GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER AUTHORITY

ON BEHALF OF THE SAVANNAH CONVENTION CENTER

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

RFP #SCC092826RB

LANDSCAPE SERVICES AMENDED

SECTION I

PROCUREMENT OBJECTIVE

1. Summary Statement

Notice is hereby given the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (hereafter referred to as “Authority” or “Owner”) is soliciting competitive sealed proposals from experienced firms specializing in providing Landscape Services for large public facilities as further described herein and in accordance with the terms, conditions, and requirements set forth in this Request for Proposal (RFP).

This procurement will be for the Savannah Convention Center located in Savannah, Georgia. The contract, if awarded, will be administrated by the Savannah Convention Center Building Maintenance Department or other designee, located at One International Drive, Savannah, Georgia, 31402.

All respondents to this RFP are subject to instructions communicated in this document and are cautioned to completely review the entire RFP and follow instructions carefully. The Authority retains the right to reject any or all submittals and/or proposals, and to waive technicalities, irregularities, and informalities, and retains the right to cancel or conclude this procurement at any time without selecting a firm to provide the described services, without any liability to any respondents, or any other person or entity, and is under no obligation to make an award relating to this RFP to any person or entity. The final terms of any Agreement for the project contemplated by this procurement will be determined by the Authority, subject, in all cases, to strict compliance with the applicable provisions of the laws of the State of Georgia.

A. IMPORTANT- A RESTRICTION OF COMMUNICATION IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS PROJECT.

From the time of advertisement of this solicitation until final award is made to a successful respondent and such award is announced, interested firms are not allowed or permitted to communicate about this solicitation or scope with any staff or any official representatives of the Authority, GWCC, or other facilities of the Authority, or their consultants, except for submission of questions as instructed in the RFP, or as provided by any existing work agreement(s). Apparent Awardee(s) are restricted from making public statements or press releases about their selection as finalists or their apparent award. For violation of this restriction, the Authority reserves the right to reject the submittal of the offending respondent.

2. Issuing Officer and Authority Contract

This RFP is being issued by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, which is the only office authorized to change, modify, clarify, etc., the provisions of this RFP and to award any contract(s) resulting from the RFP.

The Issuing Officer and sole point of contact for administrative and technical issues regarding this RFP is:

Roni Bell, Issuing Officer

Georgia World Congress Center Authority 285 International Boulevard, NW

Atlanta, Georgia 30313-1591 Telephone: (404) 223-4217 E-mail: ronbell@gwcc.com

The Issuing Officer may designate others to act on his/her behalf. The Authority may change the Issuing Officer or the limits of his/her authority at its discretion.

3. Mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference/Site Visits

The Mandatory Proposal Conference/Site Visit will be held: October 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM Savannah Convention Center Jasper Boardroom-Ronnie Hickman, Senior Director of Operations & Special Projects One International Drive Savannah, GA. 31402-0248

Late arrivals shall be subject to dismissal; all vendors are cautioned to arrive on time. Attendance at Pre-Proposal Conference/Site is mandatory from start to finish to be eligible to submit proposal(s). A maximum of two (2) representatives from each firm may attend. Directions to the facilities are available at Savannah Convention Center.

mailto:ronbell@gwcc.com https://www.savconventioncenter.com/

For information regarding this conference contact the Senior Director of Operations at 912-447-4070, Ronnie Hickman.

All potential respondents are encouraged to have a copy (ies) of this solicitation for the Pre-Proposal Conference, as copies are not guaranteed to be available.

The purpose of this conference will be to clarify the contents of this Request for Proposal in order to help ensure a thorough understanding of the Authority’s requirements. Any questions as to the requirements of this Request for Proposal, or any apparent omission or discrepancy should be presented to the Authority’s representatives at this conference. This conference also provides a forum by which interested parties will have equal access to relevant RFP information prior to the final proposal submission.

4. Schedule of RFP Events

The following Schedule of Events represents the Authority’s best estimate of the schedule that will be followed. All times indicated are Eastern Standard Time. The Authority reserves the right to adjust the schedule as deemed necessary. If a component of this schedule, such as the close date, is delayed, the rest of the schedule may be shifted as appropriate.

5. Obtaining Proposal Documents

The complete RFP package Documents, scope of work, proposal form and associated Addendum (if issued) will be PUBLICLY POSTED on the GEORGIA PROCUREMENT REGISTRY at the following web address (and may be directly downloaded using Acrobat 7.0):

https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/PR_index.jsp.

6. Proposal Submission and Deadline

Proposals are to be addressed and delivered, on or before the submission deadline, as follows:

One (1) Original (Clearly Marked) and One (1) USB Drive containing a complete copy of solicitation response to:

Georgia World Congress Center Authority Purchasing Department 285 Andrew Young International Boulevard Atlanta, Georgia 30313 Attn: Roni Bell, Issuing Officer

All copies of the proposal shall be submitted in a sealed, opaque envelope or box, words “SEALED PROPOSAL”, RFP # SCC092826RB “Savannah Convention Center Landscape Services” clearly indicated, along with Proposer’s name and address, on the outside of all the sealed envelope(s) and/or box(es). No telephone, email, or facsimile proposals will be considered.

