Inside the municipal procurement process: what parks and public works directors look for beyond the lowest price.
Municipal landscaping contracts in Florida follow strict procurement guidelines. Beyond price, evaluation criteria typically include contractor experience with similar-sized jurisdictions, equipment fleet adequacy, crew certifications, insurance and bonding capacity, safety record, and ability to respond to hurricane events. Many municipalities use a weighted scoring system where technical qualifications carry 60-70% of the evaluation weight. Successful contractors demonstrate understanding of public-works standards, ADA-path requirements, and can provide detailed mobilization plans for storm events.