SLED Opportunity · ARIZONA · TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS

    Town Wide Landscaping

    Issued by Town of Fountain Hills
    localRFPTown of Fountain HillsSol. 233640
    Closed
    STATUS
    Closed
    due Apr 17, 2026
    PUBLISHED
    Mar 16, 2026
    Posting date
    JURISDICTION
    Town of
    local
    NAICS CODE
    561730
    AI-classified industry

    AI Summary

    The Town of Fountain Hills is seeking proposals from licensed firms to provide professional landscaping services as detailed in the Scope of Work. Proposals must be submitted sealed per the Town's Procurement Code.

    Opportunity details

    Solicitation No.
    233640
    Type / RFx
    RFP
    Status
    open
    Level
    local
    Published Date
    March 16, 2026
    Due Date
    April 17, 2026
    NAICS Code
    561730AI guide
    State
    Arizona
    Agency
    Town of Fountain Hills

    Description

    The Town of Fountain Hills (the “Town”) is issuing this Request For Proposals (this “RFP”) seeking proposals (“Proposals”) from qualified, licensed firms (“Vendors”) interested in providing professional services consisting of landscaping services (the “Services”), as more particularly described in the Scope of Work . In accordance with the Town’s Procurement Code, the Town will accept sealed Proposals for the Services specified in the Scope of Work.

    Background

    The Town of Fountain Hills overlooks the Verde River Valley and the east valley of the metro Phoenix area. The Town is a master planned community established in 1970 by McCulloch Properties (now MCO Properties, Inc.). Prior to 1970, the area was a cattle ranch and was part of one of the largest land and cattle holdings in Arizona. The land was purchased by Robert McCulloch in the late 1960s and the community designed by Charles Wood, Jr. (designer of Disneyland in southern California). The centerpiece of Fountain Hills is one of the world's tallest man-made fountains, a focal point that attracts thousands of visitors each year. 

    Located on 13,006 acres of land, Fountain Hills is surrounded by the McDowell Mountains and Scottsdale on the west, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation on the east, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community on the south, and by the McDowell Mountain Regional Park on the north. The elevation is 1,520 feet at the fountain, 2,460 feet at the Adero Canyon Trailhead, and is approximately 500 feet above Phoenix. Over the past thirty years, Fountain Hills has grown from 10,030 residents to a town of about 24,000 in 2023. On June 5, 2006, the Town of Fountain Hills became twenty square miles and about ten percent larger by annexing 1,300 acres of State Trust Land.

    The Town is also renowned for its preservation of the natural desert, its abundant wildlife, scenic qualities and dark skies. One of Fountain Hills’ most valuable assets is its natural beauty. The Town’s scenic terrain provides for a wide range of outdoor activities including hiking, biking, and golf in support of healthy lifestyles. Fountain Hills contains some of the more challenging and picturesque golf courses in the State of Arizona. Its dark skies provide opportunities for star gazing.

    Fountain Hills was named by Phoenix Magazine as the best place to live in the Valley of the Sun and was cited as "a welcome oasis on the outskirts of a metropolis." The small town charm, lakeside park, Town Center, relaxed desert lifestyle, lush desert landscapes, diverse landforms, public art, and idyllic location at the foothills of a picturesque mountain setting overlooking Fountain Park make Fountain Hills an oasis in the desert

    The Scope of Work includes four (4) parks, Town rights-of-way, and Town facility grounds.

    Project Details

    • Reference ID: RFP-2026-002
    • Department: Community Services
    • Department Head: Kevin Snipes (Community Services Director)

    Important Dates

    • Questions Due: 2026-04-10T00:00:00.000Z
    • Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2026-03-26T16:00:00.000Z — Town Hall Town of Fountain Hills 16705 E. Avenue of the Fountains Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

    Addenda

    • Addendum #1 (released 2026-03-26T14:14:58.031Z) —

      Please use the See What Changed link to view all the changes made by this addendum.

    • Addendum #2 (released 2026-03-26T23:26:16.823Z) —

      Maps

    • Addendum #3 (released 2026-04-16T18:47:29.051Z) —

      Please use the See What Changed link to view all the changes made by this addendum.

    Evaluation Criteria

    • Initial Evaluation; General Information (1 pts)
    • Initial Evaluation; Experience and Qualifications of the Vendor (20 pts)
    • Initial Evaluation; Key Positions (15 pts)
    • Initial Evaluation; Project Approach (27 pts)
    • Initial Evaluation; Pricing (35 pts)

    Submission Requirements

    • Certification

      By confirming questions under this section, the Vendor certifies:

    • No Collusion (required)

      The submission of the Proposal did not involve collusion or other anti-competitive practices.

    • No Discrimination (required)

      It shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment in violation of Federal Executive Order 11246.

