2026 Park Mowing

Vernon Hills Park District
2026 Park Mowing
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Project Manual/Bid Specification
Project Title: 2026 Park Mowing
Site Address(es): Lake View Fitness Center, Sullivan Community Center,
Turtle Creek Water Park, Aspen Backyard Park, Augusta Park,
Torrey Pines Park, Hawthorn Mellody Park, Lake Charles Park,
Beaver Creek Park, Stone Fence Farm Park, Ranney Park, Central Park,
Donnelley Park, Sugar Creek Park, Sullivan Woods, Hawthorn Club Park,
Hartmann Park, Kiddie Korral Park, Grosse Pointe Park-East,
Grosse Pointe Park-ROW, Grosse Pointe Park-West, Royal Oaks Park
Carriage Green Park, Westwood Park
Owner: Vernon Hills Park District
635 N. Aspen Drive
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Owner's Rep: Matthew Marek, Parks Foreman 847-996-6831
Bid Documents: Plans and/or Specifications are available at:
www.vhparkdistrict.org
Under Park District Information Tab - Bids
All documents are electronically available on the website.
Paper copies are subject to a fee.
Pre-Bid Meeting: February 9, 2026 at 10 AM
Vernon Hills Park District
Sullivan Center
635 N. Aspen Dr, Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Bid Due Date: February 16, 2026 at 10 AM
Vernon Hills Park District
Sullivan Center
635 N. Aspen Drive Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at that time.
Bids will NOT be accepted at any other locations.
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Table of Contents
Page
Advertisement for Bid 4
Instructions to Bidders 6
Surety (Bonds) 9
Bid Form and Pricing Worksheet 14
Bidders Acknowledgement 16
Bidders Certifications 18
Substance Abuse Prevention Program Certification 23
Prevailing Wage Supersedes Notice 24
General, Supplemental and Special Conditions 25
Payment and Completion 30
Scope of Work 32
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ADVERTISEMENT for BID
February 2026
Project Name: 2026 Park Mowing
The Vernon Hills Park District (the "District," "Park District" or "Owner") will receive sealed bids for
the above referenced project until February 16, at 10 AM at the Vernon Hills Park District office,
635 N. Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061-1620, and thereafter will be publicly opened and
read
aloud.
Each bid must be placed in a sealed opaque envelope and shall be clearly marked "Sealed Bid - 2026
Park Mowing" addressed and delivered to the Vernon Hills Park District, Attn: Mark Fleishman,
Superintendent of Parks - 635 N. Aspen Drive Vernon Hills, IL 60061-1620.
Bid Documents may be obtained from the Vernon Hills Park District website:
www.vhparkdistrict.org, under Park District Information - Bids. For more information, contact Mark
Fleishman, Superintendent of Parks at 847-996-6817 or Markf@vhparkdistrict.org.
A Pre-Bid meeting will be held at the Vernon Hills Park District February 9, 2026, at 10 AM at Sullivan
Community Center, 635 N. Aspen Dr, Vernon Hills, IL 60061. This meeting will be used to review
the Specifications and give any Bidders the opportunity to discuss any concerns with the Owner.
This is a not a mandatory meeting.
The District reserves the right to waive all technicalities, to accept or reject any or all bids, to
accept only portions of a bid and reject the remainder. Owner will award the Contract to the
lowest most responsible and responsive Bidder, as determined by Owner. In considering the
Bidder's responsibility, the Owner may evaluate, among other factors, the ability of the Bidder
to provide experienced labor sufficient in numbers to timely and properly complete the Work,
the financial capability of the Bidder, and the performance of the Bidder on other projects.
The Work of this Project is not subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et
seq. A prevailing wage determination has been made by the Park District, which is the same as
that determined by the Illinois Department of Labor for public works projects in Lake County.
All bids must be accompanied by cashier's check or bid bond payable to the order of the Vernon
Hills Park District for ten percent (10%) of the amount of the bid as provided in the Instructions
to Bidders. No proposals or bids will be considered unless accompanied by such bond or check.