Sealed proposals sent by courier, mail, etc., should be addressed to the Issuing Officer and should be received no later than the proposal deadline (October 26, 2026).

Proposers are solely responsible for ensuring delivery of proposals to, and in the hands of, the Issuing Officer by the date and time indicated. The mere fact that the proposal was dispatched or mailed may not be considered. Any proposal received after the date and time specified or improperly marked, prepared, or submitted may not be eligible for consideration and may be returned unopened. Proposals will not be publicly opened.

Event Date Time

a. Authority issues RFP 09/28/26

b. Mandatory Proposal Conference/Site Visit

10/8/26 01:00PM

c. Deadline for submission of written questions and requests for clarification 10/13/26 2:00PM

d. Answers to questions posted 10/15/26 2:00PM

e. Deadline for submission of Proposals 10/26/26 10:00AM https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/PR_index.jsp

7. Duration of Offer

Once submitted, a proposal becomes the property of the Authority and constitutes an offer by the Proposer that may not be revoked or withdrawn after the time set for deadline for receipt of proposals and shall remain open for acceptance for a period of One Hundred and Twenty (120) days following such time, and thereafter only in writing.

END OF SECTION

SECTION II

BACKGROUND and INTENT

General Information

1. Organizational Context

The Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) campus, which includes Georgia World Congress Center, Centennial Olympic Park, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Signia by Hilton Atlanta, is the largest combined convention, sports, and entertainment campus in North America. Since 2014, GWCCA has managed and operated the Savannah Convention Center (SCC) – marking the industry’s first-ever private-to-public facility management agreement. These facilities exist for the primary benefit of promoting and facilitating events and activities that generate economic benefits to the citizens of the state of Georgia as well as enhance the quality of life for every Georgian.

Centennial Olympic Park Commemorating the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, Centennial Olympic Park (COP) is a 22-acre urban oasis in the center of Atlanta’s dynamic downtown entertainment district and is operated by Georgia World Congress Center Authority. COP’s great lawn provides natural seating for 20,000 and new features make it the ideal location for a variety of events. Centennial Olympic Park is located adjacent to the Georgia World Congress Center.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium/The Home Depot Backyard The 71,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS) is home to the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United and annually hosts the AFLAC Kickoff Game, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, SEC Football Championship Game along with other special events and concerts that provide fans with an unparalleled experience while contributing to the economic growth and success of Atlanta and the state of Georgia. Sitting in the former footprint of the Georgia Dome, The Home Depot Backyard functions as a fan experience zone and parking lot during events at MBS, and as greenspace open to the public on non-event days.

Savannah Convention Center In 2014, the Georgia International Maritime and Trade Center Authority (now Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority) approved the selection of GWCCA to manage and operate the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center

– today known as Savannah Convention Center (SCC) – marking the industry’s first-ever private-to-public facility management agreement. The 330,000-square-foot SCC currently features 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 367-seat auditorium, 50,000 square feet of prime meeting space consisting of 13 meeting rooms, a 25,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, and four executive board rooms. In fiscal year 2020, the Georgia General Assembly approved $70M in bonds for an expansion project that will double the exhibit hall space as well as offer a 40,000 square-foot ballroom, 15 new meetings rooms, and a 900-space parking deck. The SCC expansion project broke ground in March 2021.

Signia by Hilton Atlanta Owned by GWCCA and managed by Hilton Management Services, Signia by Hilton Atlanta is the city’s largest downtown ground-up hotel development project in 40 years. The 453-foot-high, 976-room hotel overlooks Mercedes-Benz Stadium and is connected to Georgia World Congress Center’s Building C. Signia by Hilton Atlanta offers more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space, including the largest hotel ballroom in Georgia, an outdoor event deck and lawn, and three boardrooms.

The hotel also features eight signature food and beverage experiences, including three restaurants and three bars, as well as world-class amenities, including a spa, beauty bar and fitness center with yoga stations, Peloton bikes and more.

The Authority enjoys a strong service reputation based upon our ability to provide a superior facility and related services.

The following Request for Proposals will be used to select an organization to partner with the Authority to deliver a service to our customers in a manner that complements our ongoing operations and commitment to excellence and sustainability.

2. Intent

The Georgia World Congress Center Authority will consider proposals from qualified and experienced firms ordinarily engaged in the business of providing landscape services, as described herein and in accordance with the terms, conditions, and requirements set forth in this Request for Proposal (RFP). The Authority intends to make a single award to the highest scored proposer (s) meeting all requirements herein but reserves the right to make a split award if deemed in the best interest of the State.

