54-TJK-07-PR35943, custodial operations and maintenance of rest area

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is requesting proposals for custodial operations and maintenance of the Caswell County Rest Area on US 29 at NC 700 (Exit 167), approximately one mile south of the NC/VA stateline, with proposals due July 29, 2026. This is a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) set-aside contract limited to firms with annual gross income of $1.5 million or less, exclusive of materials, and currently certified by NCDOT's SBE Program.

The contractor will provide comprehensive janitorial services including labor, supervision, equipment, and supplies to maintain the service building (interior and exterior), utility and storage buildings, vending machine building, outdoor lighting (excluding 15' and 30' pole lights), picnic facilities, water distribution system, and sewer system. The facility receives an estimated 156,616 annual visitors with average water usage of 2.32 gallons per person. Staffing is mandatory: one attendant per eight-hour shift from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM (15 hours daily) seven days per week, plus a shift-working supervisor at 40 hours per week minimum with at least 16 hours of supervisory time. Attendants and supervisors must be paid at $15.79 and $18.79 per hour, respectively. An alternate reduced staffing option of 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (10 hours daily) during budget restrictions must also be bid; failure to submit both the standard and alternate bid will result in rejection.

The contract runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, with optional extensions for two additional one-year periods, not to exceed three years total. Each one-year extension includes a 2 percent increase to the lump sum bid price. The maximum annual limit is $500,000 per year with a multi-year maximum of $1 million per year under North Carolina General Statute 136-28.10. A performance guarantee of 5 percent of monthly compensation is required for the first contract year and will be refunded upon project completion unless default occurs. The contractor must maintain commercial general liability insurance with limits of $5 million per occurrence and $5 million aggregate, with the State of North Carolina named as additional insured. All employees and officers must pass national criminal background checks; employees with habitual felon status, assaultive behavior convictions, weapons charges, sex offender convictions, or pending criminal cases are prohibited. Questions are due July 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM. Award goes to the lowest responsible bidder based on bid price, completeness, experience, qualifications, references, operations plan, and financial stability.