ALPINE SHIRE 30 M13 – 2-10-2007
7.4 A/MANAGER STRATEGIC SERVICES (Cont’d)
7.4.3 Invitation to Tender No CT07/029 – Elm Leaf Beetle Management
Program
File Number: 510.08
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this report is to award the contract for the treatment of
the Elm Leaf Beetle throughout the Alpine Shire.
Following evaluation and extensive review of the submitted tenders, the
following recommendation is made.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That Elmsavers be awarded Contract 0702901 for the Elm
Leaf Beetle Management Program for the lump sum price of $53,812 (excl. GST) over two years.
2. There is Power to Vary the contract up to 10% of the contract Price $5,381 (excl GST).
BACKGROUND
There are a large number of elm trees within the Alpine Shire that
have high social and aesthetic value. Elms make up an important
aspect of the Shires cultural landscape as they line our avenues
and display autumn colour. The regional profile of our feature
elms helps attract people to the region and is used in promoting the Shire.
The effects of the elm leaf beetle could be seen as a visual
indicator of the health of the region and impact on tourism in the area.
This could have major impacts on the economic development of the Shire.
The Invitation to Tender for the treatment of the Elm Leaf Beetle
was advertised in the Border Mail on the 18 August and on the
council website. Eleven contractors requested tender documents
and six of those subsequently returned offers.
Five of the tenderers were short-listed for a detailed evaluation.
The remaining tenderers, Peter Carnes, ArborCo and Arbor Spray
failed to meet the shortlist based on prices and programs offered,
and were therefore eliminated from further consideration.
ISSUES
The recommended program is the trunk injection of 872 elm trees over
two years. The trunk injection method differs from the previous
treatments over the past four years of injecting the soil with insecticide.
The tender evaluated both soil and trunk injection methods.
ALPINE SHIRE 31 M13 – 2-10-2007
7.4 A/MANAGER STRATEGIC SERVICES (Cont’d)
7.4.3 Invitation to Tender No CT07/029 – Elm Leaf Beetle Management Program (Cont’d)
File Number: 510.08
Elmsavers are recommended as the preferred tenderer based on price
and experience whilst also taking into regards the current climatic
conditions being faced in the Shire. The soil injection method is most
effective when there is sufficient moisture in the soil, it also requires a
substantial amount of water during application. In comparison, the trunk
injection method can be undertaken throughout the year, even during
drought and uses up to 50,000 litres less water.
Elmsavers guarantee their treatment for three years. Council currently
Treats the elms every two years, therefore by undertaking the tree
Injection we will be able to extend our treatments and save approximately
$50,000 over four years.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This recommendation is in line with Councils Elm Leaf Beetle
Management Strategy.
FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
The recurrent budget for the Elm Leaf Beetle Management Program is
$44,000. The treatment program will be undertaken over two years. 722
trees will be treated in year one, at a cost of $41,822. The remaining 150
trees will be treated in the second year ($11,990)
CONSULTATION
The short-listed tenderers were evaluated by Cameron Alexander
(Environment Officer), Dale Earl (Parks and Gardens Foreman) and
Dianne Mahlstedt (Contracts Officer). Refer to the Confidential Report.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of the evaluation process, it is recommended that
Elmsavers be the preferred tenderer for the elm leaf beetle management
program for 2007-2008. Elmsavers provided comparable prices for their
treatment and guaranteed their works for three years. By utilising this
contractor Council can save money and reduce water consumption.
