Qualified Vendor List (QVL) for Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Landscape Maintenance

The City of Tucson herein referred to as “City,” requests proposals from qualified firms for specialized landscape and other maintenance services for Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) assets located on public property in Tucson. GSI assets are comprised of inlets and outlets/overflows, earthworks (such as basins, berms, and swales) that contain and direct the flow of water, as well as the vegetation within and adjacent to these features. Maintenance of GSI assets ensures the physical structures and landscaped features designed to capture and use stormwater runoff from hardscape are clear of trash/debris, invasive vegetation, and sediment; and that the rockwork is structurally sound and trees are not blocking pedestrian or vehicle site visibility or access.

GSI maintenance requires a holistic and careful approach to ensure the City’s investments in these assets are maintained in a manner that reflects their value as a public resource and part of the City’s infrastructure. Contractors will primarily perform services for the City of Tucson’s GSI Storm to Shade Program ( https://tucsonaz.gov/gsi) , which is administered by Tucson Water and will follow procedures outlined in the City Storm to Shade Program GSI Maintenance Manual version 1 (2022), pending publication of v.2 (2025) and the City Landscape Maintenance Manual (2021).

The City may award by group or by combination of groups that provide the following services. Proposals will be accepted from vendors for one or more than one group, or any combination of groups. Responses must state which groups service can be provided and with specific reference to contractor experience providing those services.

The Scope of Work is based on anticipated needs and available funding. The City reserves the right to adjust the scope on an as-needed, if-needed basis.

Group 1 – Routine GSI Landscape and Structure Maintenance

Group 2 – Certified Herbicide Application

Group 3 – Rainwater Harvesting Cistern Maintenance

Group 4 - Consultation, Outreach, Instruction and/or Data Collection

Group 5 – GSI Reconstruction

Group 6 – Manual or Truck Watering

Group 7 – Irrigation System Oversight and Repair

Open and Continuous Solicitation

This solicitation will be open and continuous through April 10, 2030, meaning that the City will accept proposals from prospective offerors at any time through April 10, 2030. The initial submittal period is open through 2:00pm Local AZ Time on May 22, 2025 . Per Addendum #2, the City intends to review proposals once a year in May.

Offers may be evaluated sooner or later at the City's discretion. Successful offerors will be awarded a contract and placed on the City's Qualified Vendor List for Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Landscape Maintenance.

Storm to Shade (S2S) is the City of Tucson’s green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) program, which builds and maintains GSI on public land throughout the City. GSI is defined as landscape features that capture and infiltrate stormwater runoff from impermeable surfaces to support native vegetation. GSI provides a multitude of benefits, including cooling the urban environment; improving soil, air, and water quality; and beautifying communities through the addition of green space.

S2S is part of the City of Tucson’s comprehensive response to the Climate Emergency declared in 2020 and ongoing drought as a low-cost, sustainable, and effective means of cooling the urban environment while conserving potable and reclaimed water resources.

S2S launched as a pilot program in January 2021 and was made permanent by Mayor and Council in June 2023. The program is funded by a consumption-based fee on residential and commercial Tucson Water customers in the City of Tucson. In FY2024, the fee funded seasonal maintenance for ~500 GSI assets.

However, through the S2S Construction Program, new GSI is being built and added to the S2S Maintenance Program annually, in addition to select GSI built by other City departments or partners.

GSI contractors are issued work orders through City of Tucson Hexagon Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) System for seasonal preventative maintenance and follow up visits to conduct specialized GSI maintenance. Contractors report on work accomplished using an app used on contractor-provided devices. Through this work, S2S is building a workforce that can expand and sustain the community’s GSI and urban forest over time and helping create pathways for skilled and well-paid jobs in the green industry.

This contract provides predictable, scalable work that helps landscape contractors scale and build capacity. The contract also occasionally provides specialized GSI training to build knowledge and skills in the industry to support GSI over the long-term.

For more information and background visit: https://climateaction.tucsonaz.gov/pages/gsi

NIGP codes: 02046 Herbicide, Insecticide and Fungicide Applicators and Distributors; 33572 Soil Conditioners: Compost, Marine Humus, Sulfur, Synthetic Polymers, Mulch, etc; 59595 Wood Chips and Bark: Composted, Shredded, etc.; 79005 Desert Plant Seeds; 91051 Masonry, Concrete, and Stucco Maintenance, Finishing, and Repair (Includes Inside Concrete Sawing and Grouting Work); 91223 Construction, General (Backfill Services, Digging, Ditching, Road Grading, Rock Stabilization, etc.); 91227 Construction, Irrigation System; 91244 Excavation Services; 91252 Maintenance and Repair, Hike and Bike Trails; 91455 Masonry; 96818 Back Flow Preventer Testing Services; 96844 Graffiti Removal Services; 96850 Leaf, Bush, Tree Limb Collection; 96888 Tree and Shrub Removal Services; 98802 Arborist Services; 98814 Erosion Control Services; 98826 Flood Control Services; 98836 Grounds Maintenance: Mowing, Edging, Plant (Not Tree) Trimming, etc.; 98852 Landscaping (Including Design, Fertilizing, Planting, etc., But Not Grounds Maintenance or Tree Trimming Services); 98856 Litter Removal Services (Including Beach Cleaning) (For Buildings See 910-27); 98859 Mulch/Compost Production Services; 98872 Pest Control (Other Than Buildings) (Includes Spraying of Trees and Shrubs); 98888 Tree Trimming and Pruning Services; 98889 Weed and Vegetation Control (Including Trees, Shrubs and Aquatic Weed Control)

Addenda issued: 3