The City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department is soliciting sealed bids for the purchase, delivery, and installation of engineered wood fiber (EWF) playground mulch. Bids must be submitted through the electronic bidding system by the response deadline. The mulch must meet ASTM **** standards, and current testing results must accompany the bid. The contract term is one year with potential for five one-year extensions. The city intends to award to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for each line item. Payment terms are within thirty calendar days of receipt of a proper invoice after inspection and acceptance. Bidders must be regularly engaged in the business described and possess sufficient financial support, equipment, and organization. Proof of insurance and testing results are required attachments. All costs associated with providing, delivering, and installing the mulch are the responsibility of the selected contractor.
The contract shall commence on September 1, 2026, and end on August 31, 2027. The city may elect to extend this contract for five additional one-year terms.
The bid notice states that payment may be made only after inspection and acceptance by the using department, and payment shall be made within thirty calendar days from receipt of a proper invoice.
The awarded bidder expressly warrants that all goods supplied shall be merchantable and shall conform to specifications, drawings, and other descriptions and shall be free from defects in materials and workmanship.
The city intends to award to the lowest responsive, responsible bidders for each line item. Consideration may be given to pricing, references, customer service and experience, contractor qualifications, and past experience of the city with the contractor.
Bids will be considered only from companies which are regularly engaged in the business as described in this request for bid document with a record of performance, which have sufficient financial support, equipment, and organization to ensure that they can satisfactorily execute the service if awarded a contract under the terms and conditions stated herein.
In any case where the awarded bidder has failed to deliver or has delivered nonconforming goods or services, the procurement division shall provide a cure notice by mail or email. If after the cure period provided the bidder continues to be in default, the procurement division may procure goods or services in substitution from another source and charge the difference between the contracted price and the market price to the defaulting proposer, or in the alternative, the city may elect to offset such actual cost from any city payments owing to the bidder.
The bid notice requires uploading current testing results certifying that the product meets ASTM **** as described in the attributes tab. This implies that samples or their certification are a requirement.
All inquiries concerning this solicitation must be submitted through the questions tab on the City of Des Moines bidding site on or before the cutoff date and time referenced in the events details tab, which is May 20, 2026, at 03:00 PM CT.
