Commission keeps city maintenance contract for Capitol Circle sections, asks staff to make procurement easier for small vendors

The Leon County Commission approved a contract extension for landscaping maintenance on parts of Capital Circle Southwest and Southeast and directed staff to explore procurement changes to help small local vendors bid for similar contracts in the future.

Commissioner Caban asked the board to issue a competitive RFP to give local businesses a chance at the roughly $143,000 annual contract, saying the board should try to “support a local business” before entering another interlocal agreement with the City. County staff said they had informally solicited vendors and received only one comprehensive private bid, which came in about $60,000 higher than the City’s quoted price for the same scope. Staff cautioned that Capital Circle work carries Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) specifications and that the City’s existing work provides scheduling consistency.

Commissioner Proctor argued strongly for giving local small businesses an opportunity, saying he could recruit local crews at lower cost. Commissioners acknowledged the goal of supporting small businesses but also pointed to timing and service continuity concerns: the contract renewal schedule and the technical requirements of mowing medians and road shoulders made a last‑minute procurement change risky.

The commission adopted a substitute motion directing staff to proceed with the City interlocal agreement for immediate coverage while developing policy options to lower procurement barriers for small vendors. The board asked staff to return with proposals including whether bonding thresholds and other purchasing rules could be adjusted and with guidance on a future formal RFP or invitation‑to‑bid for this kind of work.

County staff also noted that the existing City agreement includes CPI adjustments and explained the contract structure to commissioners. The motion passed unanimously.