Horticulturist, Raymond James Stadium

The Tampa Sports Authority is soliciting bids for horticultural consulting services at Raymond James Stadium through an Invitation to Bid (ITB) process. The procuring jurisdiction is the Tampa Sports Authority in Tampa, Florida, on behalf of the state of Florida. The services required include periodic site inspections, written reports, and recommendations for maintaining the stadium's game field, exterior grass lots, and landscaping beds to NFL standards. Key deliverables and responsibilities encompass soil testing and analysis, watering level assessments, product research and recommendations, quarterly chemical and seed application recommendations, disease and pest monitoring, and annual minimum site visits to additional Tampa Sports Authority properties. The Authority seeks a qualified horticulturist with a Bachelor's degree in turfgrass management, agronomy, or plant and soil science, Certified Sports Field Manager credentials, and ten or more years of experience with warm-season grass sports fields, along with proof of three similar projects completed in the Southeastern United States within the past five years. Evaluation criteria include price, conformity to specifications, financial ability, previous performance, and experience, with the Authority reserving the right to conduct post-bid interviews and award the contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Critical dates include a mandatory pre-bid conference on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Raymond James Stadium (Entrance B/C off Himes Avenue), and a bid due date of Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., with submissions accepted via email to bids@tampasportsauthority.com or in-person delivery.

No set-aside designations or restrictions on organization types are identified in the procurement documents. Standard compliance requirements include Workers' Compensation Insurance per Florida statutory requirements, Commercial General Liability Insurance with a $1,000,000 combined single limit, and Automobile Liability Insurance with a $1,000,000 combined single limit. Bidders must demonstrate E-Verify compliance, provide a sworn statement regarding public entity crimes, and certify compliance with drug-free workplace programs. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are referenced in the available documentation. Pricing must be submitted on the Authority's designated bid form with hourly rates, travel time rates, and any additional charges subject to prior Tampa Sports Authority management approval, with the understanding that the Authority is tax-exempt and all applicable taxes should be excluded from proposals. Payment will be made approximately thirty days after invoice approval and site inspection completion by an Authority representative, though no specific budget range or award value is provided in the procurement documents.