Landscape Architectural Services

The City of Palm Desert (“City”) is requesting proposals from qualified firms (“Proposers”) for Landscape Architectural Services (“Services”) to establish a Professional Services Agreement ("Agreement") for an initial term of three (3) years, with the option for the City to extend the agreement for two (2) additional one-year periods, subject to satisfactory performance.

To serve and promote the welfare of its residents, the City intends to procure the Services, as described below:

The City is seeking to partner with a qualified professional landscape architecture and engineering firm (“Consultant”) to design and implement landscape improvements at the Palm Desert Civic Center campus. Specific areas include the City Hall parking lot, Sheriff’s Substation parking lot, State Building parking lot, and the turf area adjacent to the Skate Park.

The selected Consultant shall provide professional landscape architecture, civil engineering, and related design services, including:

• Landscape design
• Grading plans
• Preparation of complete construction documents suitable for bidding and construction
• Electrical, lighting design. 

The Scope of Work shall be completed through the following tasks:

Task I – Preliminary Planning and Conceptual Landscape Design (including grading concepts)

Task II – Construction Documents

Task III – Bidding and Construction Support.

The City anticipates that Tasks I through III may be completed within 2–4 months, depending on project complexity, agency review timelines, and public meeting schedules.

Project Deliverables are anticipated to include, but are not limited to:

• Conceptual Design Plan, including preliminary construction cost estimate
• Construction documents and technical specifications reviewed and approved by the City
• Final Engineer’s Construction Cost Estimate

Proposers may suggest modifications or enhancements to this Scope of Work, provided such modifications represent innovative, advanced, and well-reasoned methodologies. Any proposed modifications shall be clearly identified as optional and priced separately in the sealed fee proposal. 

Background

The City is a charter city located in the Coachella Valley in Eastern Riverside County, within the low desert region of Southern California. The City is home to approximately 50,000 full-time and an additional 32,000 seasonal residents. Palm Desert offers big-city resources within a welcoming, small-town environment, with high-quality educational opportunities, safe and clean streets, extensive retail and entertainment options, and a robust community programming. Widely considered the geographical, educational, and retail hub of the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert was incorporated in 1973 and operates under a council-manager form of government with a five-member City Council elected by district, each serving a four-year term. The City Council meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Palm Desert City Hall, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-RFP-012
• Department: PW - Operations & Maintenance
• Department Head: Randy Chavez (Director of Public Works)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-04-04T00:00:00.000Z
• Answers Posted By: 2026-04-10T00:00:00.000Z
• Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2026-03-26T16:00:00.000Z — Palm Desert City Hall Administrative Conference Room 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260

Addenda

• Addendum #1 (released 2026-04-01T19:56:32.574Z) —

  Attached is the Sign-In Sheet for the Mandatory Pre-Proposal Meeting, held on March 26, 2026. 

• Addendum #2 (released 2026-04-07T23:24:25.702Z) —

  Civic Center Solar Plans 

• Addendum #3 (released 2026-04-07T23:24:28.209Z) —

  Artwork Site Plans 

• Addendum #4 (released 2026-04-07T23:24:30.117Z) —

  Artwork Renderings 

Evaluation Criteria

• Firm Qualifications and Multidisciplinary Experience (20 pts) —

  Experience of the firm providing professional landscape architecture and engineering services for projects similar in scope and complexity. Evaluation will consider demonstrated experience in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, landscape architecture, electrical/lighting design, grading, and site development.

• Project Team and Technical Expertise (20 pts) —

  Qualifications, licenses, and experience of the proposed project team and subconsultants. Evaluation will consider the team’s ability to provide the required disciplines including civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, landscape architecture, electrical engineering, and related technical services, and their experience working collaboratively on similar projects.

• Relevant Project Experience and Quality of Work (20 pts) —

  Demonstrated success on similar projects involving conceptual design, preparation of Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E), and support during bidding and construction. Evaluation may consider quality of submitted renderings, plans, drawings, and completed project examples.

• Project Understanding and Technical Approach (20 pts) —

  Demonstrated understanding of the project goals and site conditions, and the proposer’s methodology for completing Task I (Conceptual Design), Task II (Construction Documents), and Task III (Bidding and Construction Support).

• Project Schedule and Responsiveness (10 pts) —

  Ability to meet the City's anticipated timeline and maintain responsiveness throughout the project.

• Cost Proposal (10 pts) —

  Reasonableness and competitiveness of the proposed fee structure and overall cost for completing the Scope of Services.

