professional-services-combined-rfp-solicitation-documents (Roadside Mowing) 1-22-22 (1).docx

Michigan.gov/MiProcurement proposal instructions Department of Transportation Roadside Mowing of State Trunkline for Brighton TSC Request for Proposal No. 220000001340 Solicitation Manager Name: Terry Harris Direct Phone: (517) 249-0870 Email: harrist@michigan.gov Main Phone: 1-855-MI-PURCH 1-855-647-8724 This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) for:

Roadside Mowing State Trunklines in Livingston and Monroe County (Brighton TSC) – Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)

RFP Timeline

*A bidder’s proposal received at 3:00:01 p.m. Eastern is late and subject to disqualification.

This RFP is subject to change. Check www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS for current information.

1. PROPOSAL PREPARATION. The State recommends reading all RFP materials prior to preparing a proposal, particularly these Proposal Instructions and the Vendor Questions Worksheet. Bidders must follow these Proposal Instructions and provide a complete response to the items indicated in the table below. References and links to websites or external sources may not be used in lieu of providing the information requested in the RFP within the proposal. Include the bidder’s company name in the header of all documents submitted with your proposal. Note that all documents and information submitted as part of a proposal will become public record immediately upon receipt by the State. Proposals received by the State may be posted on the State’s publicly available website after bidders are notified of the award recommendation.

RFP Structure and Documentation

2. CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE STATE. The sole point of contact for the State concerning this RFP is listed on the Cover Page. Contacting any other State personnel, agent, consultant, or representative about this RFP may result in bidder disqualification.

3. MANDATORY PRE-PROPOSAL CALL MEETING.

A mandatory pre-proposal conference call will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, 10:00 AM, Microsoft Teams meeting Join on your computer or mobile app Click here to join the meeting Or call in (audio only) +1 248-509-0316,,810896557# United States, Pontiac Phone Conference ID: 810 896 557# The purpose of the pre-proposal meeting is to discuss the RFP and the work to be performed and may include an inspection of the facility to receive the goods or services sought in this RFP. Statements made by the Solicitation Manager or designee at a pre-proposal meeting are not considered modifications to the RFP. If, however, the Solicitation Manager determines modifications to the RFP are warranted after the meeting, modifications will be posted in writing on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS as explained in the Modifications section of this document Attendance at the pre-proposal meeting is limited to [1] per bidder. If the pre-proposal meeting is mandatory, a bidder may be disqualified by being late. Subcontractor sign-in is permitted in lieu of the bidder as evidence of attendance. Accessibility requests for reasonable accommodations at the pre-proposal meeting should be made with the Solicitation Manager at least 10 business days before the date of the meeting. Accommodation requests received outside this time period cannot be guaranteed.

4. MODIFICATIONS. The State may modify this RFP at any time. Modifications will be posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS. This is the only method by which the RFP may be modified.

5. QUESTIONS. Bidder questions about this RFP must be posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS] no later than the time and date specified on the Cover Page. In the interest of transparency, only written questions are accepted. Answers to questions will be posted on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS. Submit questions using the format below; a Microsoft Excel format or similar is suggested.

6. DELIVERY OF PROPOSAL.

Electronic – The bidder must submit its proposal, all attachments, and any modifications or withdrawals electronically through www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS. The price proposal should be saved separately from all other proposal documents. The bidder should submit all documents in a modifiable (native) format (examples include but are not limited to Microsoft Word or Excel and Google Docs or Sheets). In addition to submitting documents in a modifiable format, the bidder may also submit copies of documents in PDF. Attachment file size is limited to 6 MB per document. Bidder’s failure to submit a proposal as required may result in disqualification. The proposal and attachments must be fully uploaded and submitted prior to the proposal deadline. Do not wait until the last minute to submit a proposal, as the SIGMA VSS system requires the creation of an account and entry of certain information, in addition to uploading and submitting the materials. The SIGMA VSS system will not allow a proposal to be submitted after the proposal deadline identified in the solicitation Closing On/Closing Date fields (Summary view/Detail view), even if a portion of the proposal has been uploaded.

Questions on how to submit information or how to navigate in the SIGMA VSS system can be answered by calling (517) 284-0540 or (888) 734-9749. The Solicitation Manager will not provide assistance related to the submittal of the proposal and all attachments on the day of the proposal deadline. Responsibility for a complete submission lies with the bidder. Note that all documents and information submitted in any manner as part of a proposal will become public record immediately upon receipt by the State. Proposals received may be posted by the State on the State’s publicly available website after bidders are notified of the award recommendation.

