1-spec no. 49-c-1 Milwaukee Topsoil.pdf

City of Milwaukee Specification No. 49-C-1

Revised March 4, 2026

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Specifications for Topsoil Delivery

NOTE: THIS SPECIFICATION AND ANY ACCOMPANYING SPECIFICATION OR BID CAN

BE APPEALED.

YOUR APPEAL MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO THE CITY PURCHASING DIRECTOR

FOR ALL BIDS NO LATER THAN FIVE (5) WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO BID OPENING.

YOUR APPEAL MUST NOT ONLY IDENTIFY THE PROVISION, TERM OR CONDITION THAT IS

CAUSING PROBLEMS, BUT ALSO YOUR PROPOSED ALTERNATE POSITION, TERM OR

CONDITION AND BE SUPPORTED BY TECHNICAL DATA, TEST RESULTS AND OTHER

INFORMATION.

CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE PURCHASING AGENT OR THE PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST

FOR APPEAL FILING INSTRUCTIONS.

APPEALS RECEIVED LATER THAN FIVE (5) WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO BID OPENING OR

WITHOUT SUFFICIENT DETAILS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

NOTICE

AN APPEAL FEE (CHECK OR MONEY ORDER) WHICH IS 1.25% OF THE

ESTIMATED DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THIS CONTRACT IS REQUIRED WITH A BID

SPECIFICATION APPEAL. THIS FEE IS A PREREQUISITE FOR PURSUING THE APPEAL

AND MUST ACCOMPANY THE APPEAL. THE APPEAL FEE WILL BE RETURNED IF THE

APPEAL IS UPHELD.

CAUTION: A BID THAT DOES NOT FULLY COMPLY WITH ALL OF THE PROVISIONS, TERMS,

AND CONDITIONS OF THIS OR ANY ACCOMPANYING SPECIFICATION AND BID, MAY BE

DETERMINED AS A COUNTEROFFER AND MAY RESULT IN THE BID BEING REJECTED FOR

NON-RESPONSIVENESS.

I. GENERAL: It is the intent of this specification to describe the minimum requirements for topsoil to be purchased by the City of Milwaukee.

II. AWARD AUTHORITY:

The City Purchasing Director will be the sole judge of the quality and suitability of the equipment, materials and/or services in its determination of the successful bidder for all bids.

III. TOPSOIL – DESCRIPTION:

Topsoil shall be a natural, fertile, friable soil constituting the “A” horizon from naturally well drained areas. It shall not be excessively acidic nor alkaline, nor contain toxic substances that may be harmful to plant growth. Topsoil shall be without admixture of subsoil and shall be reasonably free from clay clods, stones, roots, or similar substances one inch or more in diameter, debris, or other objects that may be a hindrance to planting operations.

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IV. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Bids shall include all labor, material, equipment and facilities to provide the City with no less than the highest quality soils in texture, fertility, homogeneity, separate*, weed seed riddance and aeration as described herein.

* Separate is a term used to categorize the size of soil particles as to their diameters through particles are not necessarily spherical.

1. Quality shall be judged with respect to mineral content, organic matter content, soil solution and soil atmosphere.

A. IDENTIFICATION: If possible, the identity of the soil series name and type should be furnished with each bid.

1. SOIL TEXTURE: USDA Sandy Loam approximating the following particle size distribution.

B. QUALITY:

1. Approximate Particle Distribution:

Description Average Diameter Percent of Total

Gravel > 2.0 mm Trace

All Sand .05-2.0 mm At least 30%

Silt 0.002-.05 mm At least 10%

Clay < 0.002 mm No more than 35%

2. All topsoil must have a pH within the range of 6.5 to 7.5.

3. Topsoil shall have a relatively high organic matter content: at least 4% by weight.

4. The level of phosphorus available for plant root uptake shall be no less than 50 lbs.

/acre-furrow-slice.

5. The level of potassium available for plan root uptake shall be no less than 250 lbs.

/acre-furrow-slice.

6. The electrical conductivity (soluble salt test) shall not exceed 0.67 mmhos/cm.

7. Subsoil and/or parent rock shall not be incorporated within that which is defined as topsoil.

8. Soil shall be free of weed seeds, extraneous materials and toxic substances (such as those accrued in poorly drained soils).

