29. 2 miles of trail to be cleared for accessibility

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is issuing a Request for Proposal for professional services to maintain approximately 29.2 miles of trail at the Mike Levine Lakeland Trail State Park, located in Livingston and Jackson Counties. The procurement requires contractors to provide brush clearing and mowing services to ensure safe passage along the designated trail corridor. Brush and tree limb clearing must be performed annually between September 15 and September 30, with trimming to 12 feet height and minimum five-foot brush cutback from trail edges; oak tree cutting is prohibited between April 15 and July 15 due to oak wilt disease concerns. Mowing and weed whipping services are required monthly from May through September (five total mowings) between the 10th and 20th of each month, with five-foot width cuts from trail edges and trimming around benches, signs, and fences. Debris disposal is permitted without chipping requirements, and blowing operations must occur within four hours of mowing or brushing activities. Contractors must demonstrate relevant experience from the past five years and provide at least three project references. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Michigan SIGMA VSS system by 9:30 a.m. Eastern on March 13, 2026, with an anticipated contract commencement date of June 1, 2026. An optional pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for February 12, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, requiring registration by February 6, 2026. Questions must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. Eastern on February 23, 2026. The State will evaluate proposals based on pass/fail technical criteria and best value considerations, including prior performance, economic impact, and total cost of ownership. Liquidated damages of $5,000 plus $100 per day will be assessed for late or improper completion.

The solicitation is open to all vendors providing services under commodity code 91252, with no pre-qualifications or set-asides designated for disadvantaged enterprises. Contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, umbrella liability of $5,000,000, automobile liability of $1,000,000, and workers' compensation as required by law. Equipment specifications indicate that tire-based equipment is preferred over track equipment, with low-aggression tires recommended to preserve trail beds; acceptable equipment options include boom mowers and side-by-side vehicles. Pricing must be submitted on a firm, fixed-fee basis for a 365-day pricing period, with adjustments permitted only upon written request supported by documented cost changes, and all costs must be itemized in proposals. The contract term is three years with two optional one-year renewal periods, with payments made via electronic funds transfer within 45 days of invoice receipt. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the solicitation materials. All proposals will become public record upon receipt, though bidders may request confidential treatment of trade secrets and proprietary financial information through a completed Confidential Treatment Form.