Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
APRIL 16, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: TUNNEL WASHING SERVICES
Action
ACTION: AWARD CONTRACT
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to award a firm fixed unit rate Contract No. OP122327(4)000 to Parkwood Landscape Maintenance Inc., to provide tunnel washing services systemwide for a Not-To-Exceed (NTE) amount of $5,295,000.00 for the five-year base term, effective July 1, 2026, subject to the resolution of any properly submitted protests(s), if any.
Issue
ISSUE
The existing tunnel-washing services contract expires on June 30, 2026. To continue providing these critical services, ensuring compliance with Metro’s cleanliness standards, and maintaining safe operations, a new contract award is required, effective July 1, 2026.
Background
BACKGROUND
On June 22, 2017, the Board awarded a firm-fixed unit rate Contract No. OP778590003367 to Parkwood Landscape Maintenance, Inc., to provide tunnel washing services. The scope of services ensures tunnel cleanliness standards are met and includes the use of pressurized water and degreasing solutions, as necessary, to remove sludge and residue generated by train brake pads and rotors, as well as the removal of debris and particulates, while cleaning walls, tracks, coverboards, insulators, catwalks, handrails, and the entire wall area above the third rail within the stations.
During the term of the existing contract, the scope of services expanded from 39.4 miles of tunnel trackway which included the B/D (Red/Purple) Line and the E Line (Expo) between Mariachi Plaza and Soto Stations to include an additional 13.9 miles of tunnel trackway for the A Line Regional Connector, D Line (Purple) Extension Phase I, and K Line Crenshaw/LAX segments, for a total of 53.3 miles of tunnel trackway; which requires tunnel washing services to improve the overall conditions and cleanliness.
Since the start of the contract, Parkwood Landscape Maintenance, Inc., has collected and removed approximately 159,346 pounds of dry trash, debris and 5,184 pounds of wet sludge from the tunnel trackway.
Under this contract, Parkwood Landscape Maintenance, Inc., has continued to provide satisfactory services, performing tunnel washing services systemwide.
Within the past 24 months, three (3) solicitations were issued on May 14, 2024, October 2, 2024, and February 19, 2025, however were cancelled due to (1) no bids received, (2) changes to the Scope of Services (SOS), and (3) unreasonable pricing, as well as the need to further evaluate and refine the SOS to ensure expanding opportunities for small and medium-sized firms to do business with Metro.
On August 28, 2025, a new solicitation to provide tunnel washing services was issued under the Medium-Size Business Enterprise (MSZ) program.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Under the new tunnel washing services contract, Parkwood Landscape Maintenance, Inc., will continue to perform tunnel washing to remove trash and debris necessary to maintain a safe and clean train path and to mitigate potential fire hazards caused by excessive grease and debris accumulation within the rail confined spaces, adjacent to an energized third rail.
These services support critical safety, operational, and maintenance objectives for Metro’s station infrastructure. Regular cleaning ensures safe working conditions by removing accumulated soot, exhaust residue, sludge, and grime, maintaining essential visibility, reducing fire hazards, minimizing corrosive damage to extend the lifespan of infrastructure and equipment, and improving air quality and circulation throughout the tunnels, while supporting reliable and uninterrupted transit operations.
During the term of the new contract, the scope of services will further expand to include an additional 6.3 miles of tunnel trackway for D Line (Purple) Extension Phases II and III, resulting in a total of 59.6 miles of tunnel trackway.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
The approval of this item will ensure service continuity and meet Metro’s maintenance standards by providing regularly scheduled service in a timely manner. This will also improve overall safety and cleanliness conditions as well as the air quality within the stations in an effort to continue providing safe, clean, quality, on-time, and reliable services for our customers and the public.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The new contract starts on July 1, 2026. Budget will be allocated under cost center 8370 - Facilities Contracted Maintenance Services, account 50308, Service Contract Maintenance, under various rail operating projects. Since this is a multi-year contract, the cost center manager and Deputy Chief Operations Officer, Shared Mobility, will be accountable for budgeting the cost in FY27 and future years.
Impact to Budget
The current sources of funds for this action are local funds (fare revenue, advertising revenue, as well as Prop A 35%, Prop C 40%, Measure R 5%, Measure M 5%, and TDA 4), which are eligible for rail operations.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
Providing ongoing tunnel washing services supports critical safety, operational, and maintenance of Metro’s tunnel trackway infrastructure, enhancing safe working conditions and station safety by removing accumulated soot, exhaust residue, sludge, and grime, to maintain essential visibility, improve air quality, reduce fire hazards, and minimize corrosive damage to equipment and infrastructure. Tunnel washing services enhance Metro staff and patrons' experience while utilizing Metro’s facilities and transit system. This is especially critical in Equity Focus Communities, where individuals often depend on public transportation as their primary means of travel.
Prior to the release of this solicitation, a Systemwide Metro Connect Industry Forum Outreach event was conducted on February 7, 2024. During this outreach event, staff provided an overview detailing the policies for the enhanced MSZ and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Programs for competitively negotiated procurements.
The Diversity and Economic Opportunity Department (DEOD) established a 12% SBE goal and 3% Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (DVBE) goal. Parkwood Landscape Maintenance, Inc., met the goal by making a 12% SBE and 3% DVBE commitment.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled _Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through these maintenance activities that will improve bus and rail station safety and further encourage transit ridership. Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
This Board action supports Strategic Goal 2: Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system. Performing ongoing regular maintenance services will ensure compliance with Metro’s station cleanliness standards to support safe and clean conditions, which result in enhanced customer experience.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board may elect not to approve this recommendation. This option is not recommended as it would result in a gap in service impacting Metro’s system safety, cleanliness, operation, and customer experience.
With the completion of a financial-based insourcing study based on quantitative and qualitative assessment, staff has analyzed insourcing/outsourcing options for tunnel washing services, among other services. Based on initial findings, tunnel washing services were not recommended for insourcing as this action does not meet the study’s qualitative budgetary objectives. Providing this service in-house would require the hiring and training of additional personnel, the acquisition of additional equipment, vehicles, and supplies to support the expanded responsibility. Staff's assessment indicates that this is not a cost-effective option for Metro.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon approval by the Board, staff will execute Contract No. OP122327(4)000 to Parkwood Landscape Maintenance Inc., effective July 1, 2026, to provide tunnel washing services systemwide.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Ruben Cardenas, Senior Director, Facilities Contracted Maintenance Services, (213) 922-5932
Lena Babayan, Executive Officer, Operations Administration, (213) 922-6765
Shahrzad Amiri, Deputy Chief Operations Officer, Shared Mobility, (213) 922-3061
Debra Avila, Deputy Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 418-3051
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer, (213) 418-3034
