Form_4_Local_Vendor_Preference_Certification.pdf

This is a Local Vendor Preference Certification form issued by the Collier County Board of County Commissioners Procurement Services Division in Florida for use in responding to Invitation to Bid 26-8620 for Large Machine Mowing Services. The certification allows vendors to affirm their status as local businesses eligible for preference consideration under Section Sixteen of the Collier County Procurement Ordinance. To qualify as a local business, vendors must maintain a physical business address within Collier County limits from which operations are conducted in an appropriately zoned area, demonstrate verifiable and measurable contributions to the County's economic development through employment retention or expansion and tax base support, and possess a current local Business Tax Receipt issued by the Collier County Tax Collector prior to bid submission. Bids must be submitted electronically through the County's bidding platform at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/collier-county-fl by April 13, 2026. The contract term is three years with two one-year renewal options, with pricing to remain firm for 180 calendar days from bid opening. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder offering best value to the County, with the County identifying Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary awardees to ensure service continuity.

Mowing services are required on a per-acre basis across roadway medians, side rights-of-way, retention ponds, pond sites, swales, canals, and other County-maintained properties on both bi-monthly and 30-day rural cycles, with pricing to include labor, equipment, materials, supervision, fuel, weed removal, edging, trimming, blowing, litter and debris removal, and traffic control measures. Qualified bidders must possess valid Maintenance of Traffic or Temporary Traffic Control Intermediate Level Certification, maintain Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commercial Pesticide Applicator Licenses if using herbicides, and be enrolled in the E-Verify program. This procurement includes no set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Comprehensive insurance requirements include Worker's Compensation at statutory limits, Commercial General Liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and Employer's Liability coverage with Collier County named as additional insured. For projects potentially exceeding $200,000, a bid bond equal to 5% of the cost proposal is required, along with Performance and Payment Bonds for 100% of the contract award amount upon award. Historical annual spending data indicates approximately $252,133.64 (FY 2022), $239,286.10 (FY 2023), $262,794.45 (FY 2024), and $351,391.07 (FY 2025), though the County notes these figures may not be indicative of future purchasing patterns.