The Contractor(s) selected will also be required to comply with all applicable federal, state and
local laws, rules, regulations and executive orders, including but not limited to those pertaining
to equal employment opportunity.
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The Vernon Hills Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages "minority"
business firms to submit bids on the approved Project and encourages the successful
Contractor(s) to utilize minority businesses as Sub-Contractors for supplies, equipment,
services and construction.
Dated at the Vernon Hills Park District, Vernon Hills,
Illinois, February 2, 2026
by___________________________________
Matthew LaPorte, Executive Director
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INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDER
DATE: January 2026
BID REQUEST: 2026 Park Mowing (herein after referred to as the "Project").
Sealed bids will be accepted until February 16, at 10 AM and immediately thereafter
publicly opened and read aloud at Vernon Hills Park District, 635 N. Aspen Drive Vernon
Hills, IL 60061. Bids arriving after this time will be rejected and will be returned unopened,
including mailed bids regardless of when post marked. All Bidders are welcome to attend
the bid opening. After bid opening, bids will be submitted for approval to the Vernon Hills
Park District Board of Park Commissioners at a regularly scheduled meeting.
1. Preparation and Submission of Bid Proposal
It is the sole responsibility of the Bidder to see that their bid is received in proper time.
No faxed or e-mail bid or modification of a bid will be considered. The Park District is
not responsible for the premature opening of bids not marked as required. Any bid
opened prematurely due to the failure of the Bidder to mark the envelope in accordance
with these Bid Documents will be considered non-responsive. Bidders' prices are to
include the delivery of all materials; including; equipment, supplies, tools, scaffolding,
transportation, insurances, bonds, warranties, and all other items and facilities, and the
performance of all labor and services, necessary for the proper completion of the Work
except as may be otherwise expressly provided in the Contract Documents. Bids shall not
include federal excise tax or state sales tax for materials to be incorporated in, or totally
consumed in the prosecution of, the Work. An exemption certificate will be furnished by
the Park District upon request of the Bidder.
Bidder must acknowledge all Addenda received in the spaces provided on the Contractor
Bid Form. By submitting a bid, Bidder indicates that all considerations issued by
Addendum are incorporated in the bid.
Bidders shall return all Bid Documents, including Drawings and Specifications with the bid,
and no sheets shall be detached from any part of the Bid Documents. This is assurance that
all bidders have received all documents necessary.
Attached to the Bid Form will be one or more certifications regarding the Bidder's
compliance with applicable laws. Failure of a Bidder to complete/submit a required
certification shall be the basis for immediate rejection of that Bidder's bid. The
certification of the successful Bidder shall become a part of the Contract with the Park
District.
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The Bidder shall submit its prices on the attached Contractor Bid Form. The Bid Form shall
be executed properly and all writing, including all signatures, shall be with black ink. Failure
to use the Bid Form provided could result in rejection of the bid. Do not detach any
portion of this document; invalidation of the bid could result.
The Bidder shall specify in figures, in the places provided, a price for each of the separate
items called for in the Bid Form.
2. Requirement of Bidders
Bidders must be able to demonstrate that they: 1) have experience in performing, and have
successfully performed, and are still actively engaged in performing work similar in kind and
scope to the Work of the Project; and 2) are able to show that they have adequate laborers
and materials to successfully complete the Work as indicated in the Bid Documents and
within the time required by the Bid Documents. The Contractor shall not have been
debarred or determined ineligible for public contracts by any governmental agency.
The following information must be attached to the bid proposal. Failure to do so may result
in disqualification of the Bidder.
On a separate sheet, list all construction projects your organization has in progress, giving
the name of the project, project description, project address, owner and telephone number,
architect and telephone number, contract amount, percent complete, and scheduled
completion date.
