Supply of Horticultural Materials East Harlem Tree Corridor Project

THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK  Request for Proposals (RFP)  Supply of Horticultural Materials – East Harlem Tree Corridor Project    1. RFP Overview  The Horticultural Society of New York (“The Hort”) invites qualified vendors to submit proposals for the supply and delivery of horticultural materials for the East Harlem Tree Corridor Project.  This project will transform East 116th Street and East 125th Street into green corridors through the installation of street trees, plantings, and related green infrastructure elements.  This project is funded through a NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant and a component of the East Harlem DRI Strategic Investment Plan.    This project runs through October 2029. Materials will be procured through purchase orders between the date of the award and the completion of the project.    2. Project Background  The project includes:  Installation of new street trees and vegetation  Remediation of existing tree pits  Installation of planters and plantings  Expansion of green infrastructure    3. Scope of Work – Materials Supply  The selected vendor shall furnish and deliver:  A. Plant Material  Street trees  Shrubs and understory plantings  Groundcover plantings  B. Soil and Growing Media  Planting soil mixes  Structural soil (if required)  Compost, mulch, and amendments  C. Associated Materials  Staking and stabilization materials  Root protection materials  Mulch and finishing materials  D. Delivery  Phased delivery as directed with installation schedule  Delivery to East 116th and East 125th corridor locations    4. Technical Specifications   All materials must comply with:  NYC Parks Standards  NYC Parks–approved species list (final species to be identified by The Hort post-award)  ANSI Z60.1 nursery standards  NYC Parks soil and planting specifications  Trees  Minimum caliper size: 2.5”–3.5” (unless otherwise specified in purchase order)  Structurally sound, disease-free stock  Plantings  Species must be tolerant of urban streetscape conditions, including:   Salt exposure  Compaction  Drought  Approval + Substitution  All substitutions require prior written approval  Materials may be rejected upon inspection   Species selection will be finalized through purchase orders after award, in coordination with The Hort and consistent with NYC Parks requirements.    5. Budget  Estimated Materials Budget Not to Exceed: $180,000  Vendors may:  Bid full scope, or  Bid by category  6. NYS Certified MWBE Requirements  The Hort and NYS encourage the participation by State-Certified Minority and Women owned Business Entities (MWBE) in the procurement of all goods and services.  This DRI funded project has a MWBE goal of 30% of the total DRI grant.  State-certified MWBEs are encouraged to submit responses to this RFP.  Further, when comprising your team, including suppliers, please consider State Certified MWBE vendors.  You can find out more about the State’s MWBE program and search the MWBE directory online at:   Minority & Women's Business Development | Empire State Development  Please note that MWBE vendors must have received State Certification prior to entering into a contract with the Hort to qualify towards the project’s 30% goal.  NYC certification cannot be substituted for NYS Certification. Vendors must support compliance and reporting requirements.    7. Procurement Requirements  Competitive procurement per State contract requirements   Contract subject to internal and State approval  Payment tied to delivery and acceptance    8. Vendor Qualifications  Experience with urban tree supply  Familiarity with NYC Parks standards  Ability to support phased delivery logistics    9. Proposal Requirements  A. Firm Info  B. Materials Approach  Confirmation of NYC Parks compliance  Supply and sourcing strategy  C. Pricing   Vendors must provide unit pricing only, including:  Trees (by caliper size range, Parks standards are 2.5-3.5” caliper)  Shrubs / groundcover (per unit or flat)  Soil and amendments (per 2cf bag and build yard bag)  Delivery costs (clearly stated)  Final quantities and species will be issued via purchase orders; pricing must allow for flexible ordering across the project term.    10. Evaluation Criteria  Compliance with specs  Cost competitiveness  Delivery capability  Experience  MWBE participation    11. Timeline   RFP Issued: August 4, 2026  Questions Due: August 12, 2026  Proposals Due: August 26, 2026  Award: mid/late September 2026     12. General Conditions  Award may be made to one or multiple vendors  The Hort reserves all standard procurement rights    13. Submission Instructions  Submit proposals electronically to:  The Horticultural Society of New York BidInfo@thehort.org  Subject line: “Garment District RFP – Horticulture Materials”    Minority / Women Business Enterprise contracting goals (MWBE) Total MWBE Goals: 30.00% This is a subcontract opportunity issued by The Horticultural Society of New York