Request For Proposals - Growing Contract For Native Plant Material

Clean Water Services is seeking qualified contractors to enter into a three-year contract to supply native plant material for watershed enhancement projects within the Tualatin River Watershed, serving nearly 600,000 residents in Washington County, Oregon. The contract, with a tentative start date of July 1, 2027, and an end date of June 30, 2030, will cover planting seasons for 2027–2028, 2028–2029, and 2029–2030, with delivery windows specified for fall (September 15 to October 15) and winter (December 1 to January 23). Contractors must deliver all plant material to District-designated facilities in Washington County under F.O.B. destination terms, bearing full risk of loss until delivery is completed. The plant list includes species such as Abies grandis, Spiraea douglasii, Symphoricarpos albus, Vaccinium ovatum, and Achillea millefolium, offered in various stock types including bare root, container, plug, bulb, and propagule, each with strict packaging, labeling, and sizing requirements. All materials must comply with specifications in Exhibit A, including biodegradable labeling, proper increments, and storage suitability for long-term viability, with inspections conducted upon delivery and annually at nursery sites to ensure phytosanitary standards are met. Proposals are due by 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time on July 17, 2026, and must be submitted electronically through Bid Locker; attendance at the mandatory virtual preproposal conference on July 1, 2026, is required for eligibility. The District intends to award multiple contracts, prioritizing contractors submitting proposals for ten or more species-stock types. Evaluation is based on a weighted scoring system: unit pricing accounts for 40% of the score (lowest price receives full points), followed by references and past performance (30%), sustainable business practices (15%), and disease management practices (15%). Payment is structured as a deposit system, with 30% invoiced after July 1 of the delivery year and the remaining 70% upon District acceptance, contingent on compliance with strict invoice requirements including seed source documentation and deposit credits. Contractors must maintain commercial general liability and automobile liability insurance with a minimum A.M. Best rating of A:VII, provide 30