7. MANDATORY MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. To avoid disqualification, the bidder must provide documentation to support the following:

· A list of equipment that will demonstrate the contractor has the quantity and type of equipment required to complete the work described in this contract.

Only proposals meeting the mandatory minimum requirements will be considered for evaluation.

8. EVALUATION PROCESS. The State will evaluate each proposal based on the following factors:

The State may utilize all bidder information, without regard to a proposal’s technical score, to determine fair market value for goods or services sought. The State is not obligated to accept the lowest price proposal. If applicable, the State’s evaluation will include consideration of a bidder’s qualified disabled veterans/service-disabled veteran owned business(QDV/SDVOB) status under MCL 18.1261(8). Additional information on the SDVOB preference is available at: Michigan.gov/SDVOB.

The State strongly encourages strict adherence to the Contract Terms. The State reserves the right to deem a bid non-responsive for failure to accept the Contract Terms. Nevertheless, the bidder may submit proposed changes to the Contract Terms in track changes (i.e., visible edits) with an explanation of the bidder’s need for each proposed change. Failure to include track changes with an explanation of the bidder’s need for the proposed change constitutes the bidder’s acceptance of the Contract Terms. General statements, such as that the bidder reserves the right to negotiate the terms and conditions, may be considered non-responsive.

The State may but is not required to conduct an on-site visit to tour and inspect the bidder’s facilities; require an oral presentation of the bidder's proposal; conduct interviews, research, reference checks, and background checks; and request additional price concessions at any point during the evaluation process.

9. NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY. The State reserves the right to issue a Notice of Deficiency to bidders if the State determines after the proposal deadline that a portion of the RFP was deficient, unclear, or ambiguous. Failure to respond to a Notice of Deficiency timely may be cause for disqualification.

10. CLARIFICATION REQUEST. The State reserves the right to issue a Clarification Request to a bidder to clarify its proposal if the State determines the proposal is not clear. Failure to respond to a Clarification Request timely may be cause for disqualification.

11. RESERVATIONS. The State reserves the right to:

a. Disqualify a bidder for failure to follow these instructions.

b. Discontinue the RFP process at any time for any or no reason. The issuance of an RFP, your preparation and submission of a proposal, and the State’s subsequent receipt and evaluation of your proposal does not commit the State to award a contract to you or anyone, even if all the requirements in the RFP are met.

c. Consider late proposals if: (i) no other proposals are received; (ii) no complete proposals are received; (iii) the State received complete proposals, but the proposals did not meet mandatory minimum requirements or technical criteria; or (iv) the award process fails to result in an award.

d. Consider an otherwise disqualified proposal if no other proposals are received.

e. Disqualify a proposal based on: (i) information provided by the bidder in response to this RFP; (2) the bidder’s failure to complete registration on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS ; or (3) if it is determined that a bidder purposely or willfully submitted false or misleading information in response to the RFP.

f. Consider prior performance with the State in making its award decision.

g. Consider overall economic impact to the State when evaluating proposal pricing and in the final award recommendation. This includes but is not limited to: considering principal place of performance, number of Michigan citizens employed or potentially employed, dollars paid to Michigan residents, Michigan capital investments, job creation, tax revenue implications, and economically disadvantaged businesses.

h. Consider total-cost-of-ownership factors (e.g., transition and training costs) when evaluating proposal pricing and in the final award recommendation.

i. Refuse to award a contract to any bidder that has failed to pay State taxes or has outstanding debt with the State.

j. Enter into negotiations with one or more bidders on price, terms, technical requirements, or other deliverables.

k. Award multiple, optional-use contracts, or award by Contract Activity.

l. Evaluate the proposal outside the scope identified in the Evaluation Process section of this document if the State receives only one proposal.

12. AWARD RECOMMENDATION. The contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder who offers the best value to the State, as determined by the State. Best value will be determined by the bidder meeting the minimum point threshold and offering the best combination of the factors stated in the Evaluation Process section of this document, and price, as demonstrated by the proposal. The State will post an Award Recommendation and Evaluation Synopsis on www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS or in the manner it was originally published

13. DEBRIEF MEETING AND BID PROTEST. The State will post an Award Recommendation and Evaluation Synopsis which will provide instructions on how to request a debrief meeting.