On a separate sheet, list all construction projects your organization has completed in the
past two years, which are comparable in scope, giving the name of the project, project
description, project address, owner and telephone number. Also provide the original
contract amount, the final contract amount, the substantial and final completion dates
provided for in the contract and the actual dates of substantial and final completion. Where
the final contract amount is materially greater than the contract amount included in the
contract at the time of execution by both parties, provide an explanation of the reason(s) for
the increase. Where the actual dates of substantial and/or final completion differ from those
dates as included in the contact at time of execution by both parties, explain the reason for
the delay in the substantial and/or final completion of the Work.
If applicable, on a separate sheet, list all administrative proceedings and litigation filed by or
against Bidder in the past five (5) years, including the name and case number,
name/jurisdiction of the court or administrative agency, and a summary of each claim/case,
including current status and if no longer pending, the disposition. The foregoing includes but
is not limited to information regarding any proceedings and actions taken by any
governmental agency to debar or disqualify the Bidder from bidding on public contracts,
including the name of the agency initiating the proceeding/action, the nature of the
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proceeding/action, the claimed basis for the proceeding/action and the current status or
disposition of the proceeding/action.
If applicable, on a separate sheet, indicate all instances in which Bidder has been rejected
for not being a responsible bidder, giving the name of the project, project description,
project address, owner and telephone number, architect and telephone number, contract
amount, and an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the rejection.
If applicable, on a separate sheet, provide a list of all contracts to which you were a party
and with respect to which you were declared to be in breach of one or more provisions,
giving the type of contract, the project location where applicable, the names and addresses
of the parties to the contract, the name of the party declaring the breach, the nature of the
claimed breach and current status or resolution of the claim. If a construction contract, also
provide the name, address and telephone number of the architect and, if applicable also the
construction manager or Owner's representative.
Other required submittals include: Bid proposal; Contractor's Compliance and
Certification Attachment/ Substance Abuse Prevention Program Certification. Failure of
a Bidder to complete/submit these documents shall be the basis for immediate
rejection of that Bidder's bid.
3. Examination of Site, Drawings, Specifications
Each Bidder shall visit the site(s) of the proposed Work and fully acquaint himself with
conditions, as they exist, and shall undertake such additional inquiry and investigation as he
shall deem necessary so that he may fully understand the requirements, facilities, possible
difficulties and restrictions attending the execution of the Work under the Contract. Bidder
shall thoroughly examine and be familiar with all of the Bid Documents including but not
limited to the Drawings and the written Specifications. Any conflicts or discrepancies found
between or among Bid Documents including but not limited to the Drawings and written
Specifications and the site conditions, or any errors, omissions or ambiguities in the Drawings
or written Specifications shall be immediately reported to the Park District and the Architect
and written clarification requested prior to submission of a bid.
The failure or omission of any Bidder to obtain, receive or examine any form, instrument, or
information or to visit the Project site(s), and become knowledgeable with respect to
conditions there existing, or to seek needed clarification shall in no way relieve any Bidder
from any obligations with respect to his/her bid. By submitting a bid, the Bidder agrees,
represents and warrants that he has undertaken such investigation as he deemed necessary,
has examined the site(s) and the Bid Documents, has obtained all needed clarifications and
where the Bid Documents indicate in any part of the Work, that a given result be produced,
that the Bid Documents are adequate and the required result can be produced as indicated
in the Specifications and Drawing(s). Once the award has been made, failure to have
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undertaken and completed the foregoing tasks shall not be cause to alter the original
Contract or to request additional compensation.
4. Acceptance or Rejection of Bids
The Park District may accept the bid of, and award the contract for the
Work to, the lowest responsive and responsible Bidder as determined by and in the sole
discretion of the Park District.
The Owner reserves the right to (1) reject all bids; (2) reject only certain bids which are
non-conforming or non-responsive to the bid requirements; (3) accept only a portion,
part or specific items of Work of all and reject others, as the Owner shall in its sole
discretion determine to be in its best interest; and/or (4) award the Contract to the
responsible Bidder submitting the lowest bid responsive to the bidding requirements. No
bid will be accepted from or Contract awarded to any person, firm or corporation that is
in arrears or is in default to the Park District upon any debt or contract, or that is a
defaulter, as surety or otherwise, upon any obligation to said Park District or that has
failed to perform faithfully any previous contract with the Park District.
