2026 Cover Crop & Buffer Strip Installation

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Bureau of Development – Environmental Services, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), is soliciting proposals for cover crop and buffer strip installation services via Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 260000001599. The procurement involves seeding approximately 40 acres at the River Raisin Watershed Bank Site located in Washtenaw County, approximately 5 miles east of Manchester in Bridgewater Township, with MDOT-approved native upland seed mixtures consisting of permanent grasses and forbs. Key deliverables include native upland seed mixture installation on 40 acres, seed installation services, debris removal, field preparation, and aerial drone herbicide application. The northern buffer area shall extend approximately 50 feet north of the Bridgewater #2 Drain, with the entire southern farm field to be seeded. Seeding must be completed between September 15 and the first frost, with optimal seeding occurring between October 1 and first frost, following a contract execution date of September 1, 2025. All contract activities must be completed in 2025, and the contract may be renewed for up to two additional one-year periods at the State's sole discretion. The evaluation will be conducted on a pass/fail basis with award to the responsive and responsible bidder offering the lowest price. Bidders must submit questions by 3:00 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, with proposals due by 3:00 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, April 9, 2026, and an anticipated contract begin date of Monday, April 20, 2026. The contractor is responsible for all labor, materials, equipment, tools, supervision, transportation, and incidental services, and all materials and workmanship must conform to MDOT Standard Specifications for Construction (2020 Edition) and applicable American National Standards.

Contractors must comply with prevailing wage requirements as established for Washtenaw County, with rates varying by trade classification and ranging from approximately $36.87 per hour for landscaping laborers to $110.76 per hour for elevator constructors at straight time rates, and must submit certified payroll through the MDOT labor compliance program tracker website. All bidders and subcontractors must register with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity under Public Act 10 of 2023 and provide active State Project Registration Confirmation letters. Mandatory insurance requirements include commercial general liability coverage of $2,000,000 general aggregate, automobile liability of $1,000,000 per accident, and workers' compensation insurance according to applicable laws. The contractor must furnish performance and lien bonds each for not less than 100% of the total contract price. Contractors are encouraged to offer quick payment terms with specified discount percentages if invoices are paid within a stated number of days of receipt. Pricing must be firm for the entire contract length, with itemized invoices required within 45 days after contract expiration. A kick-off meeting is required within 30 calendar days of the contract effective date, with progress meetings to follow as designated by MDOT. While a specific budget or award value is not stated in the procurement documents, the State reserves discretion on the quantity of acres to be seeded and is not obligated to purchase the full 40 acres listed.