If you wish to initiate a protest of the award, you must submit your written protest electronically to Carol Rademacher, Administrator, at RademacherC@Michigan.gov. no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern three (3) business days after posting the Award Recommendation and Evaluation Synopsis. The State reserves the right to adjust this timing and will publish any change.

Additional information about the protest process is available at www.michigan.gov/micontractconnect under the “Programs and Policies” link.

14. STATE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD. Contracts equal to $250,000 or greater than require approval by the State Administrative Board. The State Administrative Board’s decision is final; however, its approval does not constitute a contract. The award process is not complete until the awarded contractor receives a contract fully executed by all parties.

15. GENERAL CONDITIONS. The State will not be liable for any costs, expenses, or damages incurred by a bidder participating in this solicitation. The bidder agrees that its proposal will be considered an offer to do business with the State in accordance with its proposal, including the Contract Terms, and that its proposal will be irrevocable and binding for a period of 180 calendar days from date of submission. If a contract is awarded to the bidder, the State may, at its option, incorporate any part of the bidder’s proposal into a contract. This RFP is not an offer to enter into a contract. This RFP may not provide a complete statement of the State’s environment or contain all matters upon which agreement must be reached. The bidder understands that their proposal will become public record immediately upon receipt by the State. Other than verified trade secrets, proposals submitted via www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS are the State’s property.

16. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FORM AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. As a public record, all portions of the bidder’s proposal and resulting contract are subject to disclosure as required under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231, et seq. However, the State may exempt some information from disclosure as permitted by law. Under MCL 18.1261(13)(b), records containing “a trade secret as defined under section 2 of the uniform trade secrets act, 1998 PA 448, MCL 445.1902,” are exempt from disclosure under FOIA. In addition, “financial or proprietary information” submitted with a bidder’s proposal is exempt from disclosure under FOIA. A bidder’s failure to comply with this Section is grounds for rejecting a bidder’s proposal as non-responsive. As a part of its proposal, each bidder must follow the procedure below.

SUBMIT A COMPLETED “CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FORM” (CT FORM) WITH YOUR BID. Completion and submission of the CT Form is required regardless of whether the bidder seeks confidential treatment of information. Failure to submit a completed CT Form may be cause for disqualification from the solicitation process. If a bidder fails to properly complete and submit the CT Form or otherwise fails to follow CT Form instructions, the proposal may be publicly disclosed in its entirety without redaction after an award recommendation.

Complete and sign Section 1 of the CT Form if the bidder does NOT request confidential treatment of information contained in its proposal; or

i. Complete and sign Section 2 of the CT Form if the bidder requests confidential treatment of certain information. Bidder must also submit a “Public Copy” of the proposal with the trade secret, financial, and proprietary information redacted and clearly labeled as the “Public Copy.”

Failure to complete and sign a CT Form may result in disqualification of the bidder. If a bidder fails to properly complete and submit the CT Form or otherwise fails to follow the CT Form instructions, the proposal, in its entirety, will be treated as a “Public Copy” and may be publicly disclosed by the State without redaction after bidders have been notified of an award recommendation

b. FOIA REQUESTS. If a FOIA request is made for a bidder’s proposal, the Public Copy may be distributed to the public along with the bidder’s CT Form. The CT Form is a public document and serves as an explanation for the redactions to the Public Copy. Do not put any trade secret, financial, or proprietary information in the CT Form. Do not redact the CT Form itself.

c. NO ADVICE. The State will not advise a bidder as to the nature or content of documents entitled to protection from disclosure under FOIA or other laws, as to the interpretation of such laws, or as to the definition of trade secret or financial or proprietary information. Nothing contained in this provision will modify or amend requirements and obligations imposed on the State by FOIA or other applicable law.

d. FAILURE TO REQUEST CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT. Failure to request material be treated as confidential as specified herein relieves the State, its agencies, and personnel from any responsibility for maintaining material in confidence.

e. Bids containing a request to maintain an entire proposal as confidential may be rejected as non-responsive. Bidders may not request confidential treatment with respect to resumes, pricing, and marketing materials. The State reserves the right to determine whether material designated as exempt by a bidder falls under MCL 18.1261 or other applicable FOIA exemptions. If a FOIA request is made for materials that the bidder has identified as trade secret, financial, or proprietary information, the State has the final authority to determine whether the materials are exempt from disclosure under FOIA.

