Parkway Beautification Program for Low-Income Disadvantaged Communities (DAC)

West Basin Municipal Water District is seeking contractors to implement the Direct Install Parkway Program, a landscape conversion initiative targeting low-income disadvantaged communities in Los Angeles County, California. The primary objective is to remove grass from residential parkways and install low-maintenance, climate-appropriate landscapes that conserve water at no cost to residents. Key deliverables include developing five distinct parkway landscape design templates, creating participation forms and instructional materials, conducting site visits and installations, procuring plants and materials, removing grass using organic methods, installing drip irrigation systems, and providing comprehensive documentation. The program requires contractors to incorporate climate-appropriate plants from the MWD's BeWaterWise website, implement stormwater capture elements, and ensure efficient drip irrigation systems. Proposals are due on August 20, 2025, at 2:00 PM through the OpenGov procurement portal, with questions and clarifications due by August 13, 2025, at 4:00 PM. The evaluation will consider proposal completeness, respondent qualifications, key personnel, technical approach, and pricing, with West Basin reserving the right to negotiate final contract terms or award to the firm providing the best overall value.

The procurement encourages participation from Small Business Enterprises (SBE) and Local Business Enterprises (LBE), offering evaluation incentives including up to 6 points for prime consultants who qualify as both SBE and LBE, with additional points for meaningful subcontractor participation (minimum 30% of contract value). The project may be subject to prevailing wage requirements, and all contractors and subcontractors must register with the California Department of Industrial Relations. Required insurance coverage includes Commercial General Liability ($2,000,000), Business Automobile Liability ($2,000,000), and Workers' Compensation ($1,000,000). While no specific incumbent vendors are mentioned, the program estimates constructing between 25 and 50 parkways, with contractors responsible for utility line coordination, material disposal, and providing warranties for plants and irrigation equipment. Although a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the program suggests a substantial investment in water conservation and community beautification efforts for low-income disadvantaged communities in the Los Angeles area.