TISD Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance Services

Temple Independent School District (TISD) in Bell County, Texas is soliciting proposals through a Request for Proposal (RFP-009-26) for landscaping and grounds maintenance services to be provided across twelve school campuses—nine elementary sites and three middle schools—organized into three geographic service areas. Vendors may submit bids for one, two, or all three service areas. The scope of work encompasses grass mowing and edging, trash and debris removal, shrub pruning, weed control in paved areas, mulch maintenance and application, bed cultivation, lawn fertilization, and monthly irrigation system inspections performed by licensed irrigators. Required qualifications include a Texas Pest Control Applicator's license for chemical applications, general liability insurance of $1,000,000, umbrella coverage of $1,000,000, automobile coverage of $500,000, and statutory workers' compensation insurance of $500,000, with TISD named as additional insured. Vendors must submit three to five project references from comparable work completed within the past five years and provide a written safety plan prior to work commencement. Evaluation criteria include contract price (40 points), vendor reputation and service quality (15 points each), extent to which services meet District needs (20 points), past relationship with TISD (5 points), and completion of all requested proposal documents (5 points). Key dates include a pre-proposal meeting and campus tour on March 31, 2026 at 9:00 a.m., questions deadline of April 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., proposal submission deadline of May 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time through the Bonfire portal, anticipated contract award on May 12, 2026, and service commencement on July 1, 2026.

The RFP contains no identified set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions limiting eligible respondent types. Contractors awarded contracts exceeding $25,000 must provide a Payment Bond, and those with contracts exceeding $100,000 must provide a Performance Bond equal to 100 percent of contract price. The District requires all vendors to acknowledge compliance with Texas House Bill 89 (Israel boycott certification) and Senate Bill 252 (foreign entity restrictions) and to disclose any felony convictions of business owners or operators. Vendors must also complete a Conflict of Interest Questionnaire in accordance with Chapter 176 of the Texas Local Government Code, disclosing any employment, business relationships, gifts, or family relationships with local government officers that meet specified thresholds. The initial contract term is twelve months from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with the District retaining the right to renew for two additional one-year terms and extend month-to-month for up to six months thereafter. No incumbent vendor or budget range has been disclosed in the available documentation, and the District reserves the right to award separate contracts to multiple bidders without guaranteeing minimum quantities of services.