Park & Playground Equipment

The Pinellas County School Board in Florida is soliciting bids to establish a pre-qualified list of contractors for park and playground equipment installation and repair services through Invitation to Bid #26-TM-015, with an estimated contract value of $2,000,000 annually. The scope of work encompasses site clearing and preparation, installation and repair of free-standing and playground systems, delivery of materials to jobsites, secure storage maintenance, installation of safety surfacing including artificial turf and poured-in-place rubber (PIP), and ensuring all work complies with ADA Standards for Accessible Design and Florida's State Requirements for Educational Facilities (SREF) as outlined in the Florida Building Code. Qualified contractors must demonstrate five years of continuous business operation under the same legal entity and evidence of a minimum of five completed playground projects within the past five years; all employees with access to school grounds during student presence or with direct student contact must obtain Level 2 background clearance. The mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for April 7, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at Walter Pownall Service Center, with electronic bid submissions due through the District's OpenGov Procurement portal by 4:00 p.m. on April 28, 2026. The District will evaluate bids between April 29 and May 25, 2026, with a Notice of Intent to Award posted on June 16, 2026, and School Board approval anticipated by June 23, 2026; the initial contract period runs from June 24, 2026, through June 25, 2027, with options for three one-year renewals by mutual consent and three additional unilateral thirty-day extensions at the District's discretion. Bidders must submit pricing organized into five categories covering IPEMA-certified equipment, fall zone surfacing materials, unit pricing for various artificial turf and surfacing options, hourly rates for surfacing repairs, and hourly rates for equipment repair and restoration services, with all proposals including labor, materials, tools, equipment, transportation, permits, licenses, taxes, environmental disposal, and waste management.

The solicitation documents do not identify specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular organization types or disadvantaged enterprises, meaning competition appears open to all qualified contractors meeting the stated requirements. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement materials provided. Contractors must carry comprehensive insurance coverage including General Liability Insurance with $5,000,000 general aggregate limits (for projects valued at $500,000 or more), Automotive Liability Insurance with $300,000 Combined Single Limit, and Workers' Compensation Insurance at statutory limits with Employer's Liability coverage of $100,000 per accident and $500,000 disease policy limit; all insurance carriers must maintain an "A-V" or better rating from Best's Financial Strength Rating. Bidders must comply with Florida's E-Verify requirements and submit bid and performance security as specified in the solicitation documents. All materials and equipment carry manufacturers' standard warranties with prime contractor and subcontractor work warranted free from defects for one year from final project completion, and replacement parts must be available for five years following equipment delivery and acceptance. The estimated contract value is approximately $2,000,000 annually with no guarantee of total dollar volume, and pricing must remain firm for the initial contract term with any price escalation or de-escalation at renewal periods not exceeding the previous year's Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) change, provided notice is given at least 60 days prior to contract expiration.