Median Landscape & Hardscape Maintenance Program

The City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department is requesting proposals for median landscape and hardscape maintenance services covering approximately 13 miles of landscaped and hardscaped street medians and roundabouts within city limits, with proposals due July 17, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. A non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for July 10, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. at 323 Church Street, Santa Cruz, California. Local business preferences apply: up to 2 percent for businesses with offices in Santa Cruz and an additional 4 percent for locally owned businesses with at least 50 percent owner residency in Santa Cruz County.

Proposers must hold a California C-27 Landscaping Contractor license and a Qualified Applicator's License from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and must demonstrate three or more years of municipal or large-scale landscape maintenance experience. The scope includes weed control, litter and debris removal, mulch application, pruning and trimming, irrigation observation and minor adjustments, hardscape cleaning, seasonal planting and replacements, traffic control, record-keeping, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) reporting. All work must comply with California Landscape Contractors Association standards, University of California Statewide IPM Guidelines, California Department of Pesticide Regulation requirements, Cal/OSHA safety regulations, and California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices standards. Work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. unless prior written approval is obtained. Contractors must comply with prevailing wage and the City's Living Wage Ordinance.

The contract awards for an initial one-year term with optional annual renewals at the City's discretion. The sample agreement indicates a maximum budget of $125,000. A performance bond equal to 100 percent of the contract price and a payment bond are required within ten business days of award. Required insurance includes commercial general liability of $2 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, automobile liability of $1 million per accident, and workers' compensation with employer's liability of $1 million per accident.

Evaluation criteria are adherence to RFP requirements (10 points), firm background (10 points), firm qualifications and experience (10 points), team qualifications (15 points), technical approach and work plan (25 points), cost proposal (20 points), and references (evaluated separately for shortlisted proposers). Questions are due July 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.