f. Bidder forever releases the State, its departments, subdivisions, officers, and employees from all claims, rights, actions, demands, damages, liabilities, expenses and fees, which arise out of or relate to the disclosure of all or a portion of bidder’s proposal submitted under this RFP. Bidder must defend, indemnify and hold the State, its departments, subdivisions, officers, and employees harmless, without limitation, from and against all actions, claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, attorney fees, and expenses (including those required to establish the right to indemnification), arising out of or relating to any FOIA request, including potential litigation and appeals, related to the portion of bidder’s proposal submitted under this RFP that bidder has identified as a trade secret, or financial or proprietary information. The State will notify bidder in writing if indemnification is sought. The State is entitled to: (i) regular updates on proceeding status; (ii) participate in the defense of the proceeding; (iii) employ its own counsel; and to (iv) retain control of the defense, or any portion thereof, if the State deems necessary. Bidder will not, without the State’s written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), settle, compromise, or consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any claim, action, or proceeding. If a State employee, official, or law is involved or challenged, the State may control the defense of that portion of the claim. Any litigation activity on behalf of the State, or any of its subdivisions under this Section, must be coordinated with the Department of Attorney General. An attorney designated to represent the State may not do so until approved by the Michigan Attorney General and appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General.

confidential treatment form INSTRUCTIONS. Complete either Section 1 or Section 2 of this CT Form and sign where indicated. This CT Form must be signed by the individual who signed the bidder’s proposal. A completed CT Form must be submitted with your proposal, regardless of whether your proposal contains confidential information.

Failure to submit a completed CT Form with your bid is grounds for rejecting the proposal as non-responsive. If a bidder fails to properly complete and submit the CT Form or otherwise fails to follow CT Form Instructions, the proposal, in its entirety, will be treated as a “Public Copy” and may be publicly disclosed by the State without redaction after bidders have been notified of an award recommendation. See the Confidential Treatment Form and The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) sections of the Proposal Instructions for additional information Section 1. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS NOT REQUESTED This section must be completed, signed, and submitted with the proposal if the bidder does not request confidential treatment of any material contained in the proposal.

By signing below, the bidder affirms that confidential treatment of material contained in their proposal is not requested.

RFP Number

RFP Title

Signature

Date

Printed Name, Title, Company

Section 2. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS REQUESTED This section must be completed, signed, and submitted with the proposal if bidder requests confidential treatment of any material contained in the proposal. Submission of a completed CT Form is required to request confidential treatment.

Provide the information in the table below. Bidder may add rows or additional pages using the same format shown in the table. Bidder must specifically identify the information to be protected as confidential and state the reasons why protection is necessary.

The CT Form will not be considered fully complete unless, for each confidentiality request, the bidder: (1) identifies the Proposal Page #, Section #, and Paragraph #, (2) identifies whether the material is a Trade Secret (TS), Proprietary Financial Information (FI), or Proprietary Information (PI), and (3) explains the specific legal grounds that support treatment of the material as TS, FI, or PI. Bidders must provide a complete justification as to how the material falls within the scope of an applicable FOIA exemption or relevant case law. Bidders must not simply cite to an applicable exemption or case name. Bidders must also provide the contact information for the person at their organization authorized to respond to inquiries by the State concerning the material.

Bidder must also submit a “Public Copy” of the proposal with the trade secret, financial, and proprietary information redacted and clearly labeled as the “Public Copy”.

(1) Proposal Page #, Section #, Paragraph # (2) Material is Trade Secret (TS), Proprietary Financial Information (FI), Proprietary Information (PI) (3) Applicable FOIA Exemption with Written Justification (4) Bidder Contact Information

By signing below, the bidder affirms that confidential treatment of material contained in their proposal is requested and has attached to this form a redacted “Public Copy” of the bidder’s proposal.

RFP Number

RFP Title

Signature

Date

Printed Name, Title, Company vendor questions worksheet Provide a detailed response to each question. “You” and “company” refers to the bidder.

1. Contact Information

Bidder’s sole contact person during the RFP process. Include name, title, address, email, and phone number.

Person authorized to receive and sign a resulting contract. Include name, title, address, email, phone number and vendor customer code in SIGMA VSS.

2. Company Background Information

Legal business name and address. Include business entity designation, e.g., sole proprietor, Inc., LLC, or LLP.

What state was the company formed in?

Phone number.

Website address.

Number of years in business and number of employees.

