54-TJK-06-PR40682, state route shoulder and median mowing including vegetation trimming and litter/debris

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is requesting proposals under RFP 54-TJK-06-PR40682 for state route shoulder and median mowing, vegetation trimming, and litter/debris removal in Columbus and Bladen Counties, Division 6. A mandatory pre-bid conference is set for November 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and bids open November 18, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Bidders must be pre-qualified as either a Bidder or a Purchase Order Contract Prime Contractor.

Mowing covers four systems. Primary Divided spans 75 road miles with 6 routine and 12 cleanup cycles, each including trimming. Primary Undivided spans 464 road miles with 3 routine and 3 cleanup cycles including trimming, plus 6 litter cycles. Secondary Paved spans 1,420 road miles and Secondary Unpaved spans 105 road miles, each with 3 routine and 3 cleanup cycles. Vegetation must be cut to four inches, with an estimated 433,673 linear feet of guardrail, cable rail, and sign trimming per cycle. Minimum equipment includes 12 flex-wing mowers, a zero-turn mower for roundabouts, service vehicles for each county, and a 4WD tractor with a truck-mounted blower. All personnel must wear ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 Class 2 vests, and at least one NCDOT Certified Work Zone Supervisor must be maintained throughout the term.

Performance guarantees take the form of 100% Performance and Payment Bonds or a 6% retainage fee. Liquidated damages are $500 per day for missed intermediate completion times, $250 per day for staffing deficiencies, and $500 per incident for equipment violations or safety failures. Work is limited to daylight hours and excludes Sundays, state holidays, holiday weekends, and the May 1–31 mowing moratorium established by SL 2025-47.

The contract runs March 1, 2027 through February 29, 2028, with NCDOT able to extend for up to four additional one-year renewals at its discretion. Renewal unit bid adjustments use the Consumer Price Index for the "Services" category. Fuel price adjustments are based on shoulder miles mown against a base diesel price of $5.0299 per gallon. Bid prices must include supervision, labor, disposal, transportation, fuels, lubricants, equipment, and machinery. Invoices are due within 30 days of work completion and must include subcontractor payment statements and Litter Management Website reporting documentation.