City Parks Mowing

The City of Battle Creek, located in Calhoun County, Michigan, is soliciting bids for comprehensive parks mowing services through Invitation for Bids (IFB) No. 2026-012B. The procurement covers lawn maintenance for eight city-owned parks totaling approximately 109 acres, including Fell Park, Irving Park, Leila Arboretum, McCrea Park, Piper Park, Post Park, Riverside Park, and Willard Beach. Contractors must have professional-grade equipment, a minimum of four full-time employees, at least three years of professional lawn care experience, and appropriate liability insurance coverage. The initial contract term is anticipated to be up to three years, with potential for two additional one-year renewals, and will involve weekly mowing frequency subject to weather and grass conditions. The bid requires pricing to be submitted on a separate Excel document with all-inclusive rates covering associated costs, with the city reserving the right to award the contract to a bidder meeting minimum requirements, not necessarily the lowest bidder. Bids are due on July 23, 2025, at 2:00 PM local time through a secure online bid management website, with late submissions automatically rejected. The mowing services will initially cover the period from August through October 2025, with potential extension to the 2026 and 2027 mowing seasons (April through October).

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Invoicing will be conducted monthly or at project completion, with payment made within 30 days of invoice submission. The contract includes provisions for potential scope adjustments, such as adding or deleting parks, and allows for price review after the first year of the contract. While the exact budget range is not specified, the pricing document indicates a potential total contract value, though most unit price fields are currently blank, suggesting bidders will need to populate their specific pricing. The city's evaluation will focus on contractors' ability to meet the minimum qualifications, professional experience, equipment capabilities, and comprehensive pricing. No incumbent vendors are mentioned in the provided documentation, and there are no specific references to existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements beyond the standard park maintenance expectations outlined in the mapping and specification documents.