Legal business name and address of parent company, if any.

Has there been a recent change in organizational structure (e.g., management team) or control (e.g., merger or acquisition) of your company? If the answer is yes: (a) explain why the change occurred and (b) how this change has affected your company.

Discuss your company’s history. Has growth been organic, through mergers and acquisitions, or both?

Has bidder ever been debarred, suspended, or disqualified from bidding or contracting with any entity, including the State of Michigan? If yes, provide the date, the entity, and details about the situation.

Has your company been a party to litigation against the State of Michigan? If the answer is yes, then state the date of initial filing, case name and court number, and jurisdiction.

Within the last 5 years, has your company or any of its related business entities defaulted on a contract or had a contract terminated for cause? If yes, provide the date, contracting entity, type of contract, and details about the termination or default.

State your gross annual sales for each of the last 5 years.

If receiving a contract under this RFP will increase your gross revenue by more than 25% from last year’s sales, explain how the company will scale-up to manage this increase.

Describe partnerships and strategic relationships you think will bring significant value to the State.

State the physical address of the place of business that would have primary responsibility for this account if bidder is awarded a contract under this RFP.

3. Qualified Disabled Veteran/Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Program

To demonstrate qualification as a qualified disabled veteran, you must provide:

(a) Proof of service and conditions of discharge (DD214 or equivalent);

(b) Proof of service-connected disability (DD214 if the disability was documented at discharge or Veterans Administration Rating Decision Letter or equivalent if the disability was documented after discharge); and

(c) Legal documents setting forth the ownership of the business entity.

In lieu of the documentation identified above, you may provide proof of certification by the National Veterans Business Development Council.

Enter the names of documents submitted with your proposal to demonstrate status as a qualified disabled veteran.

4. Participation in RFP Development or Evaluation

If you enter “YES”, you are not eligible for contract award or to work as a subcontractor for the awarded vendor.

If you enter “YES,” you are not eligible for contract award. An awarded vendor may not partner or subcontract with anyone to provide goods and services required under a resulting contract if that subcontractor or partner assisted in the development of this solicitation.

If you enter “YES”, you are not eligible for contract award or to work as a subcontractor for the awarded vendor.

5. State of Michigan Experience and Prior Experience

Does your company have experience working with the State of Michigan? If so, please provide a list (including the contract number) of the contracts you hold or have held with the State for the last 10 years.

Describe at least 3 relevant experiences from the last 5 years supporting your ability to successfully manage a contract of similar size and scope for the work described in this RFP.

Experience 1

Company name.

Contact name.

Contact role at time of project.

Contact phone.

Contact email.

City.

State.

Zip.

1. Project name and description of the scope of the project.

2. What role did your company play?

3. How is this project experience relevant to the subject of this RFP?

Dollar value.

Start and end date (mm/yy – mm/yy)

Status (completed, live, other – specify phase)

Results obtained.

Experience 2

Company name.

Contact role at time of project.

City.

1. Project name and description of the scope of the project.

Dollar value.

Start and end date (mm/yy – mm/yy)

Status (completed, live, other – specify phase)

Results obtained.

Experience 3

Company name.

Contact role at time of project.

City.

1. Project name and description of the scope of the project.

Dollar value.

Start and end date (mm/yy – mm/yy)

Status (completed, live, other – specify phase)

Results obtained.

6. Standard Contract Terms

Bidder must affirm agreement with the attached Contract Terms. If not in agreement, written exceptions in accordance with the Evaluation Process section of the Proposal Instructions must be provided with Bidder’s proposal.

7. Michigan Economic Impact

Number of employees currently employed at locations within the State of Michigan.

Number of additional employees to be employed at locations within the State of Michigan if awarded this Contract (if any).

Minimum wage paid to employees employed at locations within the State of Michigan.

Average wage paid to employees employed at locations within the State of Michigan.

Percentage of employees employed at locations within the State of Michigan that are covered by employer-provided health insurance.

8. Labor and Environmental Laws Compliance

Bidder must disclose any violations of state or federal labor and employment laws and regulations received within the past five years.

Bidder must disclose any violations of state or federal environmental laws and regulations received within the past five years.

9. Supplier Diversity

10. Other

Contractor must enter company name here.

