West Main Street Area Grounds Upkeep and Debris Removal (Bid Discount)

The City of Tampa's Community Redevelopment Department is seeking a contractor for the West Main Street Area Grounds Upkeep and Debris Removal project (Bid No. 25-P-00326), a nonprofessional service contract for comprehensive grounds maintenance. The solicitation requires a contractor to provide daily (7 days a week, 365 days per year) supplemental services including litter and debris removal, landscaping, and upkeep for rights-of-way, Salcines Park, Freedom Park, and other public areas within a specified geographic boundary in the West Tampa area. Required services include tree and vegetation maintenance, grass cutting, edging, pressure washing, graffiti removal, and reporting code enforcement issues, with a minimum crew size of two employees working from early morning until tasks are completed. Bidder qualifications include maintaining a permanent business in Hillsborough County or an adjacent county, providing three references from similar work performed in the past two years, and submitting proof of agricultural and pest control licensing. A mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for August 28, 2025, at 9:00 am, followed by a mandatory site inspection, with final bids due by 3:00 pm on September 19, 2025. The City will evaluate bids based on the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with specific evaluation criteria including comprehensive service capabilities, local business presence, and ability to meet technical specifications.

The procurement includes significant set-aside and disadvantaged business enterprise opportunities, with a 5% bid discount (up to $20,000) for Underutilized Women and Minority Business Enterprises (U-WMBEs) and Small Local Business Enterprises (SLBEs). Preference will be given to Black-Owned, Asian-Owned, and Native American-Owned firms, with a certified contact list of 68 businesses predominantly representing minority-owned and small local business enterprises. The estimated contract value is $160,000, with an initial one-year contract period and potential renewals for up to four additional one-year periods. Contractors must use EPA and USDA-approved chemicals, have fully licensed pesticide applicators, and submit monthly reports with photographs. Monetary deductions of $100 per task will be imposed for work not completed to specification, and invoices must include time-stamped before and after photographs. The contract is structured as a Sheltered Market Solicitation (SMS), which may impose additional restrictions on bidder eligibility and emphasizes local business participation in the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Area.