3. Term

Initial term of the agreement shall be for approximately two (2) years from the date of execution.

Renewal Option: After the initial term, the Owner reserves the right to extend the term for three (3) consecutive one (1) year periods at its sole discretion.

The selected Proposer will be required to execute a contract consistent with the terms and conditions of this RFP.

Extension: In the event that this contract shall terminate or be likely to terminate prior to the making of an award for a new contract for this commodity, the Authority may, with the written consent of the Vendor extend this Contract for such period as may be necessary to afford the Authority continuous service as provided by this Contract.

SECTION III

SCOPE OF SERVICES

LANDSCAPE SERVICES

I. GENERAL SCOPE / SPECIFICATIONS

The overall scope of this RFP is concerned with landscape services for the Savannah Convention Center. Proposers are cautioned to completely familiarize themselves with all of the requirements prior to proposing. Contract(s) may be awarded to one or more contractors for any, all, or portions of, the listed scopes.

The Owner is interested in receiving proposals that address a comprehensive solution to the Landscape Services described herein. The initial term of each scope of services is two (2) years with three (3) renewal options. It is envisioned that a successful maintenance program will ensure optimum economic benefit, extend the life of and protect building assets, help the Owner manage schedules, and provide accountability for services. The General Scopes of Services is as follows:

1. Contractor shall provide services for Landscape Maintenance, including but not limited to mowing, watering, fertilizing, weeding, spraying, policing, edging, mulching, irrigation, and pruning throughout the campus grounds including three sixth floor terrace areas.

2. All mulch/pine straw areas will be re-mulched/strawed two (2 ) to four (4 ) inches at least twice per year with spot repairs conducted as needed. All mulching will be proposed outside contract at the time of service.

3. Contractor shall provide all services in a good workmanlike manner, maintaining vitality of all existing lawns and plant materials.

4. Contractor shall provide monthly inspections of landscape areas and furnish a report of conditions and remedial actions. Service report shall be turned in monthly describing services rendered, problem area(s), corrective action(s), etc.

5. The Contractor shall promptly correct any and all work that is deemed unsatisfactory to the Owner.

6. Furthermore, Contractor shall immediately report to Owner any observed deficiency that could cause damage or destruction to any plant material including any maintenance deficiencies with water supply or the irrigation systems.

7. All equipment and materials of the Contractor that are stored on site must be stored in areas designated by the Owner.

8. Operate, monitor and manage all irrigation systems. All necessary repairs will be proposed outside contract.

9. Soil samples shall be taken once per year in October and submitted to the University of Georgia Ag

Services Lab. Their recommendation(s) will be followed to maintain optimum fertility and pH levels. Turf tissue samples shall be taken in June and also submitted to University of Georgia Ag Services Lab.

10. Staffing: In addition to a once weekly crew visit, contractor shall have one (1) experienced gardener with vehicle on the property five (5) days a week. Minimum 40 hours per week. Gardener reports to Owner.

11. Quality Control Program: Provide a detailed 12-month program to ensure that your services will meet or exceed the requirements of the contract. Include all landscape functions and timing. Plan must be detailed. Plan must also include dedicated equipment for use on property. Include make/model, year, hour meter (if applicable).

II. Lawn Care:

A. Mowing and Edging:

• Lawns shall be mowed once weekly during the active growing season and as needed during the other seasons.

During extended rainy or dry periods mowing may take place as conditions dictate. Mowing height will be based on what is horticultural correct for the turf variety taking into account the season.

• Hard and soft edges shall be edged with a metal blade edger to maintain a neat appearance.

B. Fertilization:

• Lawns shall be fertilized through multiple applications within the year with a commercial fertilizer. The number of applications will be dependent on the type of nitrogen used and type of turfgrass. Quantities and frequencies shall be adequate to produce consistent, healthy, green turf.

C. Fungicide:

• Monitor turf for fungal infections and treat with approved fungicide to control disease-causing damage.

D. Pesticide:

• Monitor turf for insect activity and treat with legally approved pesticides to control damage-causing diseases and/or pests.

E. Weed Control:

• Pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides shall be applied as needed to produce a weed free turf at all times.

F. Over Seeding

Over seeding with Ryegrass at 450lbs. per acre shall be done on the area fronting the river, G. Aerification:

• Aerify all turf once annually to promote root growth and water penetration.

• A hollow tine type of aerator shall be used that removes soil cores. Cores to be left on turf to naturally break down.

H. Renovation:

• Warm season turf grasses will be renovated by Verti cutting and/or scalping in early spring..

III. Ground Cover Area/Shrub Areas:

A. Edging:

• Edge ground cover as needed to keep within bounds and away from obstacles.

B. Pruning:

• Shrubs and saw grass shall be pruned only as necessary to maintain the natural form of the plant, to maintain growth within space limitations, to promote new growth and blooming, and to eliminate damage or diseased wood. This excludes pruning necessitated by storm damage, disease, neglected overgrowth or winterkill.

