22
THE DAVEY BULLETIN
|
March/April 2018
MY DAVEY
PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF WITH EXPANDED ASH CONTRACT
How can we help make things easier? It's a simple question,
but it can go a long way when working with a potential
client. Jason Parker, district manager, North Philadelphia
R/C office, asked this question and ended up winning a
major contract for his office.
SHOWING THE DAVEY DIFFERENCE
The North Philadelphia office had been on the bid list for
Warminster Township, Pennsylvania, for years. With emerald
ash borer (EAB) a problem in the area, it has caused ash
death and the need for removal of dead ash trees for safety
reasons on township-owned properties.
Parker reached out to the director of parks and recreation
for the township to talk about the township's bid process
for removals. The director indicated that it was a
cumbersome process. Parker's response was, how can
we make your life easier?
The director was looking for three things in a multi-year
contract: a pruning price per unit, a removal price per unit
and a treatment price per unit for all township-owned
properties, such as the parks, public golf course and open
areas between neighborhoods.
"We basically ended up writing the bid specs for her," Parker
said. "It's taken a huge amount of work off her plate, instead
of setting up individual meetings for every tree that needs
to come down."
Parker's office and two other bidders put together the
pricing for the township. Originally, Parker won the pruning
and injection portions of the contract. But, as luck would
have it, Parker's office would also win the removal portion
of the contract.
In the spring of 2017, the director called to ask if Parker
would be interested in taking over the removal portion of
the contract, because the original winner of the bid could not
continue the work. Parker's office has the contract through
2019, with the possibility of an extension.
"Our hope is that beyond this initial project, we can just keep
going and being their tree care professionals for the pruning
and other work," Parker said.
