Resolution 2022-31972RESOLUTION NO. 2022-31972
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION .OF
THE CITY MANAGER, PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
(RFQ) 2021 -207 -AY FOR URBAN FORESTRY SERVICES, AUTHORIZING
THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE F.A.
BARTLETT TREE EXPERT COMPANY, DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP, INC.,
AND E SCIENCES, INC., TO ESTABLISH A POOL OF PREQUALIFIED
CONSULTANTS TO ASSIST WITH URBAN FORESTRY SERVICES;
FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO
EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH EACH OF THE FOREGOING
PROPOSERS UPON CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS
BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
WHEREAS, the City needs qualified professionals for tree assessments, urban forestry
consulting, and advanced tree care as required and on a per project basis; and
WHEREAS, on September 17, 2021, the RFQ was issued and advertised with an
opening date of November 12, 2021; and
WHEREAS, a non -mandatory pre -proposal meeting was held on September 30, 2021;
and
WHEREAS, on December 10, 2021, the City received a total of three (3) proposals from:
The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company, Davey Resource Group, Inc., and E Sciences, Inc.,
which were all deemed responsive; and
WHEREAS, on June 21, 2021, the City Manager appointed an Evaluation Committee,
comprised of Michael Atkin, Superintendent, Public Works Department; Juanita Ballesteros,
Senior Resilience Analyst, City Manager's Office; Omar Leon, Urban Forester, Environment and
Sustainability Department; Carlos Naumann, Contract Compliance 'Administrator, Parks and
Recreation Department; and Rodney Perez, Capital Projects Coordinator, Capital Improvement
Projects Department; and
WHEREAS, the Committee received an overview of the project, information on the City's
Cone of Silence Ordinance and the Government Sunshine Law, general information on the
scope of services, and a copy of each proposal; and
WHEREAS, the Committee scored and ranked each proposal pursuant to the evaluation
criteria established in the RFQ; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation process resulted in the proposers being ranked by the
Evaluation Committee in the following order:
1st ranked — E Sciences, Inc.
2nd ranked — The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company
3rd ranked — Davey Resource Group, Inc. (submitted for urban forestry consultation
only)
WHEREAS, after reviewing all of the submissions and the Evaluation Committee
process, the City Manager agrees with the Evaluation Committee and finds E Sciences, Inc.,
The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company, and Davey Resource Group, Inc. (urban forestry
consultation only) to all be well-qualified firms for urban forestry services.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission hereby accept
the recommendation of the City Manager, pursuant to Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 2021-
207 -AY for Urban Forestry Services authorize the Administration to enter into negotiations with
the F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company, Davey Resource Group, Inc., and E Sciences, Inc., to
establish a pool of prequalified consultants to assist with Urban Forestry Services; further,
authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute an Agreement with each of the foregoing
proposers upon conclusion of successful negotiations by the Administration and the City
Attorney's Office.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this °?� day of ` 2022.
ATTEST:
Z<1
RAFAEL E. GRANADO, CITY CLERK
JAN 2 5 2022
DAN GELBER, MAYOR
F,Pj':0RATEED
wx
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
I — Q — ZZ.
City Attomey Alr Date
�D ,
C7 -Resolutions F
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
DATE: January 20, 2022
SUBJECT.A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE CITY MANAGER, PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
(RFQ) 2021 -207 -AY FOR URBAN FORESTRY SERVICES, AUTHORIZING
THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE F.A.
BARTLETT TREE EXPERT COMPANY, DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP, INC.,
AND E SCIENCES, INC. TO ESTABLISH A POOL OF PREQUALIFIED
CONSULTANTS TO ASSIST WITH URBAN FORESTRY SERVICES;
FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO
EXECUTE THE AGREEMENTS UPON CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL
NEGOTIATIONS BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission approve the Resolution authorizing the
Administration enter into negotiations with The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company, Davey
Resource Group, Inc., and E Sciences, Inc. to establish a pool of prequalified consultants to
assist with urban forestry services. Further the Resolution authorizes the City Manager and City
Clerk to execute the agreements upon conclusion of successful negotiations by the
Administration and the City Attorneys Office.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
One of Miami Beach's most important attributes is its iconic and lush urban tree canopy. The
specialized management of the urban tree canopy is vital to the long-term health and
sustainability of the urban forest. To continue improving the urban forest, the Environment and
Sustainability Department needs specialized services that include consulting services and
advanced, specialized tree work to manage the canopy. The services will assist the Department
in better assessing means of preserving the urban tree canopy.
The purpose of this RFQ is to establish a pool of qualified firms who may be tasked with
projects relating to urban forestry consulting, tree assessments, and advanced tree care as
required on a per -project basis.
Through the RFQ, the City has requested proposals from urban forestry consultants to provide
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the following services:
1. Urban Forestry Consultation consists of but is not limited to:
Development of cyclical Urban Tree Canopy Assessments.
Conducting G IS Inventory Updates.
Post -Storm Inventory updates.
Conduct specialized analytical work related to the sustainable management of
our urban tree canopy.
Level three Tree Risk assessment is not limited to specialized equipment
methodologies such as tissue testing, drone inspection, and resistance drilling.
Develop specialized tree preservation plans for specimen or heritage trees.
In-depth assessments of high-value trees that may impact public safety or
property.
Post Storm assessment of high valued tree canopy.
2. Advance Tree Care consists of but is not limited to:
Cabling, construction, installing tree support systems, air excavation, and soil
amendments.
Provide pest control services for applying pesticides in public ROW.
Provide tree care equipment services, which may include but are not limited to aerial lifts, tree
chippers, grappler trucks, chainsaws, and other tree pruning equipment.
