The Contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, supervision, materials, and incidentals necessary to remove, backfill, and restore areas affected by both tree and stump removal, as directed by the City. Services shall include the complete removal of trees (including trunk, limbs, and branches) as well as stump removal, grinding, and restoration of impacted areas. Work may be performed in response to the May 16, 2025 St. Louis tornado disaster and/or for future tree and stump removal needs related or unrelated to future disaster events, on an as-needed basis. Work locations may include public rights-of-way, parks, municipal facilities, and other City-owned or Citymaintained properties and may also be directed by survey results from throughout the zones identified in Attachment C. The survey results are not a promise of work or specific scope. All assignments will be issued through formal work order. Tree and stump removal activities may include both FEMA-eligible and non-FEMA-eligible work. For FEMA Public Assistance–eligible work, tree and stump removals must: ● Be directly related to the May 16, 2025 tornado or another future federally declared disaster; ● Result from eligible emergency or permanent work; and ● Be specifically authorized by the City in writing and documented for FEMA PA eligibility. For non-disaster or non-FEMA work, tree and stump removal shall be performed only as directed by the City and will not require FEMA eligibility documentation. The City may still require documentation of work performed for payment. The Contractor shall work closely and cooperatively with the City-designated Project Manager, debris monitor, and sidewalk repair contractor to ensure work is completed in a timely manner and adequately documented to meet federal programmatic requirements. The Contractor must coordinate all work activities exclusively through the City-designated Project Manager, who will serve as the primary point of contact for all City contractors participating in the recovery effort. Contractors may communicate directly with one another as necessary to support efficient coordination, provided the City-designated Project Manager is kept informed. The City-designated Project Manager shall be copied on all written correspondence and shall be made aware of all meetings and site visits related to the work. The Contractor shall use the City’s designated report intake system for all work order intake, reporting, and documentation related to tree and stump removal. This includes, but is not limited to, before and after photographs with GPS tagging. Services: A. Mobilization and Site Preparation a. Coordinate with the City’s Project Manager prior to mobilization. b. Verify hazardous tree and stump locations and quantities as identified by the City. c. Obtain all required permits prior to commencing any work. d. Identify and protect adjacent utilities, sidewalks, landscaping, and structures. e. Establish and maintain appropriate traffic control and site safety measures in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations. This includes installing signage, barriers, and flagging as necessary to protect workers, pedestrians, and vehicular traffic in and around the work zone. B. Hazardous Tree Removal a. The Contractor shall provide complete tree removal services as directed by the City including removal of trunks, limbs, branches and associated debris. b. Tree removal may include standing trees, downed trees, partially uprooted trees, split trees, and hazardous trees posing an immediate or potential threat to public safety or property. c. Safely fell, dismantle, or remove trees using industry-accepted methods appropriate to site conditions, tree size, and proximity to utilities, structures, sidewalks, roadways, and pedestrian traffic. d. Remove all above-ground portions of the tree, including trunks, limbs, branches, and crowns, unless otherwise directed by the City. Stumps remaining from full tree removals must be cut to grade. e. Section and stage materials as necessary to minimize disruption to surrounding areas and infrastructure. f. Perform emergency or hazardous tree removal, including trees that are damaged, leaning, suspended, cracked, or otherwise structurally compromised. g. Emergency work may be required outside normal business hours, including nights, weekends, or holidays, when authorized by the City. h. Take all necessary precautions to protect public safety, adjacent properties, and utilities during emergency operations. i. Load, haul, and legally dispose of all tree debris, including trunks, limbs, branches, and wood waste, at approved disposal or reduction sites. j. Comply with all local, state, and federal environmental regulations related to vegetative debris handling and disposal. k. Maintain complete debris disposal documentation, including load tickets, haul logs, and disposal records, as required by the City and, when applicable, FEMA. C. Stump Removal a. Remove stumps to a minimum depth of twelve (12) inches below surrounding grade, or deeper if required by the City. b. Remove stump material and associated root balls to the specified depth. c. Remove all debris unless otherwise directed by the City. d. For FEMA-eligible work, stump removal quantities shall be measured and documented using City-approved methods, which may include stump diameter at grade, depth of removal, equipment hours, or other FEMA-accepted methodologies as directed by the City. The Contractor shall not alter measurement methods without prior written approval. D. Backfilling and Site Restoration a. Backfill stump holes with approved and documented fill material, with 70% topsoil and 30% compost. b. Backfill to six (6) inches above surrounding grade to allow for settling. c. Restore disturbed areas to pre-disaster condition, including soil stabilization, seeding, sod replacement, or other surface restoration as directed. d. Contractor is responsible for repair and replacement of any and all damaged underground/overhead utilities E. Debris Handling and Disposal a. Load, haul, and legally dispose of all vegetative debris at approved disposal or reduction sites. b. Comply with all local, state, and federal environmental regulations. c. Maintain disposal documentation, including landfill tickets, load tickets, and haul logs. F. FEMA Public Assistance Requirements (When Applicable): a. All work designated by the City as FEMA PA eligible must comply with FEMA PA Program requirements, including but not limited to: i. Eligibility and Authorization 1. Only trees and stumps specifically authorized in writing by the City are eligible for removal. 2. The Contractor shall not perform work outside the authorized scope without prior written approval from the City. 3. Coordination with the City Debris monitor will be coordinated with the City Project manager. No work may be performed without the debris monitor present for locations flagged as potential FEMA reimbursable work.
