DEPARTMENT: Parks
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Execute Contract With RES Great Lakes, LLC For Vegetation Management At Lake Byllesby Regional Park
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize the award of bid and execute contract with RES Great Lakes, LLC for vegetation management at Lake Byllesby 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 will be derived from 2026 Adopted Parks Natural Resources Base Fund, which is derived from the Environmental Legacy Fund, allocated to Project 1000665, P70005 Vegetation Management. This funding is available until December 31, 2027.
Contract information:
A request for proposals (RFP) was prepared and released on January 2, 2026, to six vendors. Five proposals were received, with base proposals as follows:
Bidder Total Base Proposal Amount
RES Great Lakes, LLC $113,295.40
Edge Ecosystems LLC $144,192.94
Minnesota Native Landscapes $159,836.00
Native Resource Preservation LLC $166,397.70
Prairie Restoration, Inc. $181,221.20
The lowest responsive, responsible Proposal was from RES Great Lakes, LLC for $113,295.40.
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 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 contract will be set up as not to exceed $175,000." Task estimates were based on a one-year term.
The base quote includes herbicide application, spot mowing, hand seeding, broadcast seeding, hand weeding, planting, and prescribed burning in prairie areas of Lake Byllesby Regional Park. Alternate tasks include brush removal, tree removal, broadcast herbicide application, mowing with thatch removal, watering, drill seeding, prescribed burning site preparation, brush pile burning, forestry mowing, brush mowing, forestry mowing, and establishment mowing. 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 December 31, 2026, with the option to extend the contract through December 31, 2027.
Contract expenditures are predicted to be $90,000 per year. The contract maximum of $175,000 will allow for one contract extension 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, LLC for Lake Byllesby Regional Park: Vegetation Management 2026-27 for a contract maximum of $175,000.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The 2026 Adopted Parks Natural Resources Base Fund Budget contains sufficient budget for Vegetation Management using funding allocated to Project 1000665.
Project 1000665 Vegetation Management
|
Funding Source |
Total Approved Budget |
Available Budget |
|
Parks Fund Balance |
$1,533 |
$0 |
|
Environmental Legacy Fund Balance |
$3,072,745 |
$828,253 |
|
Minnesota Zoo JPA |
$13,000 |
$12,600 |
|
Total |
$3,087,278 |
$828,653 |
☐ 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 January 2, 2026, the County issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Lake Byllesby 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 Native Resource Preservation; and
WHEREAS, the RFP stipulated that the initial contract term would expire on December 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the RFP stipulated that the contract could be extended for up to one additional 12-month term ending December 31, 2027; 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 be set up to not exceed $175,000; and
WHEREAS, adequate funds for the initial contract terms are available within the 2026 Adopted Parks Natural Resources Base Fund Budget; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends executing the contract with RES Great Lakes, LLC.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director to execute a contract with Native Resource Preservation for the Lake Byllesby Regional Park Vegetation Management project to manage natural areas of Lake Byllesby Regional Park through December 31, 2026, with the option to extend the contract for up to one additional 12-month term until December 31, 2027, in a total amount not to exceed $175,000, 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
None.
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: Christian Klatt