Supply of Horticultural Materials – East Harlem Tree Corridor Project

THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK Request for Proposals (RFP) Supply of Horticultural Materials - East Harlem Tree Corridor Project 1. RFP Overview The Horticultural Society of New York ("The Hort") invites qualified vendors to submit proposals for the supply and delivery of horticultural materials for the East Harlem Tree Corridor Project. This project will transform East 116th Street and East 125th Street into green corridors through the installation of street trees, plantings, and related green infrastructure elements. This project is funded through a NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant and a component of the East Harlem DRI Strategic Investment Plan. This project runs through October 2029. Materials will be procured through purchase orders between the date of the award and the completion of the project. 2. Project Background The project includes: Installation of new street trees and vegetation Remediation of existing tree pits Installation of planters and plantings Expansion of green infrastructure 3. Scope of Work - Materials Supply The selected vendor shall furnish and deliver: A. Plant Material Street trees Shrubs and understory plantings Groundcover plantings B. Soil and Growing Media Planting soil mixes Structural soil (if required) Compost, mulch, and amendments C. Associated Materials Staking and stabilization materials Root protection materials Mulch and finishing materials D. Delivery Phased delivery as directed with installation schedule Delivery to East 116th and East 125th corridor locations 4. Technical Specifications All materials must comply with: NYC Parks Standards NYC Parks-approved species list (final species to be identified by The Hort post-award) ANSI Z60.1 nursery standards NYC Parks soil and planting specifications Trees Minimum caliper size: 2.5"-3.5" (unless otherwise specified in purchase order) Structurally sound, disease-free stock Plantings Species must be tolerant of urban streetscape conditions, including: Salt exposure Compaction Drought Approval + Substitution All substitutions require prior written approval Materials may be rejected upon inspection Species selection will be finalized through purchase orders after award, in coordination with The Hort and consistent with NYC Parks requirements. 5. Budget Estimated Materials Budget Not to Exceed: $180,000 Vendors may: Bid full scope, or Bid by category 6. NYS Certified MWBE Requirements The Hort and NYS encourage the participation by State-Certified Minority and Women owned Business Entities (MWBE) in the procurement of all goods and services. This DRI funded project has a MWBE goal of 30% of the total DRI grant. State-certified MWBEs are encouraged to submit responses to this RFP. Further, when comprising your team, including suppliers, please consider State Certified MWBE vendors. You can find out more about the State's MWBE program and search the MWBE directory online at: Minority & Women's Business Development | Empire State Development Please note that MWBE vendors must have received State Certification prior to entering into a contract with the Hort to qualify towards the project's 30% goal. NYC certification cannot be substituted for NYS Certification. Vendors must support compliance and reporting requirements. 7. Procurement Requirements Competitive procurement per State contract requirements Contract subject to internal and State approval Payment tied to delivery and acceptance 8. Vendor Qualifications Experience with urban tree supply Familiarity with NYC Parks standards Ability to support phased delivery logistics 9. Proposal Requirements A. Firm Info B. Materials Approach Confirmation of NYC Parks compliance Supply and sourcing strategy C. Pricing Vendors must provide unit pricing only, including: Trees (by caliper size range, Parks standards are 2.5-3.5" caliper) Shrubs / groundcover (per unit or flat) Soil and amendments (per 2cf bag and build yard bag) Delivery costs (clearly stated) Final quantities and species will be issued via purchase orders; pricing must allow for flexible ordering across the project term. 10. Evaluation Criteria Compliance with specs Cost competitiveness Delivery capability Experience MWBE participation 11. Timeline RFP Issued: August 4, 2026 Questions Due: August 12, 2026 Proposals Due: August 26, 2026 Award: mid/late September 2026 12. General Conditions Award may be made to one or multiple vendors The Hort reserves all standard procurement rights 13. Submission Instructions Submit proposals electronically to: The Horticultural Society of New York BidInfo@thehort.org Subject line: "Garment District RFP - Horticulture Materials" Minority / Women Business Enterprise contracting goals (MWBE) Total MWBE Goals: 30.00%