    • No Gratuity (required)

      It has not given, offered to give, nor intends to give at any time hereafter, any economic opportunity, future employment, gift, loan, gratuity, special discount, trip favor or service to a Town employee, officer or agent in connection with the submitted Proposal. It (including the Vendor’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subcontractors) has refrained, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process, including the Selection Committee, elected officials, the Town Manager, Assistant Town Managers, Department Heads, and other Town staff. All contact must be addressed to the Town’s Procurement Agent, except for questions submitted as set forth in Subsection 1.4 (Inquiries), above. Any attempt to influence the selection process by any means shall void the submitted Proposal and any resulting Agreement.

    • Financial Stability (required)

      It is financially stable, solvent and has adequate cash reserves to meet all financial obligations including any potential costs resulting from an award of the Agreement.

    • No Signature/False or Misleading Statement (required)

      The signature on the cover letter of the Proposal and the Vendor Information Form is genuine and the person signing has the authority to bind the Vendor. Failure to sign the Proposal and the Vendor Information Form, or signing either with a false or misleading statement, shall void the submitted Proposal and any resulting Agreement.

    • Professional Services Agreement (required)

      In addition to reviewing and understanding the submittal requirements, it has reviewed the attached sample Professional Services Agreement including the Scope of Work and other Exhibits.

    • Reference Checks (required)

      References will be checked, and it is Vendor’s responsibility to ensure that all information is accurate and current. Vendor authorizes the Town’s representative to verify all information from these references and releases all those concerned from any liability in connection with the information they provide. Inability of the Town to verify references shall result in the Proposal being considered non-responsive.

    • Vendor Proposal
    • General Information (required)
      1. One page cover letter as described in the section titled "RFP Submission Process", the subsection titled "Required Submittal".
      2. Provide Vendor identification information. Explain the Vendor’s legal organization including the legal name, address, identification number and legal form of the Vendor (e.g., partnership, corporation, joint venture, limited liability company, sole proprietorship). If a joint venture, identify the members of the joint venture and provide all of the information required under this section for each member. If a limited liability company, provide the name of the member or members authorized to act on the company’s behalf. If the Vendor is a wholly owned subsidiary of another company, identify the parent company. If the corporation is a nonprofit corporation, provide nonprofit documentation. Provide the name, address and telephone number of the person to contact concerning the Proposal.
      3. Identify the location of the Vendor’s principal office and the local work office, if different. Include any documentation that supports the Vendor’s authority to provide services in Arizona.
      4. Provide a general description of the Vendor’s organization, including years in business.
      5. Identify any contract or subcontract held by the Vendor or officers of the Vendor that have been terminated within the last five years. Briefly describe the circumstances and the outcome.
      6. Identify any claims arising from a contract which resulted in litigation or arbitration within the last five years. Briefly describe the circumstances and the outcome.
    • Experience and Qualifications of the Vendor (required)
      1. Provide a detailed description of the Vendor’s experience in providing similar services to municipalities or other entities of a similar size to the Town, specifically relating experience with respect to Town Wide Landscaping.
      2. Vendor must demonstrate successful completion of at least three similar projects within the past 60 months. For the purpose of this Solicitation, “successful completion” means completion of a project within the established schedule and budget and “similar projects” resemble this project in size, nature and scope. Provide a list of at least three organizations for which you successfully completed a similar project. This list shall include, at a minimum, the following information:
        1. Name of company or organization.
        2. Contact name.
        3. Contact address, telephone number and e-mail address.
        4. Type of services provided.
        5. Dates of contract initiation and expiration.
    • Key Positions (required)
      1. Identify each key personnel member that will render services to the Town including title and relevant experience required, including the proposed project manager and project staff.
      2. Indicate the roles and responsibilities of each key position. Include senior members of the Vendor only from the perspective of what their role will be in providing services to the Town.
      3. If a subcontractor will be used for all work of a certain type, include information on this subcontractor. A detailed plan for providing supervision must be included.
      4. Attach a résumé and evidence of certification, if any, for each key personnel member and/or subcontractor to be involved in this project. Résumés should be attached together as a single appendix at the end of the Proposal and will not count toward the Proposal page limit. However, each resume shall not exceed two pages in length.
    • Project Approach (required)
      1. Describe the Vendor’s approach to performing the required Services in the section titled Scope of Work, and its approach to contract management, including its perspective and experience on partnering, customer service, quality control, scheduling and staff.
      2. Describe any alternate approaches if it is believed that such an approach would best suit the needs of the Town. Include rationale for alternate approaches, and indicate how the Vendor will ensure that all efforts are coordinated with the Town’s Representatives.
    • Pricing (required)

      The Fee Proposal must be provided in the format attached as Exhibits K, L, and M. The Fee Proposal shall list the individual cost for each of the program expenses and shall be provided in a spreadsheet format to enable the Town staff to determine (1) total labor hours, (2) key team member(s) proposed for each task and sub-task and (3) number of management, engineering, technical, drafting and support personnel hours proposed for the project. The hourly rate, name of the team member and staff classification shall be included in the spreadsheet. Identify all other costs to be billed to the project, including project expenses (no mark-up on expenses will be allowed) and subcontractor fees.

