RFP: 140-26 Landscaping services at the MBTA

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is requesting proposals for landscaping services across its transit system passenger stations and facilities under RFP 140-26, with proposals due November 20, 2026 and a pre-bid conference scheduled for October 20 at 12:00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. Supplier diversity accounts for 25% of overall technical scoring. Contractors may bid on one or both of two geographical work areas: Work Area 1 (Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Newton, Malden, East Boston, Medford, Revere; 35 locations) and Work Area 2 (Dorchester, Braintree, Jamaica Plain, Milton, Quincy, Roxbury, additional Boston locations; 25 locations).

The scope encompasses lawn care, weed control, insect control, mulching, edging, shrub and tree care, and cleanup during the primary season (April 1 through November 30). Optional additional services include litter and debris removal during the winter off-season (December 1 through March 31) with designated staffing requirements—an Account Director available during service hours and on-site supervisors with safety training. All contractors must provide equipment, tools, and disposal management; submit weekly service confirmations by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday and monthly reports by the 15th of the following month; and respond to deficiency notifications within 24 hours.

The contract term is three years with three optional one-year renewal periods exercisable at MBTA discretion. Pricing shall be firm fixed-price lump sum per location with monthly invoicing. Questions are due November 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., with answers published by November 6. The MBTA estimates contract execution January 1, 2027 and service commencement April 1, 2027.

Insurance requirements include Commercial General Liability ($1 million per occurrence), Automobile Liability ($1 million combined single limits), Workers' Compensation per Massachusetts law with $1 million Employer's Liability limits, Umbrella Liability ($5 million per occurrence and aggregate), and—if work occurs within 50 feet of railroad track—Railroad Protective Liability ($5 million per occurrence, $10 million aggregate). Pollution Liability and Environmental Impairment Liability coverage are also mandatory. Evaluation uses best-value methodology combining technical merit and pricing, with bidders needing a minimum 2.0 technical score and ranking in the top three to qualify for on-site visits.