24_012 Grounds Maintenance Svcs Addendum 2.pdf

Muscogee County School District

Columbus, Georgia

Aileen Arrighi Purchasing Manager

ADDENDUM 2

ITB #24-012 Grounds Maintenance Services

December 18, 2023

Dear Vendors, The following questions were asked during the pre-bid meeting for ITB #24-012 Grounds Maintenance Services:

1. Is the award based on technical qualifications?

Answer: No. This is an invitation to bid, therefore, the award will be based on the lowest most responsive and responsible submission which includes reference verification.

2. Will you provide a list of the vendors that attended the meeting?

Answer: A copy of the sign-in for the pre-bid meeting is attached.

3. Will the hill sides at Kinnett Stadium fall under a zone or the athletic fields?

Answer: Anything inside the fence at Kinnett Stadium is part of the athletic component. The outside areas are part of the other component.

4. Are there any special rules or processes for courtyards?

Answer: The MCSD has three schools with interior courtyards where the awarded vendor(s) will have to bring in a lawnmower through the school to access them. The awarded vendor(s) will have to check at the front office before entering the school.

5. Are there any rules about the type of lawnmowers to use, is gas okay? Standard size?

Answer: Vendors can use gas lawnmowers.

6. NOTE: There is a testing window in April that the awarded vendor(s) will have to have to work around. Vendors cannot run mowers during the testing window which runs 8 to 3 for two weeks.

Also, mowers cannot run during the car pickup line. The District will work with the awarded vendor(s) to adjust the times accordingly.

7. Do the schools have football fields?

Answer: Yes. The middle schools and high schools have practice fields. There are also two stadiums.

8. Do you bag the grass?

Answer: No.

https://www.muscogee.k12.ga.us/Pages/MCSDHome.aspx

9. How many schools total?

Answer: The MCSD has a total of 53 schools.

10. NOTE: Although top dressing varies per school, the District is asking for pricing information for 64 cubic yards from all vendors to ensure pricing is fair. The awarded vendor (s) will work with the Director of Athletics on the exact quantity.

11. Do you require one top dressing with two aerations?

Answer: That depends on the field. To ensure that all prices submitted are fair, the District is asking that all vendors quote top dressing two times.

12. NOTE: Reel mower vs. rotary mower. Vendors can use a reel mower in the inside field if available.

The District is more focused on the height.

13. How do you feel about weekend work?

Answer: The District allows for weekend work. The awarded vendor(s) will be responsible for making up any missed cuts within the same scheduled week. The District will not be responsible for paying for any missed cuts after the scheduled week.

14. How often do you service the retention ponds?

Answer: Specifications on how to service the retention ponds can be found on Page 26 of the bid document. They are to be serviced once a month on APPA level 4 and follow the Rainwater Management Management Group best practices from the City of Columbus.

The following questions were received by the Purchasing Department:

1. There are 4 properties included in the Support Buildings plans and 1 property in the Alternative Educational Facilities plans that are not included in the Grounds Maintenance Services Spreadsheet. There are also two properties missing from the plans that are included in the spreadsheet. The properties in question are as follows:

• Additional: Rosemont Center, Tillinghurst Center, 30th Ave Preschool, Benning Hills Elementary, and Harrison Ave Property

• Missing: Kinnett Stadium and Rainey McCullers School of the Arts Answer: Properties not listed on the Quote Form have been sold. Vendors can visit the locations not shown on the plans.

2. On the plan for Northside High School, the drawn lines indicate that only two of the three softball fields are inside the red line. Are there other fields and the adjourning parking lot to be excluded?

Answer: The softball fields on the Northside High School property are not included.

3. At Odis Spencer Stadium, are there tennis courts to be included in the maintenance for that property?

Answer: Vendors shall only spray the cracks on the tennis courts to keep the weeds out.

4. What is the Disctrict currently paying for the services?

Answer: Information regarding the current contract can be found on the District website, www.muscogee.k12.ga.us, RFP 21-002

5. How long is the contract and how many options years are they?

Answer: This information is located in the bid document, Page 4, Section 6. Contract Period.

6. What is the pine straw count for the District? Does the District require the schools to be covered all the way around or just the fronts of the buildings?

Answer: The District does not have the count for the pine straw. Pine straw installation is not just the front beds, it has to go in any existing area where pine straw is used.

7. Will the District provide a staging area for the contractor for supplies and the like?

Answer: The awarded vendor(s) is responsible for their staging area. The District can provide an area for pine straw trailers during the pine straw installation window.

8. With respect to trees, will the District require tree pruning/removal of trees?

Answer: The removal of trees is being handled under another contract. Tree pruning is 8 feet down.

9. Will there be a line item for emergency/special projects that may come up during the school year?

Answer: The Plant Services Department typically adds additional funds to the purchase order to handle any additional work that is not in the contract.

http://www.muscogee.k12.ga.us/