Form_References.docx

This is a Reference Form for the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs' grounds maintenance procurement at Evergreen Cemetery. Bidders must provide at least three verifiable references from similar grounds maintenance projects completed within the past two years, excluding any work previously performed for the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs department. Each reference entry requires documentation of the job location, date work was performed, business name, contact name, phone number, and email address. The contract opportunity involves furnishing supervision, labor, equipment, and materials for year-round landscape maintenance services at the 56-acre Evergreen Cemetery facility, with deliverables including weekly mowing from May through September, bi-weekly to monthly mowing during other seasons, mechanical edging, shrub pruning, fertilization with 10-10-10 slow-release fertilizer at 400 pounds per acre, and weekly debris removal. The contract term runs from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2028, with possible extension for up to three additional 12-month periods. Critical deadlines include a mandatory pre-proposal meeting on April 20, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. at the cemetery site, a question submission deadline of April 27, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., and a bid response deadline of May 7, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.

Bidders must demonstrate at least five years of experience in landscape maintenance with supervisory personnel holding five years of supervisory experience and possess commercial-grade equipment meeting specified age requirements. Evaluation criteria include price, technical expertise and past performance, and resource availability. The City of Gainesville may award local preference to vendors with a valid business tax receipt issued at least six months prior to bid opening and a physical business address within city limits. Contractors must comply with Florida's E-Verify employment verification requirements, living wage requirements through September 30, 2026, and various state law affidavits. Required insurance includes workers' compensation, professional liability, public liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and automobile liability of $500,000 per occurrence. Payment will be made electronically via electronic funds transfer within forty-five days of invoice receipt, and either party may terminate the contract without cause upon thirty days' written notice.