Contractor sought for downtown plantings

TORRINGTON >> The city has issued a request for proposals seeking a contractor to seasonally design and care for flowerbeds and plantings in the city center.

“The City of Torrington is soliciting sealed proposals from licensed and insured contractor(s) for the design, planting and maintenance of flower beds/planters/pots located in downtown Torrington,” wrote officials in the RFP.

“This RFP will be for the contractor to perform seasonal design, landscape, planting and diligent care of approximately thirteen (13) sidewalk street pots; two (2) island beds; and two (2) beds located in front of City Hall parking lot (Peace Garden) for the spring, fall, and winter seasons.”

The chosen contractor will be tasked with keeping the existing greenery in the downtown in good shape, officials wrote, and planting both annual and perennial flowers as appropriate.

“The Contractor will plant a variety of living material consisting of mixed evergreens, annual and perennial flowering plants which will be kept in healthy and colorful condition with balanced proportions and varying blooming times,” wrote officials in the RFP. “Beds will consist of mostly perennials to keep year round interest in beds and to keep plant material costs down over time. Some annuals will be added periodically to give color to beds between blooming times of perennials and provide contrast when needed.”

Watering, pruning and weeding will also be required of the contractor. The planting effort is to be completed by May 20, according to the RFP. Bids are due by April 5.

The city has engaged in efforts to provide natural color in the downtown in the recent past, as planters installed as part of the reconstruction of sidewalks in downtown and a contract was assigned for the care of gardens in Coe Memorial Park.

A slideshow of photos of last year’s spring flowers in Torrington, including a variety in Coe Memorial Park, can be seen on The Register Citizen website.