      All pricing shall be firm, all-inclusive, and include all necessary labor, equipment, fuel, disposal, dump fees, overhead, and profit unless otherwise noted.

    • Pricing Sheet (required)

      Please download the documents below, complete, and upload.

    • Number of Paper Copies (required)

      This template assumes that paper is ALWAYS an option as a delivery method. Therefore, you have to say how many. Use review default language below, and edit as necessary - following the same format.

    • Sample Cost Proposal (required)

      Do you want to use an OpenGov Procurement Electronic Pricing Table to serve as the format for the vendor's cost proposal?

    Questions & Answers

    Q (No subject): Who currently holds this contract and what is the annual contract amount?

    A: This information is available on our website.


    Q (Turf Treatment): The RFP mentions the cutting of grass, but doesn't mention trimming etc., is that assumed to be included in Scope of work?

    A: Yes, trimming along all hardscape edges, valve boxes, electrical boxes, trees, etc., would be required as part of the service.


    Q (Payment): Is this contract paid monthly?

    A: Yes


    Q (Right of Way Map w/Sq footage):

    A: Can the Town provide a Right of Way Map w/Sq footage? Yes, provided via addendum.


    Q (Tree Trimming): The price sheet lists 543 trees and we've identified more than double that number. How do you want us to provide pricing for this category?

    A: This is the number of large trees that we have scheduled for pruning in each park. If we need more trees done, they can be priced as a small, medium or large tree and billed accordingly.


    Q (Golden Eagle Park): Just want to confirm that Golden Eagle Park is not a part of the RFP, correct?

    A: Only for the tree trimming portion.


    Q (No subject): based on the pricing sheet – are the linear parks at Fountain Park and Desert Vista Park only serviced 1 time a year

    A: This will be pricing to perform annual cutbacks per Arizona Landscape Contractors Association (ALCA) standards in each of these locations.


    Q (Medians v Right of Ways):

    A: Are these the same thing....the maps are unclear. They’re not the same. The right of way actually covers the entire town, not just a median or specific strip. For the right of ways, the expectation is a 3-person crew working 5 days a week, 8 hours per day.


    Q (Contract Date): When does this contract start and end?

    A: July 1 and renewed annually up to 4 renewals for a 5 year total.


    Q (No subject): Clarification Requests – Item D: Landscape Maintenance (Fountain Park) 1. DG Areas Scope For Item D – Landscape Maintenance (Fountain Park), please clarify the specific locations of the DG areas adjacent to Saguaro Boulevard, Panorama Drive, and El Lago Boulevard. Additionally, are roadway medians along these streets included within the scope of work?

    A: All DG areas along saguaro and Panorama and El Lago are part of Fountain Park. The medians are part of Street ROW maintenance


    Q (No subject): Clarification Requests – Item D: Landscape Maintenance (Fountain Park) 1. Pruning/Cutbacks Definition The scope references “pruning/cutbacks to all plants.” Please confirm if this includes both trees and shrubs, or if it is limited to specific plant types. (Shrubs Only)

    A: Pruning/cutbacks are per ALCA standards on all shrubs.


    Q (No subject): Clarification Requests – Item D: Landscape Maintenance (Fountain Park) 1. Lake Island Maintenance Access For Item D – Landscape Maintenance (Fountain Park), will the City of Fountain Hills provide a watercraft to access and perform landscape maintenance on the three islands within the lake?

    A: The lake islands are considered bird sanctuaries, so they are purposefully not maintained.


    Q (No subject): Clarification Requests – Item D: Landscape Maintenance (Fountain Park) 1. Per item C fertilizer and weed control application (fountain Park) will the city of fountain Hills be supplying the fertilizer if not is the contractor responsible for purchase as a pass-through cost to the city

    A: Application only. Town will provide the Fertilizer except for the starter fertilizer for overseeding. That needs to be included in the overseeding cost.


    Q (No subject): Regarding contract terms-Will a letter of exceptions be considered? If so, how is that submitted?

    A: Yes, upload in any part of your submittal so we can clearly identify.


    Q (No subject): Does the city of fountain Hills anticipate any upfront cost associated with bringing any landscape areas that would not be in compliance to contract specification

    A: No we do not.


    Q (No subject): Is the Pricing Matrix of 3 pages included in the page count?

    A: No, it is not included.


    Q (No subject): Knowing there is no square footage for Right of Ways can the city of fountain Hills provide PMD records for Pre & post emergent applications for the year of 2025

    A: Not available at this time


    Q (No subject): Per item D landscape maintenance for fountain Park the scope of work references that raking, pruning, weed control, and debris removal will be performed on three islands in the lake. In one of your responses the City of Fountain Hills stated the three islands are considered bird sanctuaries, so they are purposely not maintained. Should this verbiage be removed from your scope of work to avoid confusion? “the three islands in the lake”

    A: This will serve as the edit that the islands are not included in the scope.


    Key dates

    1. March 16, 2026Published
    2. April 17, 2026Responses Due

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    SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.

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