In the event of a rejection of a portion, part, or certain items of Work of all bids, the bid
of each Bidder shall automatically be deemed reduced by the amount of such rejected
part or item at the unit price or other cost designated therefore by that Bidder on its
submitted Contractor Bid Form. The successful Bidder so selected may not refuse to enter
into a Contract with the Owner on the basis that the Owner awarded a Contract for less
than all portions or items of the Work specified in the Bid Documents. The Vernon Hills
Park District Board of Park Commissioners reserves the right to waive any technicalities
or irregularities, and to disregard any informality on the bids and bidding, when in its
opinion the best interest of the Park District will be served by such actions and in
accordance with applicable law.
5. Surety
All bids must be accompanied by a bid bond or bank cashier's check payable to the Vernon
Hills Park District for ten percent (10 %) of the amount of the bid and drawn on a
responsive and responsible bank doing business in the United States. All bids not
accompanied by a bid security, when required, will be rejected.
The bid security of all except the three (3) lowest responsive and responsible Bidders will
be returned after the decision to accept or reject bids by the Vernon Hills Park District Board
of Park Commissioners and staff. The bid security of the successful Bidder will be returned
after acceptance by the owner of an acceptable contract between owner and bidder.
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Prior to beginning Work, the successful Bidder shall furnish a Performance Bond, and Labor
and Materials/Payment Bond in the amount of 110% of the Contract Sum, using a form
similar to the AIA-A312-2010 form, or its current equivalent, or one acceptable to Owner,
cosigned by a surety company licensed to conduct business in the State of Illinois and with
at least an "A" rating and a financial rating of at least "X" in the latest edition of the Best
Insurance Guide. Said bond shall guarantee the faithful performance of the Work in
accordance with the Contract, the payment of all indebtedness incurred for labor and
materials, and guarantee correction of Work for a period of one (1) year after Final
Completion. The cost of each bond shall be included in the Contract Sum. The Bidder and
all Subcontractors shall name the Park District as an obligee on all bonds. Said bonds shall
meet the requirements of the Illinois Public Construction Bond Act, 30 ILCS 550/0.01 et
seq. and any further amendments thereto. Bidder shall include in its Performance Bond
and Labor and Material Payment Bond such language as shall guarantee the faithful
performance of the Prevailing Wage Act as required in these Bid Documents.
The Performance Bond and Labor and Material Payment Bond will become a part of the
Contract. The failure of the successful Bidder to enter into the Contract and supply the
required bonds and evidence of insurance within ten (10) days after the Contract is
presented for signature, or within such extended period as the Park District may grant, shall
constitute a default, and the Park District may either award the Contract to the next
responsible Bidder, or re-advertise for bids. In the event of a default, the Owner need not
return the defaulting Bidder's bid surety and may charge against the defaulting Bidder for
the full difference between the amount for the bid and the amount for which a Contract for
the Work is subsequently executed, irrespective of whether the amount thus due exceeds
the amount of the defaulting Bidder's bid surety.
6. Withdrawal of Bid
Bidders may withdraw or cancel their bids at any time prior to the advertised bid opening
time by signing and submitting a request for said withdrawal. After the bid opening time,
no bid shall be withdrawn or canceled for a period of sixty (60) calendar days.
7. Award, Acceptance and Contract
Owner will award the Contract to the lowest most responsible and responsive Bidder, as
determined by Owner. In considering the Bidder's responsibility, the Owner may
evaluate, among other factors, the ability of the Bidder to provide experienced labor
sufficient in numbers to timely and properly complete the services, conformity with the
Specifications, serviceability, quality, and the financial capability of the Bidder, and the
performance of the Bidder on other projects.
Bids will be awarded to one Bidder for the entire Project or to any series of Bidders for
an appropriate proportion of the Project. If specified in the Bid Form, awards will be
based upon the submitted unit prices.
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