Item - 2019.IE7.7

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks Forestry and Recreation, to negotiate and execute a non-competitive contract with Lands and Forests Consulting in the total amount of $35,060 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($35,677 net of HST recoveries) for the provision of planning and implementing the prescribed burn program from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, with the option to renew the contract for up to four additional one-year terms (2021-2024) at the sole discretion of, and on terms and conditions (including price), satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the City Solicitor, and subject to budget approval, for a total potential contract value, including all option years of $175,300 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($178,385 net of HST recoveries).

The purpose of this report is to request authority to enter into a non-competitive contract with Lands and Forests Consulting for the provision of planning and implementing the prescribed burn program for a period of five years from the effective date of the signed agreement and for the amount of $175,300 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($178,385 net of HST recoveries). Lands and Forests Consulting has worked with the City to plan and implement a total of 24 prescribed park burns since 2000.

Lands and Forests Consulting has extensive experience both planning and executing high complexity burns in southern Ontario. No other vendors are able to match the qualifications and experience required for high complexity burning, and it is for that reason that Urban Forestry is requesting support to continue to enter into a non-competitive contract with Lands and Forests Consulting to carry out prescribed burns in select Toronto parks.

City Council approval is required in accordance with City of Toronto, Municipal Code Chapter 195, Purchasing, where the current request has exceeded the Chief Purchasing Official's authority of the cumulative five year commitment limit under Section 1 of the Purchasing By-Law.