RIC Fertilization Services

Rhode Island College (RIC) is soliciting quotes for fertilization services covering approximately 23 acres of turf areas on its campus located at 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue in Providence, Rhode Island. The Request for Quotation (RFQ26006158) seeks vendors to provide applications of fertilizer and/or herbicides to campus grounds, explicitly excluding athletic fields. The solicitation was issued by the State of Rhode Island Division of Purchases and will be open from November 26, 2025, at 2:45 PM EST through January 9, 2026, at 1:00 PM EST, with vendor questions accepted until December 12, 2025, at 11:00 AM EST. All proposals must be submitted electronically through Ocean State Procures (OSP) at www.ridop.ri.gov, requiring vendors to be registered in the system prior to submission. The initial contract period is anticipated to begin in March 2026 and extend through October 2028, spanning three years and subject to fund availability. Vendors must quote firm, single unit prices on a net F.O.B. destination basis, with pricing remaining the maximum in effect during the agreement period. Required vendor qualifications include maintaining specific insurance coverage, including $1,000,000 general liability, workers compensation, and automobile liability insurance.

The procurement includes a mandatory Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) participation policy requiring a minimum of 15 percent of the dollar value be awarded to minority or women-owned business enterprises. Vendors must submit Hazardous Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) upon receiving the purchase order and before initial delivery, and are responsible for conducting site inspections and measurements before bid submission. The State reserves the right to make one or multiple awards or reject any or all bids, providing flexibility in the procurement process. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly detailed, the solicitation suggests the contract will cover fertilization services for the designated campus area over the three-year period. No incumbent vendors are mentioned in the documentation, and there are no explicit technological integration requirements beyond standard fertilization and herbicide application services. The procurement appears open to qualified vendors who can meet the specified insurance, safety, and minority business participation requirements.