DME Smart Vegetation management RFQ
Smart Vegetation Management System Request for Qualifications
City of Denton’s municipal electric utility (DME) is looking for a solution to provide a
smart vegetation management system. The system will: optimize vegetation cycle trim
efforts based on need; identify mid-cycle work that could impact reliability; provides a
multi-year work management plan that identifies circuits and subcircuits jobs based on
available budget; provide tools to lower SAIFI; identify fall-in risk trees; demonstrate
how the use of the system will reduce outage time. The system will do this through use of
DME GIS information, satellite imagery and AI/ML algorithms.
System Capabilities:
1. Describe how your system can create an annual or multi-annual work plan
that takes into account budgetary constraints, reliability risks, and weather
conditions.
2. Describe how your system estimates the cost of cycle trim areas for
estimating purposes. Put another way, how does your solution help get the
best price and quality of work from vegetation contractors.
3. Describe how your solution optimizes trim cycles to maximize vegetation
management based on available budget.
4. Describe how your solution handles mid cycle / hot-spot work: Identify
risky conditions on circuits that may need to be addressed out of cycle.
5. Work auditing / compliance reporting: Confirm work has been completed and
identify areas to revisit.
6. Pole and line adjustment: Ability to match poles to their location in imagery to
ensure encroachment and risk are calculated as accurately as possible.
Data Collection:
1. Describe solutions capability to gather high-resolution satellite imagery.
Describe the frequency that data will be updated.
2. DME will provide the necessary system information including but not
limited to: spatial T&D files; historical outage and reliability data;
structure and asset data including geospatial information.
Vegetation Detection:
1. Describe methods to detect vegetation within the ROW.
2. Vegetation Index-Based Methods: Calculate indices to identify areas
with dense vegetation.
3. Object-Based Detection: Segment vegetation patches based on texture,
shape, and spectral properties.
4. Describe solutions ability to identify the following items:- Your solution
should provide tree-level insights across transmission and distribution
networks. These should include but not limited to:
1. Individual tree detection (unique id per tree)
2. Individual tree crown delineation.
3. Fall-in risk
4. Tree height and distance to line
5. Declining tree (unhealthy)
6. Encroachment (including tree height)
7. Overhang detection
8. Span and feeder-level prioritization
9. Reliability analysis and forecast
10. Contractor bid support
Risk Assessment:
1. Assess vegetation risks:
2. Identify areas where vegetation poses a threat to powerlines (e.g.,
growing in from below or outside the ROW).
3. Consider fall-in risk due to storm damage or low tree health.
4. Prioritize risk zones based on severity.
Reporting capabilities (examples below):
1. Vegetation density maps.
2. Risk hotspots.
3. Height profiles along powerlines.
4. Schedule circuit trims by priority and budgetary restraints.
Provide any additional capabilities and beneficial features of proposed solution.
Evaluation Criteria
1. Indicators of Probable Performance (50 points)
a. This criterion includes the ability of the Firm to meet the terms of the
RFQ, and any special considerations, which the Firm feels may increase
its ability to perform the contract.
b. Within this criterion consideration will be given to:
i. Expertise; level of capability to perform the services required
ii. Experience, within the last five (5) years, providing the same or
substantially similar services as outlined in this RFQ for other
entities, preferably municipal government sector entities of at
least a population size of 100,000 and above
iii. Reputation, ethical standards, and disciplinary history such as
judgments or sanctions
iv. Feedback from three references with at least one from a
municipal government of similar scope and size
2. Understanding the Needs of DME (30 points)
a. This factor refers to the extent to which the Firm's proposal reflects its:
i. Understanding of the Utility's needs and objectives
ii. Understanding of the nature and scope of the service involved
iii. Accessibility and responsiveness
iv. Familiarity with electric utilities
3. Delivery/Project Schedule (20 points)
a. Ability to timely start and complete project. This includes the schedule
to implement and complete project and includes ability to deliver
solution in proposed timeline.