• Fig vines shall be pruned to remain at a consistent height at all times.

C. Weed Control:

• Keep beds reasonably free of broadleaf and grassy weeds, preferably with pre-emergent and or selective post-emergent/contact herbicides. Weeds over 4” in height to be removed mechanically.

• Avoid soil cultivation to maintain pre-emergent herbicide effectiveness and root health.

• Post-emerge control broadleaf weeds with selective herbicides.

• Chosen chemical(s) will be recommended and legally approved for the specific weed problem.

D. Fertilization:

• Apply fertilizer as warranted. The number of applications will be dependent on the type of nitrogen used and the type of plant material. Quantities and frequencies need to be adequate to produce healthy plant material at all times.

E. Fungicide:

• Apply recommended, legally approved fungicides to control disease causing damage to ornamentals.

F. Pesticide:

• Apply recommended, legally approved pesticides to control insects causing damage to ornamentals.

IV. Tree Care:

A. Pruning:

• Height limitation for tree pruning covered in the specification is 12 feet. On trees over 12 feet only low-hanging branches that present a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic will be raised.

• Trees less than 12 feet are scheduled to be pruned in the winter months except for safety-related pruning, which will be done as needed. Evergreen trees fewer than 12 feet shall be thinned out and shaped only if necessary to minimize wind and storm damage.

B. Staking:

• Stakes are to be inspected and adjusted or removed as necessary. When trees attain a trunk caliper of 4” or substantial root development stability has been made they shall be removed.

V. Mulched Areas/Granite Areas:

• Mulched or decomposed granite areas will be inspected weekly and man-made debris removed.

• Weeds and grasses shall be controlled with recommended, legally approved herbicides. In those areas with excessive mulch build up, alternatives will be discussed with SCC staff with appropriate solution proposed outside contract.

VI. Irrigation System:

• Areas should be watered for duration adequate for moisture to penetrate throughout the root zone and as frequently as necessary to maintain healthy plant growth.

• Watering shall be scheduled with automatic controllers to supply quantities and frequencies consistent with seasonal requirements of the plant materials in the landscape. Controller programs will be adjusted as dictated by the weather.

• Where practical, watering shall be done at night or early morning.

• All irrigation equipment shall be maintained in good working condition. All repairs and changes to be proposed outside contract and must be approved by SCC prior to repair.

• All irrigation equipment shall be properly winterized as to not cause any damage to the equipment or operation.

VII. Debris Cleanup:

• All landscape areas shall be inspected on days of service and excess debris removed. Gardening debris, generated from Provider’s work, shall be removed immediately from paved areas. This excludes leaf fall pickup from parking areas, sidewalks, etc.

• Plants and fungus growing in brick pavers should be treated immediately and removed.

• Provider will perform a daily survey of the property for pick-up of trash and debris Monday through Friday.

VIII. Additional Services:

• Seasonal color enhancements, mulch installation, bush-hogging, and additional requested services will be handled separately of the base landscaping agreement. These services will necessitate a formal price quote, and such work will be completed after approval by SCC.

• Monthly site visits with SCC and Provider staff shall be conducted. Notes shall be forwarded to Director, Supervisors, and General Manager for updates and follow-up.

VIV. Marshalling Yard Maintenance:

• General upkeep for the marshalling yard.

• Keeping the fence line free of vegetation and clear.

• Maintaining cutting and trimming of the front entrance.

• Keeping the inside fence area free of vegetation and cleared.

• Ensuring all areas of the marshalling yard is kept clean and consistent.

SECTION IV

PROPOSAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

Proposers are cautioned to read the information contained in this RFP carefully and to submit a complete response to all requirements and questions. All descriptions and prices shall be furnished in a legible manner so there is no uncertainty as to the intent or scope of your proposal.

Where forms are provided, all spaces and the requested information are to be fully completed. All prices must be clearly set forth. In case of a conflict regarding unit price, the word amount shall prevail over figures contained in the proposal. Erasures or other changes in the proposal shall bear the signature or initials of the authorized signature for the proposer.

1. Special Terms and Conditions of Request for Proposal

This request is not an offer to contract or solicitation of bids. This request and any proposal submitted in response, regardless of whether the proposal is determined to be the best proposal, is not binding upon the Authority and does not obligate the Authority to procure any goods or services. For the purposes of this Request for Proposal, any reference herein to “bid”, “bids”, “bidder”, “bidders”, shall mean, respectively, “proposal”, “proposals”, “proposer”, and “proposers”. Neither the Authority nor any party submitting a response shall be bound unless and until a written contract mutually accepted by both parties is negotiated as to its terms and conditions and is signed by the Authority and a party containing such terms and conditions as are negotiated between those parties.

