Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Kimberly J. Williams, JD
Secondary Department: Flood Control District
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Marcus Stuckett
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Award
Project ID (if applicable): 260188
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): UFL INC. (Primary); The Urban Foresters, LLC (Secondary)
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): 10.4%
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal is not 0% and is listed above
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of an award on the basis of low bid to UFL INC. (Primary); and The Urban Foresters, LLC (Secondary) in the amount of $3,430,555 for riparian management services for the Flood Control District and for the County Clerk to execute any applicable bonds to be received (260188), MWBE Contracted Goal: 10.4%.
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Background and Discussion:
Harris County Flood Control has over 3,500 Acres of natural forested riparian corridors dispersed across the county. These areas do not fall under regular mowing or construction maintenance and are considered “natural”. This amount of green infrastructure requires close monitoring and can benefit from native and natural enhancements. Most of these areas are; overgrown with invasive vegetation, have reduced canopy coverage, slope and bank erosion, natural blockages, and dead, hazardous or diseased trees. These services will provide support for infrastructure maintenance work that will be executed as a result of the passage of the “Maintenance Matters” Proposition in November 2024.
Expected Impact:
This contract facilitates a scheduled, cyclical, conservative maintenance program with an emphasis on riparian management and health. These natural forested channels will benefit from the removal of invasive vegetation, hazardous trees, organic and inorganic blockages, bank stabilization through planting of native riparian vegetation, canopy closure through the planting of bareroot tree seedlings, and targeted follow up of invasive vegetation using herbicide. This contract will allow us to maintain a more resilient and conservative riparian buffer along our natural channels. These services will provide support for infrastructure maintenance work that will be executed as a result of the passages of the “Maintenance Matters” Proposition in November 2024.
Alternative Options:
An alternative option would be to eliminate the contract and leave large portions of Harris County’s forested channels to return to nature without regular maintenance improving water conveyance.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: H: Improve the condition and resilience of County transportation, flood control, and other infrastructure.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): I4: Encourage the growth of natural habitats in County channels and improve cleanliness of green spaces while reducing debris and enhancing beautification.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): R2: Pilot conservation-focused maintenance and green infrastructure for cost savings and environmental benefits.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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07/09/2026 |
388 |
Transmittal by Purchasing of a project scheduled for advertisement |
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Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
Riparian Management |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Tax Revenue - FCD |
$ |
$3,430,555.00 |
$3,430,555.00 |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$3,430,555.00 |
$3,430,555.00 |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$3,430,555.00 |
$3,430,555.00 |
$ |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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CAO Review Completion Date |
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Anticipated Court Date: 8/25/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 9/1/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Nicolas Griffin, Manager, FMT; Megan Gottselig, Forest Establishment Coordinator, FMT; Rowdy Born, Selective Clearing Coordinator; Maria Heinzmann, Senior Buyer, Harris County Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter, Bid Tab