Scheduled lawn & as-needed tree services for Austin State Supported Living Center

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Department of State Health Services (DSHS) are seeking bids for comprehensive grounds maintenance services at the Austin State Supported Living Center located in Travis County. The Invitation for Bids (IFB) solicits a contractor to provide scheduled lawn care and as-needed tree services, which include bi-monthly lawn mowing with grass collection, weed removal, hedge trimming, mulch supplementation, parking lot cleaning, and detailed tree services. Specific tree-related services encompass trimming, pruning, tree removal, air spading, thinning, and wood chipping. Bidders must possess International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification, demonstrate a minimum of five years' relevant experience, and provide three verifiable references. Mandatory on-site visits are scheduled for November 12 and 13, 2025, at 10:00 AM, with questions and clarification submissions due by November 17, 2025, at 12:00 PM. The response deadline is December 10, 2025, by 10:30 AM, with the contract term beginning on the award date and expiring August 31, 2026, with potential optional renewals through August 31, 2028.

The solicitation includes a required Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting Plan with a 26.0% HUB utilization goal, allowing various compliance methods such as using certified HUB vendors or demonstrating good-faith efforts to engage minority-owned businesses. Extensive insurance requirements include workers' compensation ($1,000,000 per accident), commercial general liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence), commercial automobile liability ($1,000,000), professional liability ($1,000,000), and umbrella liability ($1,000,000). The historical monetary value for similar services is approximately $90,000.00 for the period September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2025, though no specific service volume is guaranteed. Contractors must be available 24/7, including holidays, and must respond to service calls within four hours during regular business hours or one hour for emergencies. Pricing must remain firm and fixed for the contract's duration, with potential adjustments at HHSC's discretion based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index.