Title
Contract Amendment for Grounds Maintenance Services at GRU Facilities (NB)
**This item was heard by the UAB on April 19, 2017**
Explanation
Grounds maintenance services are required at various GRU facilities. Since these facilities are located adjacent to or in commercial, public or residential areas, it is essential to properly maintain them for aesthetic and safety reasons. Grounds maintenance services include mowing, shrub and tree pruning, edging, string line trimming, hand weeding and maintaining flower beds, as well as other related services in accordance with each facility’s specific requirements.
In an effort to create more opportunities for small business, GRU strives to establish multiple contracts to small businesses rather than awarding a single contract for all facilities. After an Invitation to Bid was issued in 2016, GRU awarded contracts to three small businesses for grounds maintenance services. The bid was sent to over forty grounds maintenance companies and was posted on the GRU website. Fifteen companies attended a mandatory pre-bid meeting and walk-through. A total of eight responses were received after two withdrew their bid. Since each contract’s value was below $50,000, City Commission approval was not required.
After the contracts commenced, the company that had been awarded the contract for the GRU Administration Building and electric substations determined that they could not perform the work as required and the parties mutually agreed to terminate the contract. GRU awarded the work for those sites to the next lowest bidder who already had a contract for other facilities. An amendment was issued to add those facilities to the contract and the work has been performed well.
With the addition of the GRU Administration Building and electric substations, the contract with Gainesville Lawnscaping LLC will be $52,094 annually; therefore, staff is seeking authorization for the contract amendment and the continuation of the contra...
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