9. Trace chemicals in the soil shall adhere to ANSI requirements.

V. INSPECTION:

A. Soil shall be subject to inspection, both in the vendor's fields of stockpiles and upon delivery.

Inspectors may select a portion of the pile or field and reject the remainder. At random, the

City and/or vendor shall forward a sample to the University of Wisconsin – Madison, 3/4

Department of Soil Science laboratory for routine analysis. The results thereof shall be used to determine compliance in terms of quality soils.

B. All topsoil bids must be tested by the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Department of Soil

Science laboratory, or similarly accredited institution, to determine its suitability for landscape use. This analysis shall be provided with the prospective bidder’s bid submittal.

This test shall be borne entirely by the awarded bidder. The following testing methodology and criteria are required:

1. A particle size analysis from a minimum of three samples obtained randomly from the topsoil source pile shall be conducted to provide the particle size distribution, expressed as a percentage, in each of the following size classes:

DESCRIPTION AVERAGE DIAMETER (mm)

Gravel > 2.0 mm

Very Course Sand 1.0 - 2.0 mm

Course Sand 0.5 - 1.0 mm

Medium Sand 0.25 - 0.5 mm

Fine Sand 0.10 - 0.25 mm

Very Fine Sand 0.05 - 0.10 mm

Silt 0.002 - 0.05 mm

Clay < 0.002 mm

2. A chemical analysis shall be conducted to include the following information:

a. Soil pH.

b. Sulfur requirement to adjust soil pH to specified pH.

c. Nutrient content of the following nutrients, expressed in unit/area:

1. Manganese, including fertilizer recommendations for woody plants and ornamental grasses.

2. Sulfate-Sulfur.

3. Zinc.

4. Iron.

3. Soluble Salt Level (conductivity).

4. Soil sampling procedures and submittal quantities shall meet specific laboratory requirements. All samples shall be clearly labeled to include the location of the source of the material. Copies of all topsoil/soil mix test result submittals shall be submitted with the prospective bidder’s bid submittal.

VI. ACCEPTANCE:

A. Cubic measurements shall be made on the basis of shredded soil, as delivered. Soils containing aggregate greater than one inch in size will not be accepted. Signing of delivery tickets of material by City personnel shall be construed as acknowledgement of the delivery and said material and not constitute acceptance of such material.

B. All soil mixing shall be performed at the contractor’s yard using appropriate soil mixing and shredding equipment of sufficient capacity to assure proper quality control. No mixing of soils shall occur at the project site.

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VII. DELIVERY:

Deliveries shall be executed within 48 hours from the time of receiving written or telephone orders, and shall be confined to project work hours to eliminate overtime. No Saturday, Sunday, or holiday delivers will be required. A successful bidder shall be equipped to deliver a minimum of

150 cubic yards per day and a maximum of 480 cubic yards per day on rare occasions. Loading permitting, on-site deliveries shall employ the use of single axle trucks so as to minimize construction damages.

VIII. STOCKPILES:

A Stockpile totaling not less than 3,000 cubic yards shall be on hand at time of bidding for each section of the City bid. These stockpiles may be examined by a City inspector prior to award.

When new stockpiles of topsoil are established, the contractor shall notify the City so that the City and/or contractor can obtain a soil sample and subsequent soil analysis. During the term of the contract, the contractor shall maintain 200 cubic yards of topsoil on reserve for City requirements for each section of the City bid. All stockpiled topsoil shall be stored in a manner to allow accessibility after rainfalls.

IX. PHONE ORDERS:

In order to be considered for award, the City must be able to contact the contractor or their responsible representatives during City office hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.) for the placement of phone orders.

X. CONTRACT DEFAULT:

In the event that material furnished does not meet City specifications or the contractor does not comply with some other provision of the contract, the contractor will be notified in writing and given one opportunity to comply. If the contractor fails to comply again, the contract may be declared in default. Under these circumstances, the City maintains the right to order the product from another source and hold the current contractor liable for the difference between the "open market" and the bid price.