26-P-00137_-_EBO-Determination-Letter-SLBE.docx

This is an Equal Business Opportunity (EBO) Determination Letter issued by the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department for a grounds maintenance contract (Project 26-P-00137) covering special events parks and other city-owned properties. The contract encompasses turf mowing, turf maintenance, and landscape bed maintenance services across nine designated parks totaling approximately 61.3 acres, including Al Lopez Park, Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, and six additional sites. Each location requires 38 maintenance cuts annually on a cyclical schedule, with weekly cuts during the fast growth season (weeks 20-39) and bi-weekly cuts during the slow growth season (weeks 40-19). The mandatory pre-bid meeting and site inspection is scheduled for February 24, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., with sealed bids due by 3:00 p.m. on March 13, 2026, through the OpenGov eProcurement Portal. The contract term is one year from the effective date with three optional one-year renewal periods through mutual written agreement, plus unilateral City extension rights for up to three additional thirty-day periods. Award notification is expected within 120 days of bid opening.

The estimated contract amount is $350,000.00, with bid pricing submitted on a cost-per-cut basis for each site. The procurement is classified as a traditional open market solicitation open to all qualified bidders, with a five percent bid discount (capped at $10,000) available for certified Small Local Business Enterprises (SLBEs) for evaluation purposes only. No sheltered market provisions or mandatory subcontracting goals have been established for this nonprofessional service contract. Contractors utilizing SLBE subcontractors must submit the DMI-20 Form and separate DMI-40 Letter of Intent forms for each SLBE within ten workdays after notice of intent to award. Required qualifications include Florida business licensing, appropriate insurance coverage, three references, current Florida Department of Agriculture and/or Pest Control Operator licensing, relevant certifications, proof of permanent business location in Hillsborough County or adjacent counties, and documented equipment inventory meeting specified minimums.