Austin Energy Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Services

Austin Energy, a department of the City of Austin, Texas, is soliciting bids through Austin Financial Services – Central Procurement under IFB 1100 DPL1010 for landscaping, grounds maintenance, and irrigation services at its substations, power plants, vacant lots, and facilities, with questions due November 3, 2026 and offers due November 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. CT. A Local Business discount and a Small Business discount apply to bid evaluation.

The Local Business discount is 5% for bids up to $500,000 and 3% for bids from $500,000 to $50 million. A Local Business is an entity headquartered in Greater Austin, defined as Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties. The Small Business discount is 5% for bids up to $500,000 and 3% above $500,000 up to $50 million, and offerors qualifying as both receive both discounts. No MBE/WBE subcontracting goals are assigned, because Austin Small and Minority Business Resources determined that subcontracting opportunities or certified MBE/WBE availability are insufficient, though the City encourages certified small business subcontractors.

Offerors must show three consecutive years of grounds maintenance and grass mowing within the past five years and provide at least four customer references. Required licenses include a current TCEQ landscape irrigator license or a registered landscape architect, and a Texas Department of Agriculture Certified Pesticide Applicator license for any employee applying chemicals or pesticides. Chemical applications require prior written approval and compliance with the City's Integrated Pest Management program. Equipment must be inventoried on Exhibit B, with EPA/CARB certification numbers, and made available for City inspection within two weeks of award.

Category 1 covers ground services at 72 substations and vacant lots in Austin. Category 2 covers Sand Hill Energy Center across four zones, Category 3 covers Decker Creek Power Station across seven zones, and Category 4 covers 12 Austin Energy facilities. Category 5 requests informational pricing for non-specified products, which the City estimates at about 10% of total contract cost. Estimated annual services range from 4 to 52 per location depending on the site. Pricing uses fixed unit prices on the City's submittal sheet, submitted without alteration, and must be inclusive of overhead, fuel surcharges, and travel time. Living wage compliance requires a minimum of $22.15 per hour for all assigned personnel.

The initial term is twelve months, with up to four additional twelve-month renewals at the City's sole discretion. Price adjustments after the first twelve months are capped at 10% per line item using the Employment Cost Index. The City will award to the responsible offeror submitting the low responsive bid or the best value bid, and it may award a single contract on overall low cost or multiple awards by category or line item.

Addendum 2, issued October 23, 2026, replaces prior site maps and Exhibit F and adds Terms & Conditions Version 2. Bidders must return a signed copy of the addendum with their response. Offers must be submitted electronically through Austin Finance Online's eResponse, and hardcopy submissions will not be accepted. Offers open at 3:00 p.m. CT on November 10, 2026. The pre-offer meeting (October 22) and non-mandatory site visits (October 26) have passed. Point of contact is Diana Le, Contract Administrator/Procurement Specialist, at Diana.Le@austintexas.gov or 512-978-1995.