Tree Debris Disposal

The City of Plant City, Florida (located in Hillsborough County) has issued Invitation for Bids No. 26-009SS-CS-IFB to procure tree debris disposal and processing services for an approved facility within a 10-mile radius of City Hall at 302 West Reynolds Street, Plant City, FL 33563. The City seeks a qualified vendor to accept and process tree debris generated from the City's management of trees along public streets and waterways, including clean log wood (estimated 400 tons), clean brush (estimated 250 tons), and mixed loads (estimated 250 tons) on a case-by-case basis. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of three years of documented experience in tree debris disposal services and provide at least four references from similar projects. The vendor must provide all labor, equipment, materials, supplies, energy, utilities, and facilities necessary to accept and process debris, maintain certified scales tested annually by the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services, and comply with all applicable federal and state laws and permitting requirements. Pricing shall be submitted on a per-ton basis for each of the three categories, with optional line items permitted for fuel surcharges and minimum load charges. The question submission deadline is March 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., and proposals must be submitted electronically through the OpenGov procurement portal by March 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with bids not exceeding $50,000 eligible for City Manager approval and bids exceeding $50,000 requiring City Commission approval. The initial contract term is one year, with the option for the City to renew for four additional one-year periods at its sole discretion.

A local preference policy applies to this solicitation, allowing qualifying bidders within Plant City city limits who maintain a physical office and pay applicable business taxes a discount of up to 1 percent of the lowest bid, not to exceed $2,500. Bidders must carry Workers' Compensation Insurance, Comprehensive General Liability Insurance of at least $500,000 per person and $1,000,000 per occurrence, and Commercial Automobile Liability Insurance of $500,000, with the City named as additional insured on all policies. A bid bond equal to 5 percent of the bid amount is required, and the selected bidder must execute the contract and provide all required documentation within 14 calendar days of receipt. Vendor personnel must be properly bonded, professionally dressed with name tags, subject to background checks at the City's discretion, and compliant with facility security protocols. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is referenced in the solicitation documents, nor are specific budget ranges provided; however, the estimated tonnage (900 total tons) and per-ton pricing structure provide a basis for bidders to estimate contract value. The contract is non-exclusive, meaning the City is not obligated to assign a minimum amount of work to the selected vendor and reserves the right to delete any portion of services without cause.