line

Village Green – Falls Road

The Village Green, bordered by Shelburne Road and Falls Road, is a prominent open space used

by residents and visitors alike.

3. An existing Blue Spruce on the southwest side of the space is decorated for a holiday tree

lighting ceremony annually. This tree has grown too tall for the space and is starting to

interfere with overhead utility wires. This tree needs to be pruned, including deadwood, and

removal of invasives growing in its understory. Cleanup and mulch.

Davis Park – School Street

School Street is lined with ash trees at the beginning of the road intersecting with Harbor Road.

As part of the town's emerald ash borer management plan, new shade tree species have been

interplanted here over the past five years in anticipation of removal of ash trees on the west side

of the road in Davis Park.

4. There are three ash trees that need to be pruned and limbed up to allow for two of the

interplanted shade trees to continue to grow.

Shelburne Beach

There is an existing Amelanchier canadensis tree at Shelburne Beach that was planted several

years ago. It is leaning and needs to be replanted and straightened.

5. Replant (1) existing Amelanchier canadensis tree at Shelburne Beach. Stake and mulch after

replanting.

Tree Planting

All proposed tree plantings noted below shall be staked and reviewed with the tree warden prior

to planting.

Village Green

There needs to be a replacement evergreen tree nearby on the Village Green to replace the

existing Spruce in the future.

6. Plant one (1) 6' to 7' height evergreen tree on the Village Green. Proposed species options

include either Picea amorika or Picea abies.

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Request for Bids: Shelburne Tree Work – Spring 2026

June 1, 2026

Falls Road / LaPlatte River Lane

A small park bordering the LaPlatte River had a maple tree planted several years ago which

recently died. This tree has been removed, and a new tree is proposed.

7. Plant one (1) 2 ½” to 3” caliper shade tree is proposed in the town park off Falls Road /

LaPlatte River Lane. Proposed species options include Quercus palustris or Platanus

occidentalis.

Harbor Road

A shade tree was removed on south side of Harbor Road near Selin + Selin Architecture. A

replacement tree is proposed.

8. Plant one (1) 2 ½” to 3” caliper shade tree in the Harbor Road right-of-way. Proposed species

options include Amelanchier laevis or Cercus canadensis.

General Conditions

The selected contractor shall be required to perform the above work in the manner herein

described.

- The contractor shall have the following:

 Knowledge of trees including tree planting, tree identification, and tree maintenance.

 Experience providing tree maintenance services in Vermont.

 An ISA Certified Arborist on the project team (staff or contract) during the term of the

contract who will oversee all services performed under the future contract. The ISA

Certified Arborist must be able to identify native tree varieties, as well as diseases and

pests that may be associated with specific species. The ISA Certified Arborist should

have at least three (3) years of experience providing tree care services in an urban

environment.

 Capacity and ability to perform the scope of work’s tree care tasks.

- Perform all work in accordance with accepted industry standards (ISA, TCIA, OSHA, ANSI

A300 & ANSI Z133).

- Furnish all labor, equipment, consumables, tools, and transportation.

- Subject all work and services to continuous town inspection and evaluation. The selected

contractor shall be notified in writing of any performance shortcomings, so that corrective

action can be made by the selected contractor as soon as possible. The town reserves the right

to request crew changes should crew change be deemed necessary.

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Request for Bids: Shelburne Tree Work – Spring 2026

June 1, 2026

- Tree Pruning. Work shall conform to ANSI A300 Standards and International Society of

Arboriculture best practices. All dead limbs, broken limbs, hanging limbs, and limbs that

interfere with the safe and normal flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic shall be trimmed

unless otherwise specified by the town.

- Disposition of Debris and Clean-up: The selected contractor shall be solely responsible for

the disposal of all debris generated under the ensuing contract.

- Maintenance and Protection of Traffic: The selected contractor shall ensure that walkways

and sidewalks shall be safe for pedestrians and streets are not obstructed for long periods of

time. The selected contractor will be responsible for traffic control and must have Vermont

State certified traffic controllers on duty at the time of cutting. Safe felling of trees will

require the contractor to periodically block traffic. Traffic blockage should be minimized.

The selected contractor shall comply with existing traffic ordinances and should contact local

police precincts to notify of their activities and ask for assistance, should the need arise.

Hazardous areas shall be adequately barricaded until such time as the hazardous condition is

removed. The selected contractor shall be responsible for maintaining adequate safety

precautions commensurate with traffic conditions while conducting operations. Proposals

must describe the contractor’s plan for controlling traffic.

- Clean Up and Restoration: Any damage caused by the selected contractor during work

operations such as, but not limited to, damage to concrete sidewalks or curbs, streets,

driveway pavements, lawns, utilities, automobiles, or structures shall be the responsibility of

the selected contractor to repair at no cost to the town or the owner of the property that has

been damaged. Upon the completion of the tree work, the selected contractor shall clear the

site of debris and superfluous materials and equipment to the satisfaction of the town.

Pavements shall be swept clean and/or washed down.

- Tree specification: All two (2) identified deciduous trees shall be at least 2 ½ inches caliper

minimum. All deciduous and evergreen trees shall be balled and burlapped. If the contractor

wishes to select a different tree or size tree, it shall be noted on the Bid Form with

explanation.

- All trees shall be warranted for a period of two (2) years. The contractor shall be responsible

for all maintenance, including pruning and watering, during the warranty period.

- All work shall be completed Monday through Saturday only and actual dates / times will

need to be reviewed and approved by the Town Manager.

INSURANCE: Prior to starting work the selected bidder will be required to provide a Certificate

of Insurance with general liability coverage of no less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and

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Request for Bids: Shelburne Tree Work – Spring 2026

June 1, 2026

$1,000,000 per aggregate, naming the Town of Shelburne as an additional insured. The selected

bidder will also be required to provide a Certificate of Insurance with excess liability coverage of

no less than $2,000,000. Additionally, the selected bidder will be required to submit a Certificate

of Insurance with Workers Compensation coverage, unless the selected bidder has no employees,

in which case a Non-Employee Work Agreement and a Liability Hold-Harmless Agreement will

need to be signed.

BID: Bid shall include the following components:

1. Tree Maintenance Items 1 – 5.

2. Tree Planting Items 6 - 8.

The Bid Form must be submitted along with any other information the bidder wishes to include.

CONTRACT COMPLETION DATE: The Contract must be completed on or before June 30,

2026.

SITE VISIT: No site visit is planned. If interested contractors would like to do a site visit, they

should contact David Hall, Tree Warden, at (802) 238-6162 or treewarden@shelburnevt.org

BASIS FOR SELECTION: All proposals will be evaluated by a selection committee consisting

of Town of Shelburne staff and the Town of Shelburne Tree Committee. Proposals will be

reviewed based on a demonstration of overall project understanding and a demonstrated ability

to provide high quality services in a timely manner. Lowest price will be a top, but not the only

criterion. Traffic management strategies and plans is emphasized.

The Town reserves the right to seek clarification of any proposal submitted and to select the

proposal considered to best promote the public interest.

All proposals become the property of the Town of Shelburne upon submission. The cost of

preparing and submitting a proposal is the sole expense of the consultant. The Town reserves the

right to reject any and all proposals received as a result of this solicitation, to negotiate with any

qualified source, to waive any formality and any technicalities or to cancel the RFP in part or in

its entirety if it is in the best interest of the Town. This solicitation of proposals in no way

obligates the Town to award a contract.

The Town of Shelburne is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages proposals from

qualified minority and woman-owned businesses. The selection of a vendor shall be made

without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national

origin, physical or mental condition, HIV status or political affiliation.

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 561730Landscaping Services

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