RFP Toolkit
Vendor Questions Before Award
A practical list of questions to ask commercial landscape vendors before awarding a contract, recommending a bid, or presenting a vendor decision to ownership or a board.
Before Award Questions
Property Fit
What did the vendor notice and prioritize?
Scope and Risk
What is included, excluded, subcontracted, or regulated?
Transition Plan
What happens in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
Built for vendor selection: Scope reviewIrrigationCommunicationInsuranceSafetyFirst 90 days
Reviewed by Good Landscaping. This RFP Toolkit resource helps buyers ask practical questions before awarding a commercial landscape contract.
Use Case
What this tool helps you do
The best time to ask hard vendor questions is before the contract is awarded. These questions help reveal whether the vendor understands the property, the scope, the irrigation system, the reporting expectations, and the risks of the work.
Test whether the vendor understands the property
Clarify what is included and excluded
Review irrigation responsibility
Understand account management
Verify insurance, licensing, and subcontractors
Ask about safety practices
Learn what the vendor would prioritize first
Question Groups
Vendor questions
Property understanding
- What did you notice during the property walkthrough?
- What looks good today?
- What needs immediate attention?
- What issues are likely to become expensive if deferred?
- What areas would you prioritize first?
- What assumptions did you make when pricing?
Scope and exclusions
- What services are included in the monthly price?
- What services are excluded?
- What items are optional or separately priced?
- How many annual visits are included?
- What would make your proposal more expensive?
Irrigation
- What irrigation services are included?
- What irrigation services are separately priced?
- Who performs irrigation repairs?
- How are controller changes documented?
- When would you recommend an irrigation audit?
Account management and communication
- Who will manage the account?
- How often will the account manager walk the property?
- What is your response time?
- How do you document completed work?
- How do you handle recurring complaints?
Insurance, licensing, and subcontractors
- Can you provide current insurance documentation?
- What licensing applies to irrigation or chemical applications?
- Which services are subcontracted?
- Who is responsible if a subcontractor causes damage?
Safety and site operations
- What safety training do crews receive?
- What PPE is required?
- How do crews work around pedestrians and vehicles?
- How do you handle excavation, tree work, or work at height?
- How are incidents reported?
First 90 days
- What would you do in the first 30 days?
- What would you do in the first 60 days?
- What would you do in the first 90 days?
- What should ownership or the board expect during transition?
Priority Questions
Best questions to ask every vendor
What is not included in your proposal?
What would you fix first on this property?
What are we likely underbudgeting?
How will you reduce my workload as the manager?
Where could this property get more expensive later?
What irrigation issues did you notice?
What would you put in the first 90-day plan?
Why should we choose your proposal over a cheaper bid?