Landscape Management Services to DOS Historic Sites

The Florida Department of State is issuing a Request for Proposal (DOS-RFP-26/27-001) for Landscape Management Services to DOS Historic Sites, a service procurement managed through Leon County. The solicitation seeks qualified contractors to provide comprehensive landscape maintenance services across six historic sites: Governor Martin/Merritt Drive, Mission San Luis, The Grove/Burr, Brokaw-McDougall House, Knott House, and Velda Mound. Services include routine lawn care, landscape maintenance, irrigation system inspections (included in base pricing at all sites except Velda Mound), and irrigation repairs billed at hourly rates to be specified by vendors. The contract will commence on July 1, 2026, with an initial three-year base term and three optional one-year renewal periods. A mandatory pre-bid site visit was held on April 9, 2026, at each of the six locations, with attendance required for bid responsiveness; only vendors who signed in at the specific site(s) for which they intend to submit proposals will be considered responsive. Proposals must be submitted in physical form by April 30, 2026, and must include a signed Addendum Acknowledgement Form, W-9, insurance certificate, and bid bond. Vendors must provide detailed pricing for three years of landscape maintenance services, including cost-of-living increases for years two and three and any renewal option years.

The Department may award multiple contracts under this RFP, though only one contract will be awarded per historic site, allowing the incumbent contractors to retain portions of the work if their proposals are selected. Current service providers include All Pro Lawncare at four locations, Lawn Pros at Knott House, and the Department of Historical Resources (DHR) self-performing services at Velda Mound. The total estimated annual budget for all six properties shall not exceed $115,000 per fiscal year, providing a cumulative three-year potential value not to exceed $345,000 before any renewal options are exercised. The solicitation does not specify set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or minority-owned businesses, suggesting this is an open competition available to all qualified vendors meeting the mandatory site visit attendance requirement. While specific evaluation criteria beyond site visit compliance are not detailed in the available addendum documentation, standard state procurement practices typically evaluate proposals based on pricing competitiveness, relevant experience, staffing qualifications, and proposed service methodologies for maintaining historic property landscapes.