Schedule A – statement of work contract activities Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 220000001340 Roadside Mowing of State Trunkline for Brighton TSC This schedule identifies the anticipated requirements of any Contract resulting from this RFP. The term “Contractor” in this document refers to a bidder responding to this RFP, as well as the Contractor who is awarded the contract. The term “bidder” is used to identify where specific responses to the RFP are required.

The Contractor must respond to each requirement or question and explain how it will fulfill each requirement. Attach any supplemental information and appropriately reference within your response.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO CONTRACTORS/BIDDERS: There are specific requirements for which acceptance must be simply acknowledged through a checkbox(es), and others that require further explanation. Click one checkbox and complete the entries as identified.

BACKGROUND

This contract is for roadside mowing services for the MDOT University Region Brighton TSC jurisdictional areas in Livingston and Monroe Counties. All roadside mowing will be performed according to Public Act 174. The locations and acres per cycle are listed Location Specification Sheet (LLS); Pricing. Work to be performed for a period of three (3) years beginning on May 16, 2022 through May 15, 2025. All work will be performed between June 1 and October 31 of each contract year as solely determined by MDOT. The project is to be completed by May 15, 2025. Work must be performed in accordance with the progress schedule submitted at the Pre-Maintenance Meeting and as described in this document. The progress schedule must address all work to be completed when multiple contracts are awarded to the same vendor, including work performed as a Sub Contractor for a local unit of government.

SCOPE

The contractor, through innovation, technology, or other means, shall perform and provide the required services and staffs to complete the frequencies of work determined by the State and otherwise do all things necessary for, or incidental to, the performance of work. Compliance will be based on the State’s overall evaluation and interpretation in accordance with the method of performance and frequencies, as set forth in this Contract.

The Contractor shall provide all services and related items necessary for, or incidental to, the performance of work in accordance with this Contract.

The Contractor shall provide services at the locations described in Exhibit C; Location Specification Sheets (LSS) and/or directed by the Contract Compliance Inspector (CCI).

During the period of mowing operations, the contractor shall consult the CCI for inspection and tentative approval of work being accomplished, so that, in the event of unsatisfactory work, sufficient time will be available to the contractor to make corrections in a satisfactory manner within the time specified.

Failure to complete each mowing cycle as scheduled shall result in a deduction which consists of $500 per day for each calendar day that the work remains uncompleted.

The Department reserves the right to bill the contractor for any damages due to the default of the Contractor. Examples of damages may include damage to guardrail, signs, culverts, roadside reflectors and rutting of turn are some examples of assets within the mowing area that the Contractor may be responsible for repair or cost reimbursement.

1. Requirements

1.1. General Requirements

Description of Work

The Contractor will perform roadside mowing operations on all state trunklines with Brighton TSC jurisdictional area in Livingston and Monroe County. The activities required will include, as directed by the CCI, litter removal/disposal prior to mowing operations, flat area mowing, clear vision mowing, hand trimming, and traffic control. The roadway limits of each type of mowing and approximate acres are listed in the Location Specification Sheets. The areas defined shall be mowed one time with up to two optional mowing cycles during the mowing season. MDOT in most years only mows one cycle on freeways and two cycles on M-routes. However, should funds become available we have included the option for up to two additional cycles of mowing as a bid item. Vegetation as used in this contract refers to grass, weeds, and small woody plants. The Contractor shall trim grass and/or vegetation around signs, bridge abutments, piers, landscape areas, cable guardrail, steel faced guardrail and other appurtenances that cannot be reached with the larger equipment. This includes the area along the concrete barrier walls that have grass areas on either side or between barrier walls and guardrails that have vegetation growing within the confines of the structures.

All 20.55 miles of cable guardrail shall be trimmed.

During flat mowing operations, all freeway ramp areas, connecting street intersections, and special site restriction areas shall be mowed and trimmed as directed by the CCI who shall provide highlighted maps showing all freeway ramp interchange mowing acreage. On non-freeway mowing routes all clear vision areas are to be mowed as directed by the CCI. These are easily visible from years of previous mowing and some intersections have right of way fences delineating the clear vision area. All ramp and clear vision mowing will be paid at the flat mowing unit price.

Mowing Schedule The Contractor shall be notified by the CCI when and where to begin each mowing cycle, typically at least two weeks prior to commencing. The Contractor shall have 30 working days from the agreed upon start date to complete each cycle. The Contractor is responsible to notify the CCI via e-mail or phone before starting work and during mowing operations on a daily basis to identify the scheduled mowing areas. Mowing start date will be determined by the Program Manager. Typically the first week of June so mowing is completed prior to the July 4th weekend.

