REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
DOWNTOWN AND ROUNDABOUT MAINTENANCE
This contract will take effect on April 1, 2026 and will close on March 31, 2029.
Contract information is included on the following pages.
Proposals are due on February 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM. At that time bids will be opened and read
aloud.
For information, contact:
Kevin Plockmeyer: kplockmeyer@cityofzeeland.com or 616-772-0870
In order to assure receipt of all addendums, questions, etc., bidders
must register with smoore@cityofzeeland.com.
While telephone calls may be made for information, all questions must
also be put into writing and must either sent by e-mail or must be
mailed or delivered to the City Clerk's Office at 21 S. Elm Street,
Zeeland, Michigan.
Responses to questions will be confirmed in writing, and may, but shall
not be required to, be sent to all prospective bidders to whom bid
packages were provided.
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
DOWNTOWN AND ROUNDABOUTMAINTENANCE
CITY OF ZEELAND, MICHIGAN
Please quote on the lawn care maintenance at the Zeeland Clean Water Plant and Street
Maintenance Facility and for downtown maintenance per the guidelines listed in these bid
specifications.
BID GUIDELINES
One SIGNED copy of the bid proposal must be submitted by Tuesday, February
24, 2026, at 11:00 AM to:
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
ZEELAND CITY HALL
21 SOUTH
ELMSTREET
ZEELAND, MI 49464
Proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 11:00 AM.
Submission of Proposals
All proposals must be made on the form which is furnished with the bid documents. The form
must be fully completed and executed when submitted. Erasures or changes in the Proposal
must be initiated by the Bidder.
The Proposal shall be submitted in the sealed envelope provided for that purpose with the Bid
Documents. The Bidder shall write one's name in the space provided in the front of the
envelope. If forwarded by mail, the sealed envelope containing the Proposal must be enclosed
in another envelope and must be sent to the address indicated in the Proposal. Do not submit
the sealed envelope without a valid Proposal enclosed.
Any Proposal submitted after the time and date specified shall not be considered and shall be
returned to the Bidder unopened.
Bid Prices
The bid prices shall cover the costs of any nature, incident to and growing out of the work. In
explanation but not limited thereof, the prices stated by the Bidder shall include the cost of
everything necessary for the performances and completion of this Contract in the manner and
time prescribed, including but not limited to: the furnishing of all material, tools, equipment,
transportation, labor and supervision: all costs on account of loss by damage or destruction of
the work; unforeseen difficulties encountered for settlement of damages; for replacement of
defective work and materials; and for all else necessary, therefore, and incidental thereto.
Acceptance of Proposals
The City of Zeeland may waive any informalities or minor defects or reject any and all
Proposals. Any Proposal may be withdrawn prior to the above-scheduled time for opening or
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authorized postponement thereof No Bidder may withdraw a Proposal within 30 calendar days
after the actual date of the opening thereof. Should there be reasons why the contract cannot
be awarded within the specified period, the time may be extended by mutual agreement
between the City of Zeeland and the Bidder.
General Conditions
No employee(s) shall at any time be considered an agent or employee of the City. The
Proposer(s) shall comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the
furnishing and use of all safeguards, safety devises and protective equipment and must take
any other needed actions as necessary to protect the life and health of employees on the job,
the safety of the public and property during the performance of the contract.
The Proposer(s) shall submit with their proposal a signed copy of the Equal Employment
Opportunity statement.
The City or Proposer shall have the right to terminate the contract immediately if the
Proposer(s) fails to comply with all applicable federal, state or local regulations or for non-
performance which may endanger the public health, safety or welfare.
The Proposer shall submit proof of insurance for all motor vehicles which it will utilize, Proof of
Worker's Compensation insurance and public liability insurance. Liability insurance shall be
carried in the amount of not less than two million ($2,000,000) dollars naming the City of
Zeeland as an Additional Insured.
The Proposer shall be approved for mowing in the MDOT right-of-way and must submit proof
with the bid document.
Description of West Washington Roundabout Work
Roundabout area (Intersection of Main Avenue and Washington Avenue) requires mulching beds
and trees/shrubs with color enhanced brown mulch (approximately 40 cubic yards) and fall cleanup.
This includes the area in the center of the roundabout and all of the planting beds in each leg leading
up to the roundabout. The contract will also cover the landscaping within the roundabout.
Description of the Downtown Maintenance Work
The downtown area includes Main Avenue from State Street to 421 East Main (Community
Restaurant), Heritage Square and the Splash Pad and the new Elm Street Park. The North and
South parking lots include the entire parking lot areas behind Main Avenue buildings and the
City Hall employee parking lot on Main Street. This also includes the area on the east side of
Tripelroot (146 East Main), the passageway north of the Howard Miller Library/Community
Center, and the passageway west of 139 East Main. Care must be given to maintain the entire
parking lots, including extreme edges and gutters. This contract will also cover the City Hall
landscaping, Howard Miller Library and Community Center landscaping.
NOTE: Lawn maintenance & weeding within the Splash Pad Park fence should not be
performed Splash Pad season hours: Memorial Day- Labor Day 9 AM- 9 PM. All effort should
be made to schedule maintenance outside of park hours.
