Attachment_D_-_SC_Integrated_Pest_Mgmt_Procedural_Guidelines.pdf

Attachment D is a procedural guidelines document for Sarasota County, Florida's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, prepared in support of the county's Invitation for Bids (IFB #262798MN) for comprehensive landscape maintenance services countywide. The solicitation, posted February 10, 2026, seeks vendors to provide recurring turf, tree, shrub, and bed maintenance services across approximately 201 county-owned properties including parks, office buildings, libraries, fire stations, and water and wastewater facilities organized into four geographic service zones. Services include mowing, trimming, edging, pruning, weed control, herbicide application, and bed maintenance performed either Monday through Friday (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or on weekends, with maintenance frequencies of either year-round (every 7 days) or seasonal (every 7 days April 1 through October 31; every 14 days November 1 through March 31). Bids are due by March 9, 2026, and the County anticipates awarding up to four separate three-year contracts with a maximum of two zones per bidder. Selected contractors must post a performance bond of $50,000 per awarded zone.

Minimum qualifications require verifiable experience within the past seven years in herbicide and pesticide application, turf care, and tree, shrub, and palm care, with a minimum of two references demonstrating at least three property locations under a single contract with minimum annual value of $50,000, including at least one governmental institution reference. Successful bidders must maintain valid Florida Commercial Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) Applicator Licenses in Categories 3, 6, and 21 throughout the contract term and comply with Sarasota County's Integrated Pest Management standards, including required IPM reporting forms with monthly invoicing. Required insurance includes Workers' Compensation with $500,000 minimum Employers Liability limits, Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, Business Automobile Liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, and Pollution Liability coverage of $1,000,000 per claim. The County does not apply local or American business preferences due to grant funding requirements, meaning there are no designated set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises. Specific contract values are not disclosed in the solicitation materials; however, the three-year initial term across four zones with 201 service locations suggests a substantial multimillion-dollar opportunity.