Morris Park Business Improvement District 966 Morris Park Avenue Bronx, NY 10462 Request for Proposals for Horticultural Services and Landscaping on Morris Park Avenue between Amethyst St/Unionport Rd and Williamsbridge Rd JULY 2020 Responses must be received by: 5p.m. on August 14, 2020 1 Proposal Amount: $40,000 (FY 2021: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021) I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND About the Morris Park BID The Morris Park Business Improvement District (MPBID) promotes economic development along Morris Park Avenue in the Bronx, between Amethyst St – Unionport Rd and Williamsbridge Rd. The District is located in the Bronx Community Board 11, and is characterized by an array of diverse retailers, property owners and residents, with a mix of commercial and residential buildings. A Business Improvement District or “BID” is a non-profit organization made up of property owners and commercial tenants dedicated to promoting business development and improving and area’s quality of life. BIDs deliver supplemental services such as sanitation and maintenance, public safety, marketing and promotional programs, capital improvements and beautification for the area – all funded by a special assessment paid by property owners within the district. II. SCOPE OF WORK Phase I – PLANNING: Corridor inspection and evaluation a) The contractor will inspect on-site the condition of tree pits within the MPBID district, and evaluate condition of tree pits and suitability for beautification through selected planting and mulching. b) The contractor will meet with the MPBID Executive Director to provide information about organizational capacity and to review general findings of the inspection of the corridor. c) The contractor will submit a Plan for Beautification including a proposal for cleaning, planting and maintenance of a proposed number of tree pits, focusing on tree pits that: 1) have existing tree guards, and 2) are located on sidewalks adjacent to commercial properties (small businesses) in the district. Phase II – PROPOSAL The contractor shall submit a proposal containing the following information: A. Spring Tree Bed Care • In early spring, proposer will aerate soil (2-3 inches down) for the proposed number of street trees. Tree pits vary in size, from small (4x4) to large (5x10). Proposal will include an aeration price per tree bed. 2 • In early spring, proposer will add mulch (2-3 inches deep) to the proposed number of tree beds. Tree pits vary in size, from small (4x4) to large (5x10). Proposal will include a mulching price per tree bed. B. Spring and Fall Ornamental Planting • In spring and fall, proposer will procure and plant various ornamental plants (perennials, shrubs, annuals), at the request of MPBID. Proposal will provide a markup % and hourly billable rate for plantings. • Planting and regular plant maintenance will be part of the work performed by proposer in the proposed number of tree beds. C. Ornamental Plant Watering and Maintenance • During the growing season (approximately April through November but subject to MPBID’s direction), proposer will plant, water and maintain (weed, etc.) ornamental plantings at the locations planted. • Proposer will suggest schedule for watering. • Proposer will suggest schedule for maintenance (weeding, etc.). • Proposer will provide the cost of watering the above locations one time, and extrapolated cost for the season. D. Tree Watering • In early spring, proposer will procure and install tree gators for a proposed number of street trees throughout the district. Proposal will provide a price per tree gator, including installation and removal. • Throughout the spring, summer, and fall (unless asked by MPBID), proposer will fill tree gators with water once per week. Proposal will provide a price for weekly watering per tree gator. • Watering will include fixing clogged gators (by simply poking holes in the bottom). E. Tree Bed Maintenance • At the request of MPBID, proposer will weed/clean/edge a proposed number of tree beds throughout the district during the spring, summer, and/or fall. Proposal will provide a price for this maintenance, per tree bed. • PLEASE NOTE: these will be the same tree beds that are aerated and mulching at the beginning of the season. F. Operational Requirements The Board of Directors, MPBID’s Executive Director, or their designated representatives may reject any personnel provided by the contractor at any time. The contractor will report in monthly by email to the Executive Director the operations being executed. 3 The contractor shall assume complete responsibility for insuring that performance by its employees meets the needs and standards established by the MPBID. G. Equipment and Uniforms The contractor shall supply all equipment needed to provide the services described herein. All workers assigned to the district are expected to maintain a neat and clean appearance with proper uniform attire marked with the contractor’s company name and other identifiable information. The contractor is responsible for supplying complete seasonal uniforms for each worker, and for the workers to maintain a professional attire in the course of executing the contract while on site. Personnel employed by the contractor shall wear the aforementioned uniforms at all times that they are on duty. Only uniforms in clean, good condition may be worn. Uniforms must serve the workers’ needs in all types of weather, including protection for COVID-19, as deemed appropriate by the NYC and NY State guidelines applicable at the time of the contract execution. The contractor is responsible for all vehicles and equipment necessary in the execution of the services. All tools, materials, gardening debris etc. generated in the execution of the contract must be removed from the site and discarded by the contractor as appropriate. H. Administration and Evaluation Supervisors or managers will be responsible for identifying areas that require particular attention, assigning the workers specific areas to cover, charting the workers’ progress, and recording specific data as requested by the MPBID. The contractor will submit to MPBID a monthly report including a summary of the activity for the month and recommendations, if any, for changes in schedules, routes, etc. V. CHANGES IN SCOPE OF SERVICES AND PERSONNEL MPBID reserves the right to make reasonable changes in the general scope of the work and in personnel, including shifting work schedules to accommodate holiday staffing needs and changing routes to coordinate with City services. Any such changes will be directed in writing. If MPBID directs any such changes that affect the cost of the services, an equitable adjustment shall be agreed to by both parties. VI. TERM The contract shall be for a period of one (1) year, to commence upon signing, renewable upon satisfactory delivery of services. The laws of the State of New York shall control the terms of the contract. 4 VII. FIRM PRICE AND TAXES Unless specifically provided elsewhere in the contract, the price agreed upon by the contractor and MPBID for the stated services shall be the confirmed price delivered in writing and will not be subject to change. The price shall include all sales, franchise, or other taxes with regard to the work, which shall be paid by the contractor. The contractor assumes exclusive liability for and shall pay all contributions or taxes imposed or required by the unemployment insurance laws of New York, the Federal Social Security Act, or any other act, now or hereafter in effect, upon or in respect to wages, salaries, or other compensation paid to employees engaged upon or in connection with the work to be performed. VIII. ASSIGNMENT The contractor shall not assign, transfer, convey, or otherwise dispose of the contract or any part thereof or of its interest therein and assign, by power of attorney or otherwise, any of the monies due or to become due under the contract without the express written consent of MPBID. IX. SUBCONTRACTING The contractors shall not subcontract all or any portion of the performance to be rendered under the contract without the express prior written approval of MPBID. The contractor shall not be relieved of any obligations hereunder by reason of any such approved subcontracting. X. INDEMNIFICATION The contractor agrees to indemnify and hold the City of New York, the New York City Department of Small Business Services, MPBID and agents, officers, employees and volunteers of these entities harmless from any and all claims, damage, loss, judgments or liabilities, including costs and expenses, legal or otherwise, to which they may be subject as a result of any act or omission of the contractor, its agents, employees, contractors, subcontractors, or permittees in connection with the contract. The contractor shall be solely responsible for the safety and protection of all its employees and shall assume all liability for injuries, including death that may occur to said employees due to the negligence, fault, or default of the contractor. The contractor shall also require such indemnification from its contractors, subcontractors, and permittees. XI. WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS The contractor warrants that services of any nature furnished hereunder shall be rendered competently by qualified personnel in accordance with the best accepted practice. 5 The contractor further warrants that such services shall comply with all requirements of federal, state and local laws and regulations including, without limitation, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. XII.