RECOMMENDATION from Chief Procurement Officer to make the following awards for Landscape, Plants, Trees, Grass and Associated Materials - 3 Years with two one-year options - $2,272,939.50 – General, Enterprise and Parks Golf Special Funds:

J.R. SIMPLOT COMPANY - $58,424.75

WINFIELD SOLUTIONS, LLC - $78,025.00

HIGH BRANCH, INC dba TREE LIFE FARMS - $779,675.00

SOUTHWEST WHOLESALE, LLC - $309,870.00

KINETIC MOTORWERKS LLC - $957,599.75

THE LETCO GROUP, LLC dba LIVING EARTH - $44,270.00

COUNCIL DRAW LOTS

GROUP I, Line Item No. 1, due to receiving identical bids from THE LETCO GROUP, LLC dba LIVING EARTH and  SOUTHWEST WHOLESALE, LLC in the amount of $1,875.00;

GROUP II, Line Item Nos. 1 and 2, due to receiving identical bids from THE LETCO GROUP, LLC dba LIVING EARTH and KINETIC MOTORWERKS LLC in the amount of $43,200.00;

Formal Bids Received August 13, 2020 for P01-S29248 - Approve various awards, as shown below, in the amount not to exceed $2,272,939.50 for landscape, plants, trees, grass and associated materials.

Specific Explanation:

The Chief Procurement Officer recommends that City Council approve various awards, as shown below, in the amount not to exceed $2,272,939.50 for landscape, plants, trees, grass and associated materials for various departments and that authorization be given to make purchases, as needed, for a 36-month period with two one-year options. These awards consist of various types of landscaping materials and supplies which includes but is not limited to soil and soil amendments, sod, stones, seeds, plants, trees, and grass to be used by the Parks & Recreation Department and the Houston Airport System to landscape parks, gardens, right-of-ways, and along public roadways and thoroughfares.

This project was advertised in accordance with the requirements of the State of Texas bid laws. Thirty-four prospective bidders downloaded the solicitation from SPD's e-bidding website, and six bids were received as outlined below.

J.R. Simplot Company: Award on its low bid for Group I, Line Item Nos. 8 and 15 (soil and ferrous sulfate); Group IV, Line Item Nos. 3 and 5 thru 7 (seeds); and Group V, Line Item No. 5 (plant marking paint) in the amount not to exceed $58,424.75.

Winfield Solutions, LLC : Award on its low bid for Group I, Line Item Nos. 16 and 17 (soil conditioner and sulfur); and Group IV, Line Item No. 4 (seeds) in the amount not to exceed $78,025.00.

High Branch, Inc. dba Tree Life Farms: Award on its low bid for Group VI, Line Item Nos. 1 thru 3, 5 thru 8, 11 thru 16, 19, 37, and 38 (various types and sizes of trees); Group IX, Line Item Nos. 1 thru 10 and 12 thru 14 and 16 (various types and sizes of trees); and Group X, Line Item Nos. 1 thru 5 (various types and sizes of trees); and on its sole bid for Group VI, Item Nos. 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 29 thru 34, and 39 thru 41 (various types and sizes of tree) in the amount not to exceed $779,675.00.

Southwest Wholesale, LLC: Award on its low bid for Group I, Line No. 2 (mulch); Group III, Line Item Nos. 3 thru 5 (stones); Group IV, Line Item Nos. 1 and 2 (seeds); Group V, Line Item Nos. 1 thru 4 and 6 (tree chains, t-posts, and tape); Group VI Line Item No. 4 (potted plants); Group VII, Line Item Nos. 3 and 21 (grass); and Group VIII, Line Item Nos. 5, and 7 thru 10 (perennial plants) and on its sole bid for Group VI, Line Item Nos. 9, 10, 17, 18, 45, and 46 (various types and sizes of trees); and Group VII, Line Item Nos. 6 and 9 (grass) in the amount not to exceed $309,870.00.

Kinetic Motorwerks, LLC: Award on its low bid for Group I, Line Item Nos. 3 and 7 (mulch and plant food); Group III, Line Item No. 7 (sand); Group VIII, Line Item No. 11 (perennial shrubs); Group IX, Line Item No. 15 (trees); and on its sole bid for Group I, Line Item Nos. 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 18, 19, and 20 (moss, plant food, conditioners, and plants); Group VII, Line Item Nos. 1, 2, 19, and 20 (grass); Group VIII, Line Item Nos. 1 thru 4, and 6 (ferns and perennial plants); Group IX, Line Item No. 11 (trees); and Group X, Line Item No. 6 (trees) in the amount not to exceed $957,599.75.

The Letco Group, LLC dba Living Earth: Award on its low bid for Group I, Line Item Nos. 4 and 12 thru 14 (mulch and soil compost); and Group III, Line Item Nos. 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9 (gravel and stones) in the amount not to exceed $44,270.00.

Tied Bids:

Tie bids were received from The Letco Group, LLC dba Living Earth and Southwest Wholesale, LLC on Group I, Line Item No. 1 (mulch) in the amount of $1,875.00. It is requested that City Council draw lots for this item.

Tie bids were received from The Letco Group, LLC dba Living Earth and Kinetic Motorwerks, LLC on Group II, Line Item Nos. 1 and 2 (grass) in the amount of $43,200.00. It is requested that City Council draw lots for these items.

Group No. VI, Line Item Nos. 23, 24, 25, 28, 35, 36, 42, 43, and 44; and Group VII, Line Item Nos. 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 thru 18 and 22 thru 27 will not be awarded. No bids were received. Items will be purchased on an as needed basis.

M/WBE:

Zero percentage goal-document approved by the Office of Business Opportunity.

Hire Houston First:

The proposed award requires compliance with the City's 'Hire Houston First' (HHF) ordinance that promotes economic opportunity for Houston businesses and supports job creation.  In this case, The Letco Group, LLC, Kinetic Motowerks, LLC and High Branch, Inc. dba Tree Life Farms are designated HHF companies, but were the successful awardees without application of the HHF preference. J.R. Simplot Company, Winfield Solutions, LLC, and Southwest Wholesale, LLC do not meet the requirements for HHF designation; no HHF firms were within three percent.

Fiscal Note:

Funding for this item is included in the FY2021 Adopted Budget.  Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.

__________________________________          ____________________________________

Jerry Adams, Chief Procurement Officer           Department Approval Authority Signature

Finance/Strategic Procurement Division

                                                        ESTIMATED SPENDING AUTHORITY

$ 1,323,788.10         Parks Golf Special Fund (2104)

$    910,151.40         General Fund (1000)

$      39,000.00         HAS - Revenue Fund (8001)

$ 2,272,939.50         Total