Landscaping Services

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking qualified service providers to deliver comprehensive landscaping services beginning July 1, 2026. The procurement encompasses landscaping maintenance at multiple closed sites identified in Attachment A, as well as weed control, retention pond maintenance, and shrub bed maintenance across all District facilities, with the scope of work detailed in Part I, Section C of the RFP. Required qualifications include maintaining commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, automobile liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and workers' compensation insurance as required by law, along with completion of background checks for all personnel and subcontractors. The evaluation process employs a two-phase approach, with Phase 1 assessing responsiveness to submission requirements and Phase 2 evaluating proposals on understanding of District needs and service capability (35 points), demonstrated experience and qualifications (30 points), scope of services offered (20 points), and cost (15 points). The deadline for submitting questions is April 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., with proposals due electronically through the District's e-Procurement Portal on May 13, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., followed by service provider selection on May 27, 2026, and contract negotiation on June 9, 2026. No site visits or bidders' conferences are specified in the RFP. The initial contract term extends from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, with two optional one-year renewal periods available through June 30, 2031.

The RFP documentation does not explicitly identify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting the types of organizations that may respond, nor does it reference disadvantaged enterprise requirements or incumbent vendors. Pricing shall exclude Ohio sales tax, which the District will provide exemption for upon contract award. Service providers are responsible for all costs associated with proposal development and submission. The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to award the contract to one or multiple service providers, providing flexibility in vendor selection and potential for multiple concurrent contracts. Specific budget ranges or award values are not disclosed in the available RFP materials, though the multi-year contract structure and broad scope of services across all District facilities suggests a substantial procurement opportunity.