Airport Terminal Landscaping and Mowing

The City of Ocala is soliciting bids through Invitation to Bid (ITB) AIR/260549 for Airport Terminal Landscaping and Mowing services at Ocala International Airport located in Marion County, Florida. The procurement encompasses comprehensive ground maintenance and landscaping services including grass mowing (32 cuts annually), hedge trimming, landscape plant care, chemical weed treatment, and sidewalk edging. The vendor must maintain grass heights of 2 inches for Bahia grass and 4 inches for St. Augustine grass, with all services performed between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Bidders must demonstrate three years of documented professional landscaping experience and possess a current Florida Right-of-Way Pesticide License authorizing the purchase and application of restricted-strength herbicides; copies of the valid license must be submitted with the bid. The contract will have an initial two-year term with up to two additional one-year renewal options, subject to negotiated price increases not exceeding 3% annually based on CPI-U justification. Required insurance includes Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, Commercial Automotive Liability of $1,000,000 combined, and Workers' Compensation per Florida statutory requirements, with the City named as additional insured. A mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for March 31, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. EST at the airport facility, with attendance required for bid participation. Bids are due April 10, 2026, and must include a completed Price Proposal covering all mandatory and optional line items (mulch/pine straw installation, fertilizer application, and weed control application), with quantities representing estimated annual usage rather than guaranteed minimums. Award will be made to the lowest qualified bidder meeting all specified requirements, and the vendor must perform 100% of work with its own forces with no subcontracting permitted.

All non-governmental vendors must provide a notarized affidavit signed under penalty of perjury attesting compliance with Florida Statutes Section 787.06 regarding the prohibition of labor coercion, with the affidavit template available on the City of Ocala's website. There are no specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise restrictions noted in the solicitation documents. The vendor is responsible for providing all equipment, supplies, materials, and labor necessary for service delivery and assumes liability for any property damage caused during performance, including repair or restoration within one month. Monthly invoicing will be submitted to the City Project Manager Erik Park, with payment subject to offset for any delinquent amounts owed to the City. The procurement documents do not identify an incumbent vendor or current contractor. While specific budget ranges or award values are not explicitly stated in the available documentation, the pricing structure is based on a per-cut basis for the primary mowing service (32 cuts annually over an initial two-year term) plus optional per-unit or per-application pricing for supplemental services, with all costs subject to evaluation through the completed Price Proposal form.