Request for proposal for Mowing & Landscape Maintenance

Location:	Minnesota
Posted:	Feb 14, 2026
Due:	Mar 2, 2026
Agency:	League of Minnesota Cities
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	S - Utilities and Training Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Attachment Preview

CITY OF MONTICELLO

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

MOWING & LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

OVERVIEW: The City of Monticello Parks, Arts & Recreation Department is seeking proposals from

qualified Contractors for mowing and landscape maintenance in Monticello, MN. Please review the plan

details below to prepare your proposal. The Exhibits include the project location maps, specifications, and

bidders proposal sheet.

LOCATION: The properties are owned by the City of Monticello. The location and property details are as

follows:

 Riverside Cemetery (19.72 Acres), 1321 West River St, Monticello

 Hillside Cemetery (3.5 Acres) State Highway 25 & 7th St East, Monticello, MN 55362

 Monticello Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1401 Hart Boulevard, Monticello

 Blight Property Mowing

 Downtown Landscaping weed control- Alternate per time cost

Project Management: Tom Pawelk, City of Monticello Parks, Arts & Recreation Director, will manage the

contract. Josh Berthiaume, Parks Superintendent, will manage field operations with the contractor.

Contact information:

Tom Pawelk

Parks, Arts & Rec Director

City of Monticello

505 Walnut Street

Monticello, MN 55362

763-271-3268

tom.pawelk@MonticelloMN.gov

Josh Berthiaume

Parks Superintendent

City of Monticello

303 West 6th Street

Monticello, MN 55362

763-271-3276

josh.berthiaume@MonticelloMN.gov

G:\PARK ARTS & REC\PARKS\CONTRACT MOWING\2026\RFP-MOWING LANDSCAPE.BGREV2-5-26.DOCX

- PAGE 1 OF 16 -

CITY OF MONTICELLO

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

MOWING & LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

PROPOSAL INFORMATION AND TIMELINE

RFP Solicitation Release:

February 6, 2026

Deadline for Questions:

February 27, 2026, at 3:30 P.M.

Proposal Deadline:

March 2, 2026, at 3:30 P.M.

Contract Award:

March 10, 2026

General Contract Duration:

The contract will remain in force from date of award until December 31, 2029. At the end of the contract,

if both parties agree, the contract can be extended for one more season. The City reserves the right to cancel

the contract with seven (7) days written notice for failure of the contractor to perform in accordance with

the specifications. If the contractor fails to uphold the contract terms the contractor must give 90-day

written notice of cancellation. If the contractor fails to give written notice of cancellation, the city will hire

a different contractor and bill the faulting contractor for services left for the remaining duration of the

contract.

SITE VISIT WITH STAFF

If a contractor would like to visit the site to verify conditions, they may do so by contacting the Parks

Superintendent to schedule a site visit.

PROPOSAL DEADLINE

All proposals are due to Tom Pawelk by email only at: tom.pawelk@MonticelloMN.gov on

March 2nd, 2026, by 3:30 p.m.

PROPOSAL ARRANGEMENT

The Contractor must complete and submit the proposal sheet information (attached in Exhibits A and B).

Include all mobilization, materials, or other associated costs as needed in your proposal, extra costs will

not be accepted. Incomplete proposal sheets will be rejected.

PROPOSAL VS. FINAL COST

Proposals should be complete and as accurate as possible. The contractor’s proposal amount should be

sufficient to complete the work as described. No extras will be allowed because of the Contractor's

misunderstanding as to the amount of work involved or lack of knowledge of existing conditions. Any

stoppage or re-mobilization costs will be considered incidental to proposal and not subject to

reimbursement. Your proposal is not an estimate. The City of Monticello will complete a professional

service agreement based on the cost proposal awarded. The City of Monticello is not responsible for costs

incurred in the proposal preparation.