All expenses for preparing and submitting a proposal are the sole cost of the party submitting the proposal. The Authority is not obligated to any party to reimburse such expenses. All proposals upon receipt become the property of the Authority. Labeling information provided in proposals “proprietary” or “confidential”, or any other designation of restricted use will not protect the information from public view. The Authority reserves the right to waive non-compliance with any requirements of this request for proposal and to reject any or all proposals submitted in responses.

Upon receipt and review of responses, the Authority shall determine the party(s) and proposal that in the sole judgment of the Authority is in the best interest of the Authority (if any is so determined), with respect to the evaluation criteria stated herein. The Authority then intends to conduct negotiations with such party(s) to determine if a mutually acceptable contract may be reached and in the course of doing so may use ideas expressed in any proposal. If those negotiations, in the judgment of the Authority, are not successful, the Authority may, but is not required to, enter into negotiations with any other party that has submitted a proposal. The Authority reserves the right to negotiate and/or contract with more than one firm for specific portions of the scope described herein.

Proposals shall be in accordance with the terms, conditions, and requirements set forth in this Request for proposal (RFP).

This RFP provides sufficient information for interested parties to prepare and submit proposals for consideration by the Authority. The Proposer chosen will be determined based upon the Authority’s evaluation of qualified submitted proposals.

The Owner is not required to, and does not intend to, prepare a written evaluation of each proposal and is not required to, and does not intend to, disclose to any party submitting a response, the basis on which any party’s proposal was accepted, rejected, or ranked.

2. Proposer Questions: Requests for Information, Extensions of Deadlines, or Addenda

Proposers are expected to exercise their best professional independent judgment in analyzing the requirements of this RFP to ascertain whether additional clarification is necessary or desirable before responding.

Proposer questions, interpretations of this document, requests for information, requests for extensions of proposal deadlines, or requests for clarification of the scope of services/work shall be submitted in writing to the Issuing Officer ONLY at the e-mail address provided. Questions and requests submitted shall be numbered and separated from each other by at least two-line spaces. The e-mail message title shall reference the RFP title and number. To be given consideration these questions shall be submitted to the Authority by no later than 2:00 p.m. October 13, 2026. The Authority may, but is not required to, answer questions submitted. If, upon review of such questions/requests, the Authority deems that a change in any part of the proposal documents is in order, an addendum addressing that change may be issued to all interested parties via the Georgia Procurement Registry. All interested parties are responsible for monitoring the site for the latest information regarding the proposed project. Failure of any Proposer to receive any such addenda or interpretation shall not relieve the Proposer from any obligation that shall apply to their proposal as submitted.

All addenda so issued shall become part of this RFP. Requests for extensions of proposal deadline(s) will be reviewed by the Authority and may be approved or denied at the sole discretion of the Authority.

Corrections, changes, or clarifications, if required, will be made in written addenda. The Authority will not be responsible for any other instructions, interpretations, or explanations. Any written addenda to the proposal documents issued by the Authority prior to the proposal acceptance deadline will be considered a part of these documents. No response other than written will be binding upon the Authority. (See also “Restrictions of Communications”)

3. Proposal Opening

Proposals will not be opened publicly. After the contract is awarded and finalized, those portions of proposals available under Georgia Laws regarding access to public information will be made available by the Issuing Officer.

4. Specifications

Proposers are expected to meet or exceed the specifications in their entirety. Each proposal shall be in accordance with this specification. If products and/or services as bid do not comply with specifications as written, Proposer shall attach to proposal a complete detailed itemization and explanation for each and every deviation or variation from these specifications. Absence of any such itemization and explanation shall be understood to mean that Proposer proposed to meet all details of these specifications. Successful Proposer (contractor) delivering products and/or services pursuant to these specifications shall guarantee that they meet specifications as set forth herein. If it is found that materials/equipment and/or services delivered do not meet requirements of this specification, the successful Proposer shall be required to correct it at Proposer’s own expense.

5. Ownership:

Ownership of all data, materials and documentation originated and prepared and submitted in response to this RFP shall belong exclusively to the Authority. Proposals shall be open for public inspection after contract award. Information submitted in response to this RFP may be disclosed pursuant to applicable Georgia public records laws.

6. Alternates

The Authority will consider alternates that meet or exceed the quality of goods or services specified in this document.

Although the Authority will consider all alternates, it is not bound to accept any, which, in its opinion, is not in the best interest of the Authority.

7. Reciprocal Preference Law

For the purposes of evaluation only, Proposer’s resident in the State of Georgia will be granted the same preference over Proposer’s resident in another State in the same manner, on the same basis, and to the same extent that preference is granted in awarding bids for the same goods or services by such other State to Proposer’s resident therein Proposer’s resident in the State of Georgia. NOTE: for the purposes of this law, the definition of a resident Proposer is one who maintains a place of business with at least one employee inside the State of Georgia. A post office box address will not satisfy this requirement.

