54-TJK-05-PR28934, professional lawn and grounds maintenance of rest areas

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is soliciting sealed bids for professional lawn and grounds maintenance services at rest areas located in Granville and Warren Counties along Interstate 85 in Division 5. The procurement encompasses maintenance of rest area facilities at mile marker 199 (northbound and southbound lanes in Granville County) and two miles south of the NC/VA stateline in Warren County (including I-85 Exit 233 interchange plantings). Required services include lawn mowing, fertilization, aeration, overseeding, repair seeding, weed and pest control, pruning, mulching, edging, trimming, and cleanup of developed and undeveloped areas within rest area boundaries. Bidders must hold a current North Carolina Ground Applicator Pesticide License with Ornamental and Turf Pest Control sub-classification and maintain listing in the NCDOT Directory of Transportation Firms at bid opening. Contractor staffing requirements include a minimum of 30 man-hours per week for Granville County facilities and 32 man-hours per week for Warren County, with a full-time on-site supervisor holding valid pesticide licensure. Sealed bids must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. on April 15, 2026, with bid questions due by 5:00 p.m. on March 31, 2026; no mandatory pre-bid conference will be held. The contract term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with options for four additional one-year extensions at NCDOT's sole discretion for a maximum five-year period, with award expected within thirty days of bid opening.

This procurement is designated as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) set-aside, restricting eligibility to certified small businesses with annual gross income not exceeding $1,500,000 exclusive of materials. General contractor licensure, payment bonds, and performance bonds are waived pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 136-28.10 for this SBE contract; however, commercial general liability insurance with limits of $5,000,000 per occurrence is mandatory. A performance guarantee equal to five percent of the monthly maintenance price is required for the initial contract year and will be refunded upon satisfactory completion unless an extension is effected. Compensation is structured as fixed monthly prices for lawn and grounds maintenance services at each location plus unit prices for materials including mulch, fertilization, limestone, turfgrass overseeding, and repair seeding. A comprehensive compensation reduction schedule applies for non-compliance with contract specifications, and specific budget or award values are not disclosed in the available proposal materials.