DEPARTMENT: Parks
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Award Bid And Execute Contract With RES Great Lakes For Vegetation Management At Whitetail Woods Regional Park
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize the award of bid and execute contract with RES Great Lakes for restoration and enhancement at Whitetail Woods Regional Park.
SUMMARY
Background:
Dakota County’s Natural Resource Management System Plan (NRMSP) was adopted by Resolution No. 17-274 (May 9, 2017). The NRMSP identifies the need to maintain restored areas perpetually to protect the initial investment made to restore the area and to “ensure that the plant community and wildlife continue on a trajectory toward greater ecological health.” Dakota County utilizes a robust volunteer force as appropriate and also hires contractors to maintain restored areas in parks via tasks such as removal of invasive species and prescribed burns to meet NRMSP goals.
Funding for this work comes from the Environmental Legacy Fund (ELF).
Contract information:
A request for proposal (RFP) was prepared and released on March 11, 2026, to six vendors. Five proposals were received, as follows:
Bidder Single Year Proposal Amount Three-Year Proposal Amount
RES Great Lakes $217,411 $362,011
Landbridge Ecological, Inc. $219,402 $363,702
Minnesota Native Landscapes, Inc. $182,124 $409,324
Edge Ecosystems LLC $247,461 $426,611
Native Resource Preservation LLC $280,301 $488,801
A staff panel evaluated all proposals and the RES Great Lakes proposal scored highest. While this is not the lowest single-year cost, it was the lowest cost over the anticipated three-year lifespan of this contract.
The RFP stipulated that bidders provide rates for restoration tasks to be performed at the direction of Dakota County, as needed. The RFP stated: "Preliminary task estimates have been made in the Anticipated Schedule for evaluation purposes only. This estimate is not to be interpreted as any form of a commitment to an agreed-to quantity of work. Contractor will be paid for actual hours/acres of work on the site, which may be more or less than the estimates provided. The cumulative contract maximum including contract extension terms will not exceed $400,000 from the start of the contract." Task estimates were based on a one-year term.
The base quote includes herbicide application, spot mowing, hand weeding, and prescribed burning in prairie and woodland areas of Whitetail Woods Regional Park. A special project quote was requested for a sand gravel prairie expansion project. Alternate tasks include brush hog mowing, establishment mowing, planting, watering, broadcast herbicide application (site preparation), hand seeding, broadcast seeding, drill seeding, erosion control blanket installation, tree removal, brush removal, brush pile burning, prescribed burn follow-up, forestry mowing, mowing with thatch removal, and fall foliar herbicide application. There is a need to implement alternate tasks, but the level of utilization will be determined by the project manager based on specific site and weather conditions. The initial contract term will end May 31, 2027.
Contract expenditures are predicted to be $125,000 per year. The contract maximum of $400,000 will allow for two contract extensions plus a small contingency to accommodate changing conditions inherent in natural resources work.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorizing execution of contract with RES Great Lakes for Vegetation Management At Whitetail Woods Regional Park for a contract maximum of $400,000.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The 2026 Adopted Parks Natural Resources Budget contains sufficient budget for Vegetation Management and is funded using Environmental Legacy Fund (ELF) fund balance.
Project 1000665 Vegetation Management
|
Funding Source |
Total Approved Budget |
Available Budget |
|
Environmental Legacy Fund Balance |
$3,037,745 |
$619,641 |
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 17-274 (May 23, 2017), the County Board adopted the Dakota County Natural Resource Management System Plan (NRMSP); and
WHEREAS, the NRMSP identifies the need to maintain restored areas perpetually to protect the initial investment made to restore the area; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2026, the County issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Whitetail Woods Regional Park Vegetation Management project; and
WHEREAS, best value contracting was used to evaluate and award this RFP; and
WHEREAS, the proposal evaluation team scored each proposal and selected RES Great Lakes; and
WHEREAS, the RFP stipulated that the initial contract term would expire May 31, 2027; and
WHEREAS, the RFP stipulated that the contract could be extended for up to two additional twelve-month terms ending May 31, 2028, and May 31, 2029; and
WHEREAS, the hourly or per-acre rates will increase by three percent for each contract extension; and
WHEREAS, the RFP stipulated that the total contract amount would not exceed $400,000; and
WHEREAS, adequate funds for the initial contract terms are available within the 2026 Adopted Parks Natural Resources Budget; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends executing the contract with RES Great Lakes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the County Manager, or delegate, to contract with RES Great Lakes for the Whitetail Woods Regional Park Vegetation Management project to manage natural areas of Whitetail Woods Regional Park through May 31, 2027, with the option to extend the contract for up to two twelve-month terms until May 31, 2029, in a total amount not to exceed $400,000, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
17-274; 5/9/17
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Site Map
BOARD GOALS
☐ Thriving People ☒ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Niki Geisler
Author: Karen Solas