Flat Area Mowing Flat area mowing is located along the roadway beginning at the edge of pavement or gravel shoulder on both sides of the roadway and at all ramp intersections and clear visions. On freeways or M-routes where there is a grass median regardless of width, the median is to be mowed full width. Areas of mowing may be deleted due to construction zones or recent construction zones where the vegetation is not yet established.

Additional width mowing Additional width mowing is any mowing located outside the areas designated as Flat Area Mowing Areas.

Additional width mowing will only be performed in areas that have been previously cleared of brush by MDOT crews. The purpose to perform additional width mowing is to prevent the growth of brush from re-occurring and it will facilitate access to drainage ditches so maintenance can be performed on those ditches and culverts which will add longevity to the roadway. No more than 25% of the total trunk line right of way shall be mowed beyond the routine flat area mowing guidelines per mowing season and can only be performed if directed by the CCI. Typically the mowing would consist of tall grasses and weeds and perhaps cattails. There may be debris that needs to be cleared such as tires, rocks or tree branches but for the most part due to the brushing operation prior to any additional width mowing by MDOT crews the mowing operation can be performed with same equipment used for the flat area mowing operation.

Equipment Requirements General The Contractor shall furnish, operate and maintain suitable and adequate equipment necessary to perform the mowing operation in an approved safe, workmanlike manner without hindrance, delay or damage to the roadside.

Type of Equipment The equipment must be commercially available, in good repair, and shall be maintained so as to produce a clean, sharp cut to the grass at all times. Equipment which in any way pulls or rips grass, or damages the turf, shall not be allowed. All equipment shall be of such type to permit the heights of cut to be adjusted to approximately 5 inches.

Flat Areas Tractors used for flat area mowing shall have a minimum of 55 horsepower per tractor at the power takeoff (PTO) and be capable of cutting a width of 12 feet in a single pass. Tractors shall be equipped to provide the power to the mowing attachment. The equipment specified to mow slope areas may also be used to mow flat areas. Tractor used for trim mowing shall have a minimum of 30 horsepower at the power take-off and be capable of cutting a width of no less than 5 feet in single pass. The tractor shall be equipped to provide the power to the mowing attachment. A minimum of one (1) production mower and one (1) trim mower, as described above, to be used concurrently within the contract area, will be required per 250 acres of mowing as specified in the mowing quantities.

All equipment shall be of such type to permit the heights of cut to be adjusted to approximately 5 inches.

Clear Vision Areas Equipment utilized for Sloped and Flat area mowing shall be utilized for Clear Vision area mowing however, individual site conditions will dictate which type of equipment can be used.

Safety All equipment shall meet all federal, state and local safety requirements. If the mower box does not touch the ground the mower shall be equipped with one half inch safety chains which touch the ground but do not drag. The chains will be threaded with wire rope through the bottom link and made so as to prevent debris from being thrown from under the cutter.

Riding equipment shall be equipped with commercial type flashing amber lights plainly visible from 360 degrees in all directions. Flashers shall have a minimum of 32 candlepower output and flash 50 to 60 times per minute. Under no circumstances shall the Department be responsible for any damage to the Contractor's equipment due to obstacles encountered.

Movement of mowing equipment from one job location to another that is greater than five (5) miles shall be performed with a transport truck or trailer. At no time are mowers allowed to drive on the shoulder of the freeways outside of the current mowing contract limits.

Other Power Equipment The Contractor is advised that any reference to mowing does not necessarily refer exclusively to grass cutting equipment, which is tractor drawn, but shall include other power equipment as may be necessary to satisfactorily complete the work.

Methods of Treatment Typically the area to be mowed includes the median between the shoulders of both roadways and the area between the outside shoulder of the roadway and the right-of-way fence. This contract area is designated an Urban Area therefore all medians shall be mowed full width. Ramps shall be mowed from shoulder to shoulder, or from shoulder to right-of-way fence.

A fifteen (15) foot strip will be mowed adjacent to the outside shoulder of both roadways in all flat mowing areas unless restricted by the ditch. Clear vision areas within interchanges will be mowed completely as described in the highlighted maps.