ANALYSIS
On September 17, 2021, Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 2021 -207 -AY for Urban Forestry
Services was issued. RFQ responses were received on November 12, 2021. The City
received proposals from the following three (3) firms: The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company,
Davey Resource Group, Inc., and E Sciences, Inc.
On December 14, 2021, the Evaluation Committee appointed by the City Manager convened to
consider the proposals received. The Committee was comprised of the following individuals:
Michael Atkin, Superintendent, Public Works Department; Juanita Ballesteros, Senior
Resilience Analyst, City Manager's Office; Omar Leon, Urban Forester, Environment and
Sustainability Department; Carlos Naumann, Contract Compliance Administrator, Parks and
Recreation Department; and Rodney Perez, Capital Projects Coordinator, Capital Improvement
Projects Department. The Committee was provided an overview of the project, information
relative to the City's Cone of Silence Ordinance and the Government Sunshine Law. The
Committee was also provided with general information on the scope of services and a copy of
each proposal. The Committee was instructed to score and rank each proposal pursuant to the
evaluation criteria established in the RFQ.- The evaluation process resulted in the proposers
being ranked by the Evaluation Committee in the following order (See Attachment A):
1 st ranked — E Sciences, Inc.
2nd ranked — The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company
3rd ranked — Davey Resource Group, Inc. (submitted for urban forestry consultation only)
Below is a summary of the three (3) firms.
E Sciences. Inc.
Founded in 2000, E Sciences, Inc. ("E Sciences") is an environmental, engineering, and
ecological consulting firm providing a wide range of services to clients in both the public and
private sectors. The firm has extensive experience from its long history of successfully
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executing projects throughout Florida and the southeastern United States. E Sciences is
currently an awarded bidder of the City's professional architectural and engineering services in
specialized categories and has performed well in providing the City consulting services for
geotechnical testing, global positioning tree inventory services, and architectural and
engineering services. In addition, the City has received positive feedback about the firm from
agencies such as the City of Lakeland and Hillsborough County.
The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert CompaW
Founded in 1907, The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company ("Bartlett') is a nationwide firm
specializing in scientific tree and shrub services. Bartlett has assisted residential and
commercial customers to maintain beautiful, healthy trees from its over 100 offices worldwide.
Through its years of services, the firm has at its disposal a fully equipped diagnostic laboratory
with molecular testing capabilities, an extensive reference library, an education center, an
arboretum containing over 15,000 accessioned plants, numerous working test plots, and even a
bird sanctuary. In addition, the City has received positive feedback about the firm from the City
of Fort Lauderdale, the Town of Gulf Stream, and Aramark, including positive feedback on the
tree inventories and management plans offered by Bartlett.
Davey Resource GrouR Inc.
Founded in 1880 and with operations throughout North America, Davey Resource Group, Inc.
("Davey Resource Group") specializes in scientifically -based horticultural and environmental
services. Employee -owned since 1979, Davey Resource group is Ohio's largest employee -
owned company and the eighth -largest in the nation. The firm has assisted in leading
environmental programs by developing practices based on responsible, science -based actions,
advanced technical research, and sustainable business practices. In addition, the City has
received positive feedback about the firm from agencies such as the City of Columbus, the City
of Largo, and the City of Tallahassee. Davey Resource Group submitted a proposal for only the
consulting portion of the work and declined to submit a proposal for the advanced tree care
work.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
Based on the 2019 resident survey, 49.4% strongly agree that they are satisfied with the amount
of tree canopy coverage in their neighborhood. This amount has increased by 16.4% since the
2016 study. The City intends to contract with qualified professionals to provide urban forestry
consultation and advance tree care work to increase satisfaction.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Fees will be established through the negotiation process. Funding for the services is subject to
the approval of funds through the Cib/s budgeting process. The annual expenditures for these
services is estimated to be approximately $200,000. Additionally, the State of Florida provides
grant funding from the Florida Urban and Community Forestry Grant in an estimated amount of
up to $60,000.
CONCLUSION
After reviewing all of the submissions and the Evaluation Committee process, I concur with the
Evaluation Committee and find E Sciences, Inc., The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company, and
Davey Resource Group, Inc. (urban forestry consultation only) to all be well-qualified firms for
the required services. The firms are all skilled and specialized in the area of urban forestry and
advanced tree care, as reflected by each firm's years of services and the extensive resumes of
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the individuals to be engaged in the projects. The firms have demonstrated expertise in
developing environmental programs and plans and have successfully completed projects
throughout South Florida. As it was the goal of the RFP to establish a pool of prequalified
consultants that could be engaged on a per -project basis to assist the City with maintaining a
vibrant tree canopy, I agree with the assessment of staff and the Evaluation Committee that all
three firms are qualified to participate in the pool.
For the reasons stated herein, I recommend that the Mayor and City Commission approve the
Resolution authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with The F.A. Bartlett Tree
Expert Company, Davey Resource Group, Inc. (for urban forestry consulting services only), and
E Sciences, Inc. to establish a pool of prequalified urban forestry consultants. The Resolution
also authorizes the City Manager and City Clerk to execute an agreement upon conclusion of
successful negotiations by the Administration and the City Attorney's Office.
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a "Residents Right
to Know" item. pursuant to
City Code Section 2-14?
Yes
Does this item utilize G.O.
Bond Funds?
No
Strategic Connection
Neighborhoods - Enhance the beautification, physical appearance and cleanliness of
neighborhoods.
Legislative Tracking
Environment and Sustainability/Procurement
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Attachment A
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FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY. FINAL RANKING DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN AWARD RECOMMENDATION.
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