This is a service / maintenance or supply contract in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Contact the soliciting agency for additional information.

Sealed bids are requested for Spring 2026 ROW Tree Planting as part of a US Forest Service Grant, for the City of Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department. Bids may be withdrawn any time prior to the scheduled closing time, but once submitted, no bid may be modified or withdrawn for sixty calendar days after the closing time. Bids will be evaluated promptly after opening, and a bid tabulation summary will be sent to all bidders after an award is made. Bid results will not be given over the phone or prior to award.Specifications for Trees: 1. All deciduous trees shall be a minimum of 1 inch caliper, with a minimum height of 6 feet and a maximum height of 10 feet, unless otherwise specified. For select transportation corridors as indicated at the time of the pre-installation meeting, trees shall measure 2-inch caliper. See species list for quantity. 2. All material shall be single stemmed, No. 1 grade trees unless otherwise specified. 3. If balled and burlapped stock is used, trees shall be dug and balled with heavy-duty burlap and laced with twine and/or a wire basket package. The ball shall have sufficient moisture according to best nursery practices. If wire baskets are used to support the root ball, a "low profile" basket shall be used. 4. If container stock is used, the container class size shall conform to ANSI Z60.1 for container stock and shall have a well-established root system reaching the sides of the container to maintain a firm ball, but shall not have excessive root growth encircling the inside of the container. Further, a container tree's root system must be developed to hold its soil together, firm, whole and moist when taken from the container. 5. Tree specifications - 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. Trees must be able to support their canopy when supports are removed. 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 checks after planting. 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. Trunk caliper and taper shall be sufficient so that the lower five feet of the trunk remains vertical without a stake. Auxiliary stakes may be used to maintain a straight leader in the upper half of the tree. Auxiliary states must be removed by the Contractor after the first growing season. If the tree Is not able to support its canopy by that time, it must be replaced. 8. All trees shall have a tag showing the species and variety. 9. Supplier shall provide proof with their bid submittal that all trees were grown as Midwest Nursery Stock from USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6a or lower/colder. This proof of stock is typically not sufficiently met by the submittal of the tree nursery's certificate or license issued by their State's Department of Agriculture or similar agency. 2.9 Specifications for Planting: 1. Planting Season: Spring 2026 planting shall be completed no later than May 15, 2026. All trees shall be mapped with the species and date planted within two days of the last planting date. Any deviation from this timeline shall require prior written approval from the ReLeaf Program Manager. 2. The planting shall be performed by personnel familiar with the accepted procedures of tree planting according to ANSI A300 - Part 6 ("Tree, Shrub, and other Woody Plant Maintenance - Stand Practices - Planting and Transplanting") and under the constant supervision of an individual (staff or subcontract) familiar with International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Best Management Practices for tree planting, mulching and staking. The Supervisor shall be responsible for the crew's activities for the assigned work and is to remain on site while all work is being performed. If the Supervisor does not provide adequate supervision to ensure that planting practices meet ISA best practices, the Contractor will be asked in writing to replace that Supervisor immediately with a qualified individual. 3. Tree placement shall be made as close as possible to designated locations. These locations will be marked with a white "T" on the curb via the mapping application supplied by the City. Some discretion is given to the planting crews to shift the planting position a few feet in either direction if roots, old stumps or underground utilities become an issue. Contractor shall contact the ReLeaf Program Manager, Carole Teator, in the event that a "T" is not at the proposed planting address at the time of planting or is not evident in the mapping application. 4. The planting hole shall be excavated at least eighteen (18) inches in diameter larger than the root ball. Trees shall be planted in the center of the hole excavated by the Contractor. 5. If an auger is used to dig the initial planting hole, the soil lining the auger hole shall be loosened. Loosening is defined as digging into the soil and turning the soil to reduce compaction. The soil does not have to be removed from the hole, just dug, lifted and turned. 6. All trees shall be planted with the root flare (root to stem transition zone) visible at or slightly above ground level, with the first main order lateral roots no more than one (1) to two (2) inches below this point. For the purpose of this bid request, the root flare is defined as the point immediately above where the first main order lateral roots attach to the stem. 7. If balled and burlapped stock is used, the upper part of the burlap shall be pulled back and excess soil removed to determine the location of the root flare to ensure proper placement. 8. The outer surfaces of ALL plants in containers - including the sides and bottoms - shall be shaved to remove all circling, descending, and matted roots. Shaving shall be performed using saws, knives, sharp shovels or other suitable equipment that is capable of making clean cuts on the roots. The goal of the shaving is to remove all root segments that are not growing reasonably radial to the trunk. 9. The excavation of the root flare may reveal adventitious roots that have grown above the root flare. All adventitious roots shall be trimmed off at the time of planting. No roots shall be visible above the surface of the soil prior to mulching. Larger roots that are just at the surface may be covered with soil Question Cut Off Date 3/6/2026 03:00:00 PM (CT)