Two days prior to the start of mowing, the Contractor shall notify the CCI. The Contractor and CCI shall make a joint visual inspection of all specified mowing areas both prior to and upon completion of mowing operation. The Contractor shall also notify the CCI during mowing operations to report the work progress. The inspection is for the purpose of acceptance of completed work and documenting the existing damage to turf, guardrails, delineator posts, signage, light fixtures, etc., and those caused by the Contractor's mowing operations. This inspection may be videotaped.

Mowing shall be completed in successive segments typically from ramp interchange to ramp interchange on freeways or maintenance turn arounds in the median should the distance between ramps be more than what can be completely mowed in one workday to insure uniform turf appearance upon completion of the workday. Both directions of the freeway shall be mowed simultaneously. Mowing operations, once initiated, shall continue until all designated mowing is completed including multiple contracts awarded to the same Contractor. Only adverse weather conditions shall be caused to delay completion of each mowing.

Mower decks shall be washed clean before the start of mowing in Livingston County to prevent the spread of any invasive species

All vegetation in mowing areas shall be cut to a height of five (5) inches to avoid scalping the turf. It is not necessary for the Contractor to remove grass clippings.

Mowing operations shall be performed in swaths parallel to the freeway with the flow of traffic for the first production mowing pass and trim mowing operations.

Trimming shall be performed by mechanical or hand method around all obstructions, such as signs supports, delineators, guard posts, guard rail sections, cable guard rail, utility poles, piers, abutments, structures and landscaping (trees, shrubs, etc) that may be within the designated mowing areas. Certain areas to be mowed may contain survey stakes, which must not be disturbed. Hand trimming shall be required around them. Grassed areas which are saturated with water during certain periods of the year to the point where equipment may not be used without extensive damage to the turf, shall not be mowed at that particular time, but shall be mowed later when the areas are dry. Payment shall be for the applicable work item. The Contractor shall, at all times, provide satisfactory equipment and a force of qualified workers sufficient, in the opinion of the CCI, to perform the work described herein. The force of qualified workers shall be sufficient to perform litter pickup, mowing, and related activities on a timely basis.

The mowing contractor shall notify the CCI of any issues or concerns noticed during the mowing operation such as washouts or sink holes or any other type of discrepancy encountered during the scope of this contract. It has been our observation that in the course of the mowing operation it is the mower operator that may come across abnormalities within the right of way that otherwise would be difficult to see during roadway inspections from the driving lane. MDOT expects our various contractors performing work within the right of way to report an issue that they may come across to an MDOT representative, in this case the CCI at the Brighton TSC.

Litter Removal/Disposal All litter/trash shall be picked up ahead of mowing operation. Litter includes, but is not limited to, paper, cardboard, Styrofoam, plastic, cloth, wire, steel bands, cable, garbage bags, tire tread, car parts, pallets, sheet metal, furniture, etc., as may be found on the roadside. The Contractor shall provide an adequate supply of heavy-duty bags (approved by MDOT), and deposit litter and debris in the bags in a secure manner. The bags shall be tied and placed in piles along with objects too large to bag in a safe and secure place. It shall be the Contractor’s responsibility to haul away the debris. All costs associated with litter removal, disposal or refuse, and associated costs are the responsibility of the Contractor. Litter shall be removed within twenty-four hours of completing each mowed section. Prior to a payment being made, the mowing Contractor shall notify the CCI when the mowing is completed. All refuse shall be disposed of in a "Class II" licensed landfill.

Proof of proper disposal shall be provided to the CCI upon request. The Contractor will not be responsible for disposal of suspected hazardous materials discovered during the course of this work such discovery shall immediately be reported to the CCI.

Optional Litter Removal Between mowing cycles, MDOT reserves the right to have the Contractor perform litter removal anywhere within the contract area as specified by the CCI. This optional litter pick up shall be paid at the price per acre that the vendor quotes for this work on the attached price sheet.

Note: This work is optional only as requested and directed by the CCI.

Maintaining Traffic Traffic shall be maintained in accordance with the current Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Standard Specifications for Construction, and the current Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD). Instances when traffic control would be needed is when re-locating a mower from the median near a freeway-to-freeway interchange to another location within or near that intersection perhaps one or more backup vehicles and signing may be needed to safely assist the mower to transport to the next location.

All mowing operations shall be conducted in a manner that will not create a hazard, nor hinder, restrict, or impede trunk line traffic. The Contractor shall not operate mowing equipment on the roadway or in a manner that requires crossing the roadway in an unsafe manner.

All equipment not in use may be temporarily parked on limited access freeway right-of-way, but not closer than 30…