8. Small and Minority Business Enterprise

It is the policy of the State of Georgia that small businesses, female-owned businesses and minority businesses have a fair and equal opportunity to participate in the State purchasing process. Therefore, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority encourages all small businesses, female-owned businesses and minority-owned businesses to compete for, win, and receive contracts for goods, services, and construction. This desire on the part of the Authority is not intended to restrict or limit competitive bidding or to increase the cost of the work. The Authority supports a healthy free market system that seeks to include responsible businesses and provides ample opportunity for business growth and development. The Georgia Department of Administrative Services maintains an office to assist small businesses, female-owned businesses and minority businesses in understanding the State procurement process. In addition to contacting the Georgia World Congress Center Authority Purchasing Office, all businesses, female-owned businesses and minority businesses can also contact the Governor’s Small Business Center at the following address for assistance:

The Governor's Small Business Center

75 5th Street, N.W., Suite 825 Atlanta, GA 30308

Telephone: 404.962.4824

The Minority Business Coordinator of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority is Erle Coleman, 404-223-4244, e-mail: ecoleman@gwcc.com All Proposers should be aware that Contractors and subcontractors who utilize qualified minority subcontractors may qualify for a Georgia state income tax credits for qualified payments made to minority subcontractors. See Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) O.C.G.A. Section 48-7-38.

9. EEO - Certification

Proposer, for itself, its personal representatives, successors in interest, and assigns, as a material part of the consideration for the award of a contract, covenants and agrees:

that no person on the grounds of race, color, creed, sex, age, or national origin or handicap shall be excluded from participation, denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination in the use of its facilities;

that, in the construction of any improvements on behalf of Proposer and the furnishing of services, no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, or handicap;

that, Proposer shall use the Authority’s facilities in compliance with all other requirements imposed by or pursuant to Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Nondiscrimination-Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; and that in the event of breach of any of these nondiscrimination covenants, the Authority shall have the right to terminate the Agreement.

10. Drug Free Workplace

The Authority, as policy, operates all facilities as a drug-free workplace, and requires that the labor force of any proposer be drug-free. With submission of a proposal, the proposer hereby acknowledges this requirement, and asserts that the organization of the proposer adheres to such policy and practice. The proposer acknowledges that it may be required to produce certificates affirming its compliance of these requirements of drug-free workplace for duration of agreement term, at execution, or at any time during the term of the agreement. The successful contractor shall secure from any subcontractor hired to work in a drug-free workplace the following written certification: "As a part of the subcontracting agreement with (contractor's name, subcontractor's name) certifies to the proposer that a drug-free workplace will be provided for the subcontractor's employees during the performance of this contract pursuant to paragraph 7 of subsection B of Code Section 50-24-3." The proposer may be suspended, terminated, or debarred if it is determined that: 1. The proposer has made false certification herein above; or 2. The contractor has violated such certification by failure to carry out the requirements of Official Code of Georgia Section 50-24-3.

11. Compliance

By submitting an offer in response to this RFP, the Proposer, if selected for award, agrees that it shall maintain compliance with all Federal, State, and local codes, laws, regulations, standards, ordinances, including applicable to its activities and obligations under the Contract. This includes but not limited to Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and all GWCCA rules, regulations, and orders governing the performance of work.

12. Warranty

Proposer warrants that its equipment service to be provided under this RFP and subsequent agreement shall conform to its proposal's description and any applicable specifications shall be of good quality and for the known purpose for which it is intended. This warranty is in addition to any standard warranty or service guarantee given by the Proposer.

13. Interest of the Authority

GWCCA is soliciting competitive proposals pursuant to a determination that such a process best serves the interests of the Authority. The Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals; to waive any formality of the proposal form; to modify or amend, with the consent of Proposer, any proposal prior to acceptance; to negotiate with the selected Proposer; to waive irregularities and nonconformities, and; to make an award not based solely on the highest proposal, all as GWCCA in its sole judgment may deem to be in the Authority’s best interest.

If successful Proposer refuses to enter into the Agreement, the right is reserved to accept the proposal of any other qualified Proposer without re-advertising.

14. Evidence of Submission

The submission of a proposal shall be considered evidence that Proposer has: (1) investigated all conditions related to the requested service herein described; (2) ascertained that all areas/conditions are as specified; and (3) has reviewed all RFP documents. No claim for adjustment of the provisions of the RFP or any subsequent Agreement to be awarded shall be honored on the grounds that Proposers were not fully informed of existing conditions.

15. Statements of Agreement (General Information)

Having carefully examined the Request for Proposal, and with submission of a proposal, the Proposer agrees that the Proposer understands any issues in any section of the Request for Proposal with which the Proposer disagrees or needs to clarify its positions on, and also understands that failure to list these items in its proposal will be interpreted to mean that the Proposer is in full agreement with the terms, conditions, specifications and requirements therein. With submission of a proposal, the Proposer hereby certifies: (a) that this proposal is genuine and is not made in the interest or on behalf of any undisclosed person, firm, or corporation; (b) that Proposer has not directly or indirectly included or solicited any other Proposer to put in a false or insincere proposal; (c) that Proposer has not solicited or induced any person, firm, or corporation to refrain from sending a proposal.