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Fertilizers for Lawns
Phosphate fertilizer will not be used throughout this contract. For all products
contained in the specifications, equivalent products that meet or exceed the
specifications may be offered and quoted by the Contractor. The decision as to whether
to accept Contractor's specified and proposed alternate products, and/or whether such
recommended substitution meets or exceeds the specifications, shall be at the sole
discretion of the City.
Application One (After soil temperatures have reached 50 degrees F and before 56
degrees F, late April or early May).
Apply a fertilizer blend with pre-emergent crabgrass control. The fertilizer blend shall
contain at least 18% Nitrogen and 5% K20 of which 30% or greater of the Nitrogen is
slow or stabilized release. This product shall be applied at 0.7 pound of Nitrogen per
thousand square feet and provide enough pre- emergence for season long control.
Note: Contractor will be responsible at no additional cost to City for post-emergent
treatment of crabgrass if break-through occurs via breakdown of product or via
misapplication. Therefore, it is in Contractor's best interest to do all that can be done to
prevent crabgrass; or include a treatment of Drive in your Application One bid. A
treatment of Drive is recommended at either the first or after the fifth tiller stage at
manufacturers recommended rate and with recommended additives.
Application Two (Six weeks after application one, mid-June)
Apply a fertilizer blend with preventative grub control. The fertilizer blend shall contain
25% Nitrogen and I 0% K2O of which 50% or greater of the Nitrogen is slow or stabilized
release. This product shall be applied at I pound of Nitrogen per thousand square feet
and provide enough grub preventative for season long control. (Recommend a 0.2%
Merit or a 1.33% Mach 2). Price includes a post-emergent spot treatment of a three-way
herbicide for broadleaf weeds.
Note: Contractor will be responsible at no additional cost to City for treatment of grubs if
break-through occurs via break down of product or via misapplication. (Recommend
Dylox (Trademark) 6.2G).
Application Three (Six weeks after application two, early-August)
Apply a fertilizer blend containing 32% Nitrogen, 10% K2O, and 2% Iron of which 65% or
greater of the Nitrogen is slow or stabilized release and the iron is derived from
something other than iron sulfate Apply at a rate of 1.0 pound of Nitrogen per thousand
square feet.
Application Four (Six weeks after application three, mid-September)
Apply a fertilizer blend containing 32% Nitrogen, 10% K2O, and 2% Iron of which 65% or
greater of the Nitrogen is slow or stabilized release and the iron is derived from
something other than iron sulfate.
Apply at a rate of 1.0 pound of Nitrogen per thousand square feet. Price includes a
blanket application of a broadleaf weed control that contains at least: 50% 2, 4-D, 7%
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Fluroxypyr, and 3% Dicamba. Low odor formulations shall be used if available.
Application Five (Six weeks after application four, early-November)
Apply a fertilizer blend containing at least 15% Nitrogen and 30% K2O at a rate of 0.6
pound of Nitrogen per thousand square feet.
Moles and Turf Disease - If moles and turf diseases exist Contractor shall notify City
maintenance staff in writing within three days.
Fertilizing for Existing Shrubs/Trees
One of two services shall be performed from below:
One - for balled and burlap plantings approximately 2/3 of a cup per plant shall be
applied in the top of the ball. The analysis used would be a 17-0-17 6 month 100%
Polymer Coated Fertilizer.
Two - The other option is a 14-0-7. This is more of an organic option where Contractor
shall apply 1 cup per inch of trunk diameter on the soil surface around the canopy.
Contractor shall not apply near the stem of the plant. A second method for this option
would be to apply 20 oz. per inch diameter in 1-inch diameter holes drilled approximately
12-inches deep and about 18-inches apart around the canopy of the plant.
Pre-emergent for Existing Shrubs/Tree Beds
One of two services shall be performed from below:
One - Contractor shall use Snapshot 2G at 150 pounds per Acre. This is a granular pre-
emergence herbicide for control of many broadleaf weeds and annual grasses in
ornamental beds, nurseries, Christmas trees, non-bearing fruit and nut crops.
Two - Contractor shall use XL 2G at 200 pounds per Acre. Typically, this is the product
to use in annual beds prior to planting.
General Maintenance
• Shredded mulch will be needed to cover all bark beds (Downtown and Roundabout)
• Weekly mowing during a 28-week season from April 1 or sooner if needed through
November 1st (Downtown Only).
o Except in the rain or frost
o Sidewalks/curbs need to be edged once a month
o Sidewalks need to be blown/cleared of grass weekly
• Twelve applications of Round-Up total in all sidewalk cracks and along buildings yearly
including two applications before Memorial Day. (Downtown Only)
• Contractor must have a 25-lb. bag of grass seed on the trucks whenever present to patch
light spots in the lawn or areas of lawn damage
• All ornamental grasses will be removed before mulch is installed in the spring
(Downtown and Roundabout).
• Leaf collection in fall on weekly basis including curbs in Parking lots and downtown along
Main street until season ends (Downtown Only).
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This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.