Submission Requirements

• Proposal (WITHOUT COST) (required) —

  Proposals shall be concise, well organized and demonstrate qualifications and applicable experience. Proposals shall be organized and include page numbers for all pages in the proposal. The proposal shall be uploaded here, in the following order and shall include:

  1. Cover Letter

     1. Provide a brief introduction to the firm and the proposed project team.  Include:

        • Firm name and address
        • Brief introduction of your firm
        • Summarize firm's general qualifications
        • Primary contact person
        • An executive summary of the specific approach which will be used to deliver the work scope.
        • Identify the individual(s) authorized to negotiate terms and compensation. Include name, address, phone, and email.
        • Signature of an authorized representative

         

  2. Firm Qualifications, Experience and Technical Competence
     

     • • Provide a history and overview of the firm, years in business and areas of specialization.
       • Experience providing landscape architecture, civil engineering, and site design services.
       • Experience with public agency projects, preferably municipal projects.
       • Experience preparing Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) for public bidding.
       • Experience with projects involving grading, ADA-compliant design, drainage, lighting, irrigation, and landscape planning.
       • Description of available technical resources and capabilities (engineering, surveying, GIS capability, etc.).

  3. Project Team, Key Personnel, and Resumes

  1. 1. Identify the project team and describe the roles and responsibilities of each member. Include:
  • • • Project organizational chart
      • Identification of the Project Manager and key personnel
      • Roles and responsibilities of each team member
      • Resumes for key team members
      • Professional licenses and certifications
      • Identification of subconsultants and their functions, if any
      • Discuss the firm’s capacity to provide additional personnel as needed.
    • B. The Proposal should clearly demonstrate the team's capability, either in house or qualified subconsultants, to provide the disciplines required for this project, which may include:
      • Landscape Architecture
      • Civil Engineering
      • Geotechnical Engineering
      • Electrical Engineering
      • Structural Engineering
      • Surveying and related technical services

  3. Relevant Project Experience and References

  1. 1. Provide at least three (3) examples of projects completed within the past five (5) years that demonstrate experience with similar work.  For each project include:
  • • • Project name, location, and client
      • Description of services provided
      • Project budget and construction cost
      • Timeline and outcome
      • Description of the firm's role and responsilties
      • Photographs, renderings, plans, or drawings, demonstrating quality of work.
      • Reference contact information (name, title, phone, email)

  Projects demonstrating conceptual design, construction documents, and construction support are preferred.

  4. Project Understanding and Technical Approach

  Describe the proposer's understanding of the project and approach to completing the Scope of Services. Include:

  1. 1. Task I - Preliminary Planning and Conceptual Design
  2.  
     • • Approach to conceptual site design
       • Methods for developing renderings and graphic exhibits
       • Approach to incorporating functionality, accessibility, and aesthetics
       • Approach to preparing preliminary cost estimates

  B. Task II - Construction Documents

  • • • Approach to developing complete PS&E documents.
      • Coordination between landscape architecture, engineering, and technical disciplines
      • Approach to ADA compliance, drainage, lighting, irrigation, and site design
      • Quality control procedures for plan preparation.

  C. Task III - Bidding and Construction Support

  • • • Approach to responding to bidder questions and preparing addenda.
      • Methods for supporting the City during bidding and construction.
      • Approach to RFIs, submittal reviews, and design clarifications.

  5. Project Schedule and Staffing Plan

  Provide a proposed schedule for completing the work. Include:

  • Timeline for completion of Tasks I - III
  • Key milestones and deliverables
  • Staffing allocation by task
  • Ability to meet the City's anticipated 2 - 4 month timeline
• Cost Proposal (required) —

  Provide a lump-sum, not-to-exceed, cost proposal.

  Also provide a detailed fee proposal to include:

  • • • Fee breakdown by task (Task I, II, III)
      • Estimated hours by staff classification
      • Hourly billing rates
      • Cost assumptions
      • Cost for optional or additional services (if applicable) 
• Non-Collusion Declaration (required) —

  The undersigned declares:

  I am an authorized representative of my company, the party making the foregoing Proposal, to certify the following.

  The Proposal is not made in the interest of, or on behalf of, any undisclosed person, partnership, company, association, organization, or corporation. The Proposal is genuine and not collusive or sham. The Proposer has not directly or indirectly induced or solicited any other Proposer to put in a false or sham bid. The Proposer has not directly or indirectly colluded, conspired, connived, or agreed with any Proposer or anyone else to put in a sham bid, or to refrain from bidding. The Proposer has not in any manner, directly or indirectly, sought by agreement, communication, or conference with anyone to fix the Proposal Price of the Proposer or any other Proposer, or to fix any overhead, profit, or cost element of the Proposal Price, or of that of any other Proposer. All statements contained in the Proposa are true. The Proposer has not, directly or indirectly, submitted his or her Proposa Price or any breakdown thereof, or the contents thereof, or divulged information or data relative thereto, to any corporation, partnership, company, association, organization, bid depository, or to any member or agent thereof to effectuate a collusive or sham bid, and has not paid, and will not pay, any person or entity for such purpose.