G:\PARK ARTS & REC\PARKS\CONTRACT MOWING\2026\RFP-MOWING LANDSCAPE.BGREV2-5-26.DOCX

- PAGE 2 OF 16 -

CITY OF MONTICELLO

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

MOWING & LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

AWARD OF PROJECT

The City of Monticello reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive technical specifications or

deficiencies, and to accept any proposal that it may deem to be in the best interest of the City.

The Contractor must comply with all local and State laws, rules, and regulations; provide their state

contractor licensing information, and provide proof of other licenses or certifications that might be

required as a condition of the service. The contractor will be required to meet the insurance specifications

as needed for the project and as required by law. It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to supply

all necessary tools, supplies and equipment to perform the work as requested.

The Contractor shall invoice the City within 30 days of the completed project at the rates agreed to in the

contract. The City shall make payment within 35 days of receipt of the invoice unless other terms are

written in the contract. Project Payment: The City will pay upon the receipt of a complete, itemized

invoices, and confirmation of contract compliance. No extras will be allowed because of the Contractor’s

misunderstanding as to the amount of work involved or lack of knowledge of existing conditions. City

Council meetings are on the second and fourth Mondays, final invoice needs to be handed in a week

before City Council meetings.

The City of Monticello shall retain the right to terminate the contract with seven (7) days’ notice should

the Contractor fail to perform work in a professional manner or perform the work within the demands and

time constraints established by the City of Monticello.

Failure to maintain necessary licenses and/or insurance coverage is grounds for termination of the

Contract. The contract could be terminated upon mutual agreement between the Owner and the

Contractor, provided that at least 30 days’ notice is given by either party prior to termination.

Contractor will be required to indemnify the City against all suits, claims, judgments, awards, loss, cost or

expense (including attorney’s fees without limitation) arising in any way out of the Contractor’s

performance or non-performance of its obligations under the Service Contract. The contractor will defend

all such actions with counsel satisfactory to Owner at its own expense, including attorney’s fees, and will

satisfy any judgment rendered against Owner in such action.

G:\PARK ARTS & REC\PARKS\CONTRACT MOWING\2026\RFP-MOWING LANDSCAPE.BGREV2-5-26.DOCX

- PAGE 3 OF 16 -

CITY OF MONTICELLO

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

MOWING & LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

1. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Site Locations: Three primary or basic sites are to be considered for this contract. Optional

Alternate E.

A. Riverside Cemetery (located on River Street West).

B. Hillside Cemetery, including T.H. 25 right-of-way weed control from 7th Street

West to 6th Street West.

C. Wastewater Treatment Plant (located at 1401 Hart Blvd).

D. Blight Mowing.

E. Downtown weed control- Alternate per time cost.

A. The Riverside Cemetery is bordered on the south by River Street West, the north by the

Mississippi River, west by West Side Mobile Home Park, and the east by private residents. The

mowing of the densely wooded sloped riverbank is not required. The cemetery does have

several watering faucets for flower watering and, of course, many above ground structures,

flower baskets, trees, and grave site markers which will not be pulled out of the ground to

perform routine maintenance, etc. Any damage to these by the contractor will be billed back.

B. The Hillside Cemetery is bordered on the south by 7th St. E, the north by 6th St E, the west by

State Hwy 25, and the east by Cedar St, including the right-of-way. The mowing and

maintenance on block wall and in front is required. All chipped planting beds and all chip beds

are to remain weed free by the contractor. The cemetery does have many above ground

structures, flower baskets, irrigation, some trees, and grave site markers which will not be

pulled out of the ground to perform routine maintenance, etc. Any damage to these by the

contractor will be billed back.

Highway 25 right-of-way weed control from 7th St W to 6th St W. All chipped planting beds are

to remain weed free by the contractor.

C. At the Monticello Wastewater Treatment Plant mow all required areas, trim where needed.

Sidewalks to be blown off. Remove any trash on lawn. Spring clean up and fall clean up, and

trimming of shrubs. Non-irrigated parts of lawn to be mowed as needed. Fence trimming as

requested by Operations Supervisor. Areas planted in native prairie grasses are to remain

natural.

