Holiday Lighting Services

The City of Ocala is seeking a qualified vendor to provide comprehensive holiday lighting and decor services through Invitation to Bid (ITB) #REC/250674 for its annual holiday lighting program. The procurement covers a three-year contract with an optional three-year renewal, focusing on leasing, installing, maintaining, and removing holiday decorations throughout downtown Ocala. Specific deliverables include decorating 45 palm trees, 169 and 187 pole trims with garlands, 4 lamp poles with wreaths, and a 50-foot animated panel tree with an 8-foot 3D star featuring 11,500+ LED lights and 1,818+ ornaments. The vendor must provide all labor, materials, supervision, tools, equipment, and vehicles necessary to execute the holiday lighting program, with installation deadlines requiring decorations to be in place by specific dates in October and November. The contract mandates that the vendor perform at least 70% of the work with their own forces and carry specific insurance coverages, including $1,000,000 commercial general liability and commercial automotive liability insurance. The bid is due on June 26, 2025, with the display period running from two weeks before Thanksgiving to the Friday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The pricing structure allows for annual price increases up to 3%, contingent on CPI-U justification and submitted documentation at least 90 days before the current contract term ends. While no specific budget range is detailed, the comprehensive price proposal includes 21 line items covering various decorative elements, suggesting a potentially significant contract value. The vendor must demonstrate substantial inventory capacity, including having at least 25 different styles of pole-mounted displays. Insurance requirements include commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, commercial automotive liability of $1,000,000, and workers' compensation insurance meeting Florida statutory requirements. Technical specifications are rigorous, requiring precise light configurations, durability standards, and specific materials for decorations, indicating the city's commitment to high-quality holiday lighting services. The contract provides a structured six-year outlook, suggesting potential long-term stability for the selected vendor.