  Any person executing this declaration on behalf of a Proposer that is a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or any other entity, hereby represents that he or she has full power to execute, and does execute, this declaration on behalf of the Proposer.

  I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.

• Iran Contracting Act Certification (required) —

  (Public Contract Code section 2200 et seq.)

  As required by California Public Contract Code Section 2204, the Contractor certifies subject to penalty for perjury that the option selected below relating to the Contractor’s status in regard to the Iran Contracting Act of 2010 (Public Contract Code Section 2200 et seq.) is true and correct.

  Note: In accordance with Public Contract Code Section 2205, false certification of this form shall be reported to the California Attorney General and may result in civil penalties equal to the greater of $250,000 or twice the Contract amount, termination of the Contract and/or ineligibility to bid on contracts for three years.

• SAM.gov (required) —

  Please enter your legal entity name for SAM.gov verification.

• Type of Business (required)
• Litigation (required) —

  Provide litigation history for any claims filed by your firm or against your firm related to the provision of Services in the last five (5) years (or type "N/A").

• Changes to Agreement (required) —

  The City standard professional services agreement contract is included as an attachment herein. The Proposer shall identify any objections to and/or request changes to the standard contract language in this section of the proposal (or type "N/A"). If you are identifying changes here ALSO upload a copy of the redlined Language/Agreement with your Proposal. Changes requested may affect theCity's decision to enter into an Agreement.

• No Deviations from the RFP (required) —

  In submitting a proposal in response to this RFP, Proposer is certifying that it takes no exceptions to this RFP including, but not limited to, the Agreement. If any exceptions are taken, such exceptions must be clearly noted here, and may be reason for rejection of the proposal. As such, Proposer is directed to carefully review the proposed Agreement and, in particular, the insurance and indemnification provisions therein (or type "N/A").

• List the Signatory(s) Authorized to Sign and Bind an Agreement. (required) —

  (If two (2) signatures are required, include the following information for both signatories)

  1. Full Name
  2. Title
  3. Physical Business Address
  4. Email Address
  5. Phone Number

  Corporation (C-Corp): Requires two signatures from authorized officers— one from President or Vice President, and the other from the Secretary or Treasurer.  

  An alternate signatory may be used if authorized by a Notarized Corporate Resolution or Article of Authority.

  LLC: Usually requires one signature from an authorized member or manager. For significant contracts (e.g., over $50,000 for construction or over $25,000 for service agreements), additional approvals or signatures may be required.

  Sole Proprietorship, Non-Profit, Single LLC: Only the one signature is necessary.

• Conflict of Interest Disclosure (required) —

  The proposer understands that any and all relationships with construction firms that may submit bids for projects developed under this agreement will require full disclosure of any direct or indirect conflicts of interest, financial interests, relationships, and the nature of any relationships with any related project bid submitters; and that any violation of this provision may result in the immediate termination of the Agreement  

• Certification of Proposal (required) —

  The undersigned hereby submits its proposal and, by doing so, agrees to furnish services in accordance with the Request for Proposal (RFP), and to be bound by the terms and conditions of the RFP.

• What is the Project Number? (required) —

  If not required, type "N/A"

• Agency (required) —

  What agency is this for?

• Agency Awarding Body (required)
• Select the appropriate Agency abbreviation/acronym. (required)
• Insert brief Project Description (required)
• Are there any special licenses or certifications required? (required)
• If a CA Contractor's State License IS required, enter the license classification requirement here. —

  ex.) Class A, General Engineering

• Insert background information regarding need for services requested (required)
• Select option below for pre-proposal meeting. (required)
• Use electronic pricing tabulation? (required) —

  If "NO" Proposers will be prompted to upload their own fee proposal.

• Prices valid for how many days ? (required) —

  Prices provided by Proposers in response to this RFP are valid for ____ days from the proposal due date.

• Will this project exceed $1,000,000.00? (required) —

  (this will determine the Iran Disclosure requirement for proposers)

• Agreement Name (required) —

  What is the agreement name?

• Does this project require a City issued permit? (required) —

  (ie, encroachment/building permits)

• Select the appropriate Agency abbreviation/acronym (required)
• What is your contract term? (required)

Questions & Answers