16. Vendor Protests

The Georgia World Congress Center Authority has established policy and procedures for processing protests from vendors, bidders, or Proposers regarding the solicitation process and/or award of contracts related to any organizational entity of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority.

Bidders/Proposers are hereby cautioned that the policy dictates the following requirements of the Bidder/Proposer:

a. Any protest regarding this solicitation must be filed in writing with the Issuing Officer only. The term "filed" means receipt by the Officer who has issued this solicitation.

b. If the reason for the protest is apparent before the proposal opening, the vendor who is aggrieved regarding an Invitation to Bid (ITB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP) must file the protest in accordance with policy before the proposal opening. The protest must be filed within 7 calendar days after the reason for the protest is known or should have been know, but no later than two (2) business days prior to bid opening or proposal due date.

c. An actual Proposer/Bidder who is aggrieved after the award of a contract must file the protest in accordance with this policy no later than seven (7) calendar days following the award.

d. The protest must contain (1) the name and address of the protester; (2) the appropriate identification of the solicitation and, if a contract has been awarded, the contract number if it is known; (3) a statement of the reasons for the protest; and (4) any supporting exhibits, evidence, or documents to substantiate any claims unless the documents are not available within the filing time, in which case the date by which the supporting documents are expected to be available is to be noted.

The Issuing Officer will respond to the protest in writing as expeditiously as possible. The decision of The Issuing Office shall be final.

17. Restriction of Communication

From the issue date of this RFP until a successful Proposer is selected and the selection is announced, Proposers are not allowed to communicate for any reason with any Authority staff except through the Issuing Officer named herein, or during the Proposer's conference (if applicable), or as provided by existing work agreement(s). For violation of this provision, the Authority shall reserve the right to reject the proposal of the offending Proposer. No individual, other then the Issuing Officer is authorized to amend any part of this RFP in any respect, by an oral statement, or to make any representation of interpretation in conflict with provision of this RFP prior to the proposal submission date.

All interested firms are cautioned to completely familiarize themselves with all conditions as stated in the entire Request for Proposal. Nothing indicated verbally by the Authority will contradict or override anything in this document. If a Proposer feels they have been told anything that is inconsistent with the information contained in this document, it will not be considered valid unless and until confirmation is received in writing from the Authority. Should there be any doubt as to the meaning or content of these proposal documents, Proposer shall at once, notify the Authority in writing.

18. Order of precedence

In submitting a proposal in response to this RFP, Proposer acknowledges that this RFP, including all appendices and attachments, and including service, financial and program specifications and terms and conditions will be incorporated in its entirety in any award issued in response to this RFP. Other documents to be incorporated in the Agreement shall include the Proposer's entire proposal, including all brochures, attachments and supplementary information. However, in the event of any conflict between the RFP and the bid, the terms of this RFP shall control, and govern any matter set forth therein that is not explicitly modified, added or deleted by the provisions of the subsequent Agreement.

SECTION V

BASIS FOR AWARD

1. Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Following receipt by the Authority, a thorough review of all proposals will be made by an internal committee to determine if the required minimum information is included, and to completely evaluate the information submitted. Generally, the proposals from firms that are judged by the Authority’s review committee to have substantially excelled with regard to the stated evaluation criteria, or have offered services or qualifications especially attractive for the purposes of the project, will be eligible for award consideration.

Proposals will be evaluated based upon criteria formulated around the most important features of the service, of which quality; capabilities, service offerings, customer experience and references may be overriding factors in the issuance of a contract or award. The proposal evaluation criteria, included but not limited to those identified in this document, should be viewed as standards, which measure how well a Proposer’s approach meets the desired requirements and needs of the users.

Evaluation criteria include:

TECHNICAL MERIT (70% Weight Factor):

• Demonstrated experience of the firm in providing similar services, including experience and qualifications of key personnel, and relevance of that experience to the needs of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority on behalf of the Savannah Convention Center. Ability to effectively provide local management to oversee operation on a day-to-day basis and type, quantity, and quality of services provided.

• Stability and responsibility of the firm.

• Qualifications, education, and experience of the team members proposed to perform services. Demonstrated competence and experience with Exterior Landscape Maintenance Services. Knowledge of current industry products & standards.

• Financial Qualifications: The financial strength and creditworthiness of the proposer will be evaluated to assure the GWCCA/SCC that the proposer can perform its obligations including: i) maintaining a smooth and uninterrupted operation.

• References about the firm, and/or its previous services or accounts. This includes, but is not limited to, the references about the firm’s ability to satisfy the needs of similar facilities with proposed system or services and the levels of that satisfaction as verified by direct Authority communication with listed contacts. The Authority reserves the right to utilize any relevant reference information received from sources other than those listed by proposer in this evaluation if the Authority deems such sources reputable.

