The Council of the City of Sydney ("the City") invites tenders for the carrying out of TREE MAINTENANCE AND URBAN FOREST SERVICES with the purpose of delivering a high quality tree management program in accordance with this Request for Tender (RFT). The term of the contract is six (6) years, with two (2) further terms of two (2) years each.

The City of Sydney Local Government Area (the LGA) covers 26.15 square kilometres, within the Sydney metropolitan area. It comprises the Sydney Central Business District (CBD), the Rocks, Millers Point, Ultimo, Pyrmont, Surry Hills, Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross, Elizabeth Bay, Rushcutters Bay, Darlinghurst, Chippendale, Darlington, Camperdown, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Alexandria, Beaconsfield, Centennial Park, Erskineville, Newtown, Redfern, Rosebery, Waterloo and Zetland.

Given its location as the economic and cultural heart of the Sydney metropolitan area, the LGA is highly and densely urbanized. Its land is intensively used for a variety of purposes including residential and commercial use, as well as tourist and cultural attractions, parks, and open space. It is home to the highest commercial and residential densities in Australia.

The urban forest is one of the City's most important assets. The City understands the importance of trees and the numerous benefits they provide. The City aims to deliver a high-quality tree management program, and recognises the importance of specialist skills, knowledge and equipment in doing so. In addition, the City acknowledges that tree management requires sensitivity, diplomacy, and integrity.

The City is tendering for the maintenance of community-owned trees located in streets, parks, and Council owned properties. The tender is split between two geographical areas (North and South).

Service Area Street trees Property Trees Park Trees
Northern Service Area 18,500 320 8,000
Southern Service Area 19,800 350 6,950

Tenderers may address the North Service Area, the South Service Area, or both service areas. Each service area will have only one awarded tenderer.

The contract is based on a Schedule of Prices for core service requirements, plus a Schedule of Rates for additional approved works within the specific service areas and for various tree asset types.

The successful tenderer(s) will be responsible for the inspection and maintenance of the specified trees and related infrastructure, and will undertake all levels of management, supervision, and delivery of services as described in the Specification.

The successful tenderer(s) will provide all forms of technical and professional advice as part of the service delivery and will engage well qualified staff as part of their organisation, with superior knowledge and experience relevant to the specified service areas and tasks. The Specification requires the successful tenderer(s) to deliver high calibre services and professional asset management including the use and administration of asset management databases, systems, and management procedures.

The required services are summarised according to the following key tasks:
- Tree Inspection and Assessment
- Tree Pruning
- Tree Base Maintenance
- Tree Removal
- Tree Planting and Establishment
- Tree Root Inspection and Maintenance
- Pest and Disease Management
- Emergency Response
- Customer Service

The successful tenderer(s) will provide all labour, materials, equipment, plant, administration and managerial resources necessary to conduct the services in a safe, effective and timely manner. The services will be available on a 24 hour, 7 days per week, 52 weeks per year basis, including public holidays and out-of-hours emergency services.

Tenderers will accept the condition of all tree assets as they exist at the time of contract commencement and will maintain and/or improve the condition of each asset as required, and set out in the Specification, for the duration of the contract period.

Tenderers must submit tenders in the manner required by this RFT.

The City is committed to creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses. The City encourages First Nations People businesses, Local SME, Start-ups as well as social enterprises (including Cooperatives) to work with us and respond to this opportunity.