D. Blight mowing/maintaining nuisance vegetation (per city ordinance): In any area within 100

feet of the nearest building, the existence of weeds or grass in excess of 8 inches in height or

any accumulation of dead weeds, grass or brush.

E. Alternate item: Landscaping for downtown from Locust to State Highway 25 on both sides of

the street and in the center medians. Additionally, landscaping for Walnut Street from 3rd

Street north to River Street West on both sides of the street. This includes spraying and weed

removal as needed. Any damage to flowers or plants the contractor will be billed back.

G:\PARK ARTS & REC\PARKS\CONTRACT MOWING\2026\RFP-MOWING LANDSCAPE.BGREV2-5-26.DOCX

- PAGE 4 OF 16 -

CITY OF MONTICELLO

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

MOWING & LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

2. SCOPE

Work includes mowing, trimming and chemically treating wood chip beds of all grass and weeds

at the 3 site sites listed above to generally keep the length from 3-5 inches in length unless

otherwise noted with budget constants.

A. Riverside Cemetery: keep the grass length from 3-5 inches. However, the budget is limited to

ten cuttings per season. Additional cuttings during peak growth will need to be approved by

the Parks Superintendent. The city will allow the grass to reach 6 or 8” inches, however, it is

required that the cemetery be mowed and trimmed to 3-4 inches just prior to Memorial Day,

Fourth of July and Labor Day. Spring cleanup is required to be completed by the last week in

April. Fall cleanup will be scheduled by the Park Superintendent based on the weather

conditions once a majority of the leaves have fallen. Contracted maintenance will be notified

one week in advance and will be responsible for complete cleanup of leaves, once notified.

Please inform Parks Superintendent when maintenance crews will be onsite so we don’t

interfere with interments.

B. Hillside Cemetery: keep the grass length from 3-5 inches. However, the budget is limited to ten

cuttings per season. Additional cuttings during the peak growth will need to be approved by

the Park Superintendent. The city will allow the grass to reach 6-8 inches outside of the holidays,

however, it is required that the cemetery be mowed and trimmed to 3-4 inches just prior to

Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Spring cleanup is required to be completed by

the last week in April. Fall cleanup will be scheduled by the Park Superintendent based on the

weather conditions once a majority of the leaves have fallen. Contracted maintenance will be

notified one week in advance and will be responsible for complete cleanup of leaves, once

notified. Please inform Parks Superintendent when maintenance crews will be onsite so we

don’t interfere with interments.

The mowing and trimming shall include weed removal from all landscaped chipped beds,

including in and along the sidewalks, curbs and drive access points. Failure to provide weed

whipping during mowing at the basic sites will be considered a breach of contract. This contract

does not include spraying for weeds in the lawn but does include in the wood chip areas. This

service will also include litter and debris pickup from the entire sites during the mowing

operation. The contractor will be reimbursed on a per-time basis per site for this basic litter

pickup, mowing and trimming service. These spring cleanups shall be part of the basic mowing

services and any extras will not be paid, with the exception of Riverside Cemetery where spring

cleanup can include such things a flower removal, etc. This spring cleanup will involve more

time than the normal pre-mowing cleanups and will be paid separately on a lump sum basis.

Disposal locations for the litter will be provided by the city as usual. A schedule will be worked

out with the park superintendent and/or park foreman regarding the initiation and frequency

of service.

G:\PARK ARTS & REC\PARKS\CONTRACT MOWING\2026\RFP-MOWING LANDSCAPE.BGREV2-5-26.DOCX

- PAGE 5 OF 16 -

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Bid Title:	Request for proposal for Mowing & Landscape Maintenance
Category:	Request For Proposal
Status:	Open

Request for proposal for Mowing & Landscape Maintenance

Attachment Preview

See also