Commercial properties in Bellingham and across Whatcom County can’t gamble on winter. Locking in a snow-removal partner before autumn not only secures the best pricing and equipment availability—it also gives you time to issue a thorough Request for Proposal (RFP) that protects your bottom line. According to NOAA’s long-range winter outlook, La Niña conditions point to a colder, snow-heavier season for the Pacific Northwest this year. Now is the moment to plan.
Why Secure Your Contract by September?
- Price protection. Contractors set their salt, fuel, and labor rates months ahead; early commitments help you avoid peak-season surcharges.
- Resource priority. The biggest storms strain equipment inventories. Clients who sign early go to the top of the dispatch list.
- Site-specific optimization. Early walkthroughs let your provider map fire lanes, ADA routes, loading docks, and high-traffic pedestrian areas before leaves even drop.
- Budget forecasting. Locking in a fixed-fee or tiered pricing model now makes year-end budgeting painless.
The 7 Questions Every Facility Manager Should Put in the RFP
| Question | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| What response time do you guarantee after snowfall starts? | Defines service-level expectations and limits liability for slips & falls. |
| How do you document each service event? | GPS time-stamped logs and photo evidence defend you against claims. |
| What de-icing products will you apply, and at what rates? | Ensures environmental compliance and prevents landscape damage. |
| Do you provide pre-event anti-icing? | Brine treatment can cut total salt use—and cost—by up to 30 percent. |
| How is equipment assigned and backed up for my site? | Confirms you’re not sharing a single plow with four other parking lots. |
| Is liability insurance specific to snow & ice operations? | Generic policies may exclude slip-and-fall incidents. |
| How will you communicate during a storm? | Dedicated 24/7 dispatch lines and text/email alerts keep everyone in sync. |
How PCL Makes RFPs Effortless
At Puget Construction & Landscape, our design-build DNA carries into winter:
- Satellite-based site mapping. We use high-resolution satellite and on-site imagery in the preseason to chart every curb, drain, and fire lane.
- GPS-enabled plow tracking. Real-time tracking verifies service timelines and provides an auditable trail for liability defense.
- Single-point accountability. The same in-house team handles pre-event planning, live storm response, and post-storm audits—eliminating gaps between “design” and “execution.”
Ready to protect your property? Request a Commercial Snow & Ice Removal quote today.
FAQ
How early should I release my RFP?
Ideally in July or August; award by mid-September to secure top-tier coverage.
What contract length is typical?
Most big-box stores and business parks opt for a multi-year agreement to lock pricing and simplify renewals.
Can anti-icing replace rock salt entirely?
Not always, but brine pretreatment can reduce granular salt use by roughly one-third on asphalt lots while improving traction.