• Suitability of proposed goods and services to the objectives of the Authority. This includes, but is not limited to, the firm’s apparent fit to the overall goals of the Authority with regard to this service, and how well the firm’s proposed goods and services fit with Authority employees, clientele and/or guests.

• Acceptance of GWCCA's Contract document

COST (30% Weight Factor):

• Overall anticipated proposed cost, as well as any other (if applicable), proposed prices or rates, anticipated cost savings, stated payment terms, discounts, and additional charges. Any items proposed that might result in an impact to operation costs of the Authority are subject to this evaluation.

In the process of evaluation, GWCCA may acquire and utilize, to the extent deemed necessary, information obtained from the following sources:

1. Proposer, including representations and other data contained in the proposal, or other written statements of commitments, such as financial assistance, subcontracting, and references.

2. Other existing information available to the Authority, including financial data and records concerning Proposer’s performance.

3. Publications, including credit ratings, trade and financial journals or reports.

4. Other sources, including banks, other financial companies, state, county, and municipal departments and agencies and other public entities.

5. Background investigations of Proposers submitting proposals may be made to verify information furnished or to secure additional information the Authority may deem necessary or desirable.

2. Oral Presentations

In support of their proposals, Proposers may be required to make an oral presentation, not more than two calendar weeks after the Authority has requested a Proposer to do so. This will provide an opportunity for the Authority to clarify or elaborate on the proposal but will in no way change the original proposal. The Authority will schedule the time and location of these presentations and Proposer shall be notified individually of their date and time. Oral presentations are an option of Authority and may not be conducted. Therefore, proposals should be as thorough and detailed as possible so that the Authority may properly evaluate Proposers and its capability to provide the required services.

Failure to be prepared to make an oral presentation within this time period may prevent the Proposer’s submittal from receiving further consideration.

Presentations and/or “best and final offers” may be requested of Proposers deemed by the Authority to be the best suited among those submitting proposals on the basis of the selection criteria.

3. Reference Checks

The evaluation committee reserves the right to contact, interview and evaluate the Proposer’s references; contact any Proposer to clarify any response; contact and interview any current users of a Proposer’s services; solicit information from any available source concerning any aspect of a proposal; and seek and review any other information deemed pertinent to the evaluation process.

4. Contract Award in Best Interest

The Authority reserves the right to accept or reject proposals on each item separately or as a whole, to reject any or all proposals without penalty, to split awards, make multiple awards or no award, to waive or permit cure of any minor informalities or irregularities therein, and to contract as the best interest of the Authority may require in order to put an agreement in place which best meets the needs of the Authority, as expressed in this RFP. The Authority reserves the right to negotiate the modification of proposed terms and conditions with the Proposer offering the best value to the Authority, in conjunction with the award criteria contained herein, prior to the execution of a contract to ensure a satisfactory contract.

SECTION VI

INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSERS

Basic Instructions for Preparation of Proposals

Cost amounts shall be submitted on the attached proposal form. Any additional costs to the Authority that cannot be adequately described on the proposal form shall be attached to the respective form, but notation shall be made on the respective proposal form of any such attachment.

Each proposal will be typewritten, upon the forms furnished by the Authority, when applicable, and must give all required information, in the form of a typewritten report, on a standard 8 ½” x 11" page format, and accompanied by a cover letter on Proposer’s letterhead.

Proposals must be submitted in such a manner as to make them complete and free of ambiguity, without alterations or erasures. In the event of a discrepancy between the dollar amount written and that given in figures on any portion of a proposal, the amount in writing will be considered the proposal.

All proposal forms must include NOTARIZED “Statement of Proposer’s Qualifications”.

All information, and required forms, called for in the RFP shall be included in the proposal. Information submitted in response to that called for in the items listed in the RFP Section “VII”, “Proposal Submittals”, shall be categorized using the same nomenclature as the RFP listing. For example: Responses for item “A1” requested in category “A”, “Organization and Resources”, must be identified with “A1” designation.

Any exceptions to RFP, Proposal Documents or Policy Statements shall be included with the proposal and clearly indicated on a separate sheet of paper, and labeled “Exceptions”.

Proposals shall be prepared simply and economically, providing straightforward, concise delineation of Proposer’s capabilities to satisfy the requirements of the RFP. Proposals shall be presented in a format with simple binding and organized tabs. Fancy bindings, colored displays other than those necessary, and promotional materials are not desired. Emphasis in each proposal must be on completeness and clarity of content. To expedite the evaluation of proposals, it is essential that Proposers follow the format and instructions contained herein.

At any time after the opening of proposals, GWCCA may give oral or written notice to any Proposer to furnish additional information, either in writing and/or in a verbal presentation, to representatives of the Authority relating to its qualifications to perform the obligations imposed by the project including, but not limited to, information which may be required to supplement that which is required herein to be submitted with the proposal.