IndiGo staff recommend three‑year landscaping contracts for 10 sites; DBE goal not met

IndiGo staff recommended that the board authorize the president and CEO to enter three‑year contracts for landscaping and grounds maintenance at 10 agency properties, splitting work between BrightView Landscape and Greenstone Landscape. BrightView was recommended for eight sites at a not‑to‑exceed value of $258,228; Greenstone was recommended for two sites at $32,100. Each contract includes a one‑year option to extend; if both options are exercised the combined total would not exceed $392,970.

The work covers seasonal spring/fall cleanup, mowing, pest control and fertilization at 10 locations including Indigo headquarters at 1501 West Washington, the downtown transit center at 201 East Washington, the administrative campus at 9503 East 30th Street, the North Side charging site at 6410 N. College Ave., the paratransit call center and maintenance site at 2425 W. Michigan St., South Madison property, parcels on 30th Street acquired for the Purple Line project, and a planned East mobility hub at 11135 E. Washington St.

The procurement was run as an IFB (low‑bid process). Staff said the incumbent submitted higher prices and that splitting the solicitation by site let smaller and local firms compete. The contracts are funded through the operating budget and staff said roughly 80% of funding for the work is federal.

The solicitation included an 8% DBE participation goal. Staff reported that neither recommended vendor met the DBE goal, but both provided documentation of a good‑faith effort. Evaluators said landscaping offers limited subcontracting opportunities; bidders documented outreach to four or five DBE firms, including local mulch suppliers. Staff added that only two NDOT‑certified DVEs (disadvantaged vendor enterprises) were listed in Marion County, and some potential subcontractors were too distant to be practical for recurring landscaping work.

Staff said BrightView later identified some DBE partners after bids were opened (which cannot be counted under procurement rules) and that Greenstone is in the process of DBE certification. Board members asked why the contract was split and were told it was to lower prices and expand access to smaller firms.

Action recorded in the meeting materials recommended board authorization to execute both three‑year contracts with the one‑year extension option. The transcript includes the staff presentation and discussion but does not record a final roll‑call or vote on the recommendation.