HomeMy WebLinkAbout25 - Notice of Awards - 2026 Urban Forest Management Plan (2)RFP – 2026 Urban Forest Management Plan
Scoring Tool
Candidate Name: ___ArborPro, Inc. _ Date: ___Nov. 25, 2025___________________
Panelist Name: ___Rebecca Harbage____________________________ POINTS: ___65____/100 IX. SELECTION CRITERIA
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
1. Respondent’s approach to the Project
Possible Points: 30
This is a very long submittal at 51 pages. All main topics included in the RFP are addressed in a
phased approach that states the anticipated analysis and deliverables for each topic area. Will the
staffing analysis review models in other similarly sized communities? The approach to community
engagement reads more like a listing of options than a well-considered proposal. Online surveys and
story maps are great but I’d like to see something about what purpose they will serve on this specific
project. Good to see consideration of accessibility and equity in the approach to public engagement.
The pop-up engagement idea is interesting, makes sense for reaching a broader audience. Bi-weekly
check in meetings and monthly milestone meetings will provide for communication between city and
firm. Maybe too literal a following of the RFP outline, which caused the proposal to feel disjointed
and long-winded. Felt like they threw everything in rather than proposing a clear approach.
POINTS__20___/30
2. Qualifications of Firm and Key Personnel to be assigned to this Project
Possible Points: 20
Firm was established in 2003, based in southern California with 45 FTE. Specialize in forestry, tree
inventories, and canopy analyses. Proposal mentions significant annual experience working with
municipalities, though only 5-10 “full urban forest management plans” (examples provided include
Charleston, New Rochelle, Green River, Peterson Space Force Base). Proposal states that two of the
examples included community engagement. Their focus seems to be more on the technical side, with
major inventory work. Mention of typical workload. Current projects wrapping up in early-mid 2026
with staff available for this project. though it’s a wide range and the proposal is not clear about time
availability of the lead staff.
Project team includes three certified arborists plus a GIS analyst. Significant experience with project
management, tree inventories, data collection, risk assessment, arboriculture, geospatial analysis,
remote sensing, UAVs. No planners mentioned and it is not clear that the key staff that will be most
heavily involved have much experience with community planning or public engagement efforts. Stated
experience with visual presentations of data but no samples provided (very text-heavy proposal
generally).
POINTS__14___/20
3. Capabilities to meet time schedule
Possible Points: 20
Firm states that past projects were consistently delivered on or ahead of schedule. Proposal mentions
development of a meeting schedule and deliverables timeline as part of the first phase. The proposal
provides a month-by-month schedule that outlines milestones and deliverables. The proposal meets
the one-year expectation and seems reasonable. The schedule may need to be adjusted to
accommodate more public engagement and public comment throughout, given the level of community
interest that is likely.
POINTS__15___/20
4. Experience creating innovative public engagement methods
Possible Points: 20
List of types of community engagement methods provided by firm, but the proposal generally does not
give much attention to public input, public review, potential for controversy. Very little discussion of
strategy and importance or experience handling passionate communities. I would have expected more
discussion of their past experience with public engagement, ways they have put the described
methods to work successfully on past projects, or at least demonstration that they have a member of
the project team with depth of experience in this realm.
POINTS__13___/20
5. Familiarity and/or previous experience with City of Bozeman
Possible Points: 5
No experience working in Bozeman. Briefly state their familiarity with unique pressures in Bozeman.
POINTS__0___/5
6. Urban Forestry planning experience in Northern Rocky Mountain Region
Possible Points: 5
Other similar work completed on two projects in Wyoming and Colorado, but mostly outside of the
region.
POINTS__3___/5