Grove Service - Term Contract

The School Board of Polk County, Florida, issued Bid No. 023-MHH-0117 for a Grove Service - Term Contract to obtain comprehensive grove maintenance services for various citrus groves on School Board property. The procurement covers approximately 133 acres across five existing grove sites, including Travis Career Center, Chain of Lakes Elementary, Lake Alfred-Addair Middle, Hughes and Detour Road, and Scenic Highway. Specific services include fertilization, herbicide application, spraying, hedging, mowing, irrigation management, tree resets, and miscellaneous grove maintenance for mature Valencia and Hamlin orange groves. The original bid was opened on January 18, 2017, with services initially scheduled to begin January 27, 2017, and run through January 31, 2018. Bidders were required to provide detailed unit pricing for 17 distinct service line items, including per-acre rates for various maintenance activities and per-tree rates for specialized care. The bid evaluation focused on comprehensive pricing, service capabilities, and the ability to provide cost-effective grove management across multiple locations.

The contract was awarded to Ingram Grove Service, Inc., located in Winter Haven, FL, who submitted the lowest responsive bid at $107,806.94, compared to a competing bid from Krause Grove Service, Inc. at $114,960.75. The contract has been consistently renewed through January 31, 2022, maintaining the original terms and conditions. No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types were mentioned in the procurement documents. The School Board reserved the right to award the contract to one or two vendors, potentially selecting both a primary and alternate contractor based on the lowest responsive bids. Bidders were required to submit references, contact information, and comply with certifications including a drug-free workplace certification. The contract includes provisions for potential additional grove sites and both emergency and scheduled service requests, with the total bid covering maintenance across approximately 133 acres of citrus groves.