RFP Toolkit
RFP Red Flag Review
A practical tool for identifying commercial landscaping proposal red flags before choosing a vendor, recommending the lowest bid, or sending an award recommendation to ownership or a board.
Proposal Red Flag Review
Clarification Needed
Missing details that need written answers
Award Risk
Scope, price, service, or expectation concerns
High Concern
Safety, insurance, licensing, or major performance risk
Built for award review: Proposal reviewLow bid riskScope gapsIrrigation ambiguityVendor documentation
Reviewed by Good Landscaping. This RFP Toolkit resource helps identify clarification needs before a landscape proposal is recommended or awarded.
Use Case
What this tool helps you do
A landscape proposal can look acceptable on the surface while hiding scope gaps, exclusions, weak communication, irrigation ambiguity, or risk issues. This red flag review helps identify what needs clarification before award.
Identify vague scope language
Spot low-price risk
Find hidden exclusions
Check irrigation responsibility
Review reporting and account management
Check insurance and licensing documentation
Prepare vendor clarification questions
Red Flags
Proposal red flags
01
Very low price without explanation
Ask: Can you explain why your price is lower than the other proposals and what assumptions are built into your bid?
02
Vague scope language
Ask: What specific services are included in the monthly price and what is excluded?
03
No service frequency
Ask: How many annual visits are included and what tasks are performed on each service cycle?
04
Unclear irrigation responsibility
Ask: What irrigation services are included, what is separately priced, and who performs the work?
05
No exclusions listed
Ask: Please list all services excluded from the base monthly price.
06
No account manager or reporting process
Ask: Who will manage the account and what reporting or property walk process is included?
07
No repair approval process
Ask: How are repairs, extras, and emergency work priced, approved, and documented?
08
Missing insurance or licensing details
Ask: Can you provide insurance, licensing, and subcontractor documentation before award?
09
Heavy subcontractor use without disclosure
Ask: Which services will be subcontracted and what documentation is available for those subcontractors?
10
No first 90-day plan
Ask: What would you prioritize in the first 30, 60, and 90 days after award?
Severity
Red flag severity guide
Clarification needed
The proposal may be acceptable, but the buyer needs a written answer before comparing it.
Award risk
The missing detail could affect price, scope, service quality, or owner expectations.
High concern
The issue could create safety, insurance, licensing, legal, financial, or major performance risk if not resolved before award.