54-TJK-01-PR31873, custodial operations and maintenance of rest area including lawn and grounds maintenance

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Division 1 is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for custodial operations and maintenance services at the Dare County Rest Area/Visitor Information Center located on US 64/264 near Manteo on Roanoke Island. The procurement seeks comprehensive janitorial and grounds maintenance services, including labor, supervision, equipment, and supplies to maintain the facility in a safe, attractive, clean, sanitary, and operable condition at all times. The contract requires full staffing of 9 man-hours daily year-round with one employee per shift, supplemented by an additional 12 man-hours weekly for grounds maintenance from March through October and 3 man-hours weekly from November through February. Bidders must establish lump sum pricing for full-year custodial operations and submit an alternate bid item for reduced staffing during budget restrictions with monthly pricing. Mandatory wage rates are $16.25 per hour for rest area attendants and $19.25 per hour for supervisors, effective July 1, 2026. Questions must be submitted by May 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., with bids due by May 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. The contract becomes effective July 1, 2026, with a one-year initial term running through June 30, 2027, and may be extended for two additional one-year periods at NCDOT's sole discretion, with extension prices increased by 2 percent annually, with award anticipated within thirty days of bid opening.

This is a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) set-aside contract with an annual gross income limit of $1,500,000 or less, exclusive of materials, requiring SBE certification from NCDOT's Office of Civil Rights. Bidders are not required to hold a general contractor license for SBE contracts, and payment and performance bonds are waived; however, a performance guarantee equal to 5 percent of monthly compensation is required for the initial contract year. Commercial general liability insurance with limits of $5,000,000 per occurrence and aggregate is required, naming the State of North Carolina as an additional insured. The maximum annual contract limit for SBE projects is $500,000 per year in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 136-28.10. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information has been provided in the available documentation. Site inspections are encouraged but not mandatory, with no mandatory pre-bid conference scheduled. The contract value will not exceed $500,000 annually due to SBE restrictions, with pricing determined through the lump sum bid submission for full-year operations.