Item - 2024.GG18.19

The General Government Committee recommend that:

1. City Council in accordance with Municipal Code Chapter 195-Purchasing, where the current request exceeds the Chief Procurement Officer's authority of the cumulative five-year commitment, under Article 7, Section 195-7.3 (D) of the Purchasing By-Law or exceeds the threshold of $500,000 net of Harmonized Sales Tax allowed under staff authority as per the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 71 Financial Control, Section 71-11A grant authority to the General Manager, Parks Forestry and Recreation, to negotiate and execute a non-competitive contract with 1313135 Ontario Inc., operating as Lands and Forests Consulting in the total amount of $41,279 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($42,006 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) for the provision of planning and implementing the prescribed burn program from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, with the option to renew the contract for up to four additional one-year terms (2026-2029) 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 $214,820 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($218,601 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries)

The purpose of this report is to request authority to enter into a non-competitive contract with 1313135 Ontario Inc., operating as Lands and Forests Consulting ("Lands and Forest Consulting") for the provision of planning and implementing the prescribed burn program for a period of one year from the date of award with the option to renew the contract for up to four additional one-year terms (2026 - 2029) and for a total potential amount of $214,820 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($218,601 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries).

Lands and Forest Consulting has worked with the City to plan and implement a total of 73 prescribed park burn units with zero incidents since the year 2000. Lands and Forests Consulting has extensive experience in both planning and executing high-complexity burns in southern Ontario. High-complexity prescribed burn services cannot be procured through the competitive process due to an absence of competition meeting the non-competitive code 10 in the non-competitive procurement procedure. No other supplier can match the qualifications and experience required for high-complexity burning in southern Ontario, and it is for this reason that Urban Forestry is requesting a non-competitive contract with Lands and Forests Consulting to carry out prescribed burns in select Toronto parks.