The Horticultural Society of New YorkIssuing agency·Manhattan·via the nyscr.ny.gov statewide procurement bulletinWe post new exterior maintenance opportunities in New York as agencies publish them. Get them in one email — free, and unsubscribe whenever.
THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Supply of Horticultural Materials – East Harlem Tree Corridor Project
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.
The project includes:
Installation of new street trees and vegetation
Remediation of existing tree pits
Installation of planters and plantings
Expansion of green infrastructure
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
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.
Estimated Materials Budget Not to Exceed: $180,000
Vendors may:
Bid full scope, or
Bid by category
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.
Competitive procurement per State contract requirements
Contract subject to internal and State approval
Payment tied to delivery and acceptance
Experience with urban tree supply
Familiarity with NYC Parks standards
Ability to support phased delivery logistics
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.
Compliance with specs
Cost competitiveness
Delivery capability
Experience
MWBE participation
RFP Issued: August 4, 2026
Questions Due: August 12, 2026
Proposals Due: August 26, 2026
Award: mid/late September 2026
Award may be made to one or multiple vendors
The Hort reserves all standard procurement rights
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%
Source: New York State Contract Reporter (CR# 2137827), retrieved via the nyscr.ny.gov statewide procurement bulletin. View the official posting , always confirm requirements and deadlines with the issuing agency.
