REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Street Tree Inventory

This RFP process is being led by Groundwork Bridgeport to secure professional tree inventory services for Bridgeport’s urban forest.

 

Background

Groundwork Bridgeport was awarded grant funding through the Inflation Reduction Act via United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, which included procuring a tree inventory for Bridgeport, CT.

The City of Bridgeport is located within Fairfield County, CT and is one of the state’s most impoverished cities with more than half of its budget coming from state aid. Currently, the City has no professionally-completed tree inventory and a limited budget for care and growth of its urban forest. Groundwork Bridgeport, a 501c3 nonprofit operating since 1998, is one of the City’s main tree planting partners and desires to procure a professional inventory and assessment of public trees within the city to inform both short and long-term resource allocation and management strategies for urban forestry work taking place within the city. While the requested tasks have historically not been professionally conducted in the City of Bridgeport, there is currently an Arboricultural Standards Manual, applicable portions of the Town Code, and applicable state statute, that form the basis for current management activities. As the City of Bridgeport continues to face urban canopy loss, observe increasing stresses from invasive species, project local risks and vulnerabilities related to climate change, and acknowledge tree and overall canopy distribution issues in the community, there is a recognized need to undertake a more relevant, adaptive, and inclusive approach to manage the City of Bridgeport’s urban forest. The inventory and assessment will allow the City to better determine tree population variety, maintenance needs, and condition. 

 

Scope of Work

Proposals may include all or a combination of the following services:

  1. Tree Inventory (with or without Risk Assessment)

    • Groundwork Bridgeport has provided a list of Minimum Data Attributes for Tree Inventory in the RFP

  2. Canopy Assessment

If Risk Assessment is included refer to the RFP for guidance on additional data attributes to be collected beyond the Minimum Date Attributes for Tree Inventory.

Link to RFP

RFP-01-City of Bridgeport Street Tree Inventory

 

Click on the above link to be directed to the RFP

RFP Submission Check List

  1. Executive Summary

    Statement of Experience and Company Profile

    Understanding of engagement with Groundwork Bridgeport

  2. Firm Qualifications

    Qualifications

    Project Management and Staffing

  3. Approach including

    Work Plan

    Project Schedule

    Data Collection

    Fee Proposal

  4. References highlighting related experience

Timing

All work shall commence after a signed contract between Contractor and Groundwork Bridgeport. Groundwork anticipates the project to be under contract by October 30, 2026 and completion of data collection by the end of 2026 with final deliverables available to Groundwork Bridgeport and completed by late 2026 or early 2027. Groundwork Bridgeport anticipates that all field mapping and data collection will be done by the end of 2026.

Follow-Up to RFP

This section will be updated periodically while the RFP is open.

Addenda

Will be updated during the month of September 2026.

Questions and Answers

Will be updated by Friday, September 25th.