The Ocala City Council will vote on a three-year contract worth $508,000 on Tuesday for the provision of holiday décor and lighting services for its Light Up holiday and annual lighting program, which returns in two months.
On Tuesday, council members will vote on a new contract with Shellard Lighting Design, LLC, for holiday and decor services that will cost a total of $508,023.
In May, the city issued an invitation to bid on the contract for the lighting services. A non-mandatory, pre-proposal site meeting was held in June. That meeting involved staff examining potential installation locations across the city.
After feedback from that meeting, the city reissued a request for proposals in mid-June. A total of four proposals were received from three companies all across Florida and one company based in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Of the four proposals received, the company with the highest-scoring proposal was Shellard. That company, which is based in Palm City, Florida, scored a 99 out of 100 possible points.
According to the city, the holiday decorations and lighting supplied and installed by Shellard under this contract will augment the lighting installed by the Ocala Electric Utility department.
The city began seeking vendors for labor portion of the contract approximately 15 years ago to “reduce the impact on OEU’s labor resources, as the scale and type of decorations added are outside” the city’s “practical means.”
In specific, the city cites the setting up of the 50-foot holiday tree in the Historic Downtown Square. As in years prior, the contract includes the large, decorated tree with synchronized lighting.
In addition to the tree, Shellard will be responsible for installing pole wraps, bows, lighting, wreaths, stationary holiday decor, illuminated standalone features, palm tree spiral lighting, and drip lights throughout the following downtown and midtown areas:
- Historic Downtown Square
- Citizens’ Circle
- Tuscawilla Park and Tuscawilla Art Park
- Union Train Station
- West Heritage Trail
- North Magnolia Business District
Light Up Ocala will return to downtown for its 41st installment on November 22, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Over 100 vendors, artists, craftsman, food trucks, and live entertainment will be featured at the event.
The event will also feature an interactive kids’ zone and a Junior Sunshine holiday parade with Santa, all culminating in the lighting of the tree and holiday lights in downtown.