Agencywide mechanical brush management

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is soliciting fixed-price bids for agencywide mechanical brush management services across all seven districts in South Carolina, specifically targeting roadway rights-of-way along Interstate, primary, and secondary routes. The procurement covers mechanical cutting of brush and herbaceous vegetation on an as-needed, per-acre basis, with each lot consisting of three line items representing different roadway types. Contractors must provide all necessary equipment, labor, traffic control devices, licenses, and incidental costs, with a maximum pricing limit of $300.00 per acre. The solicitation is structured into seven geographical lots, with each lot requiring a minimum daily production of 8 acres and a minimum request size of 50 acres. Key procurement dates include a pre-bid conference held on May 18, 2021, a written questions deadline of May 19, 2021, and online proposal submissions due by June 8, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. The contract will have an initial one-year term beginning July 16, 2021, with potential for four additional one-year renewals, creating a maximum contract period of five years.

While no specific set-aside designations were explicitly noted, contractors must meet several critical qualifications and insurance requirements. Bidders are required to carry commercial general liability insurance with $1,000,000 per occurrence, auto liability coverage of $1,000,000 per accident, and workers' compensation insurance as mandated by South Carolina law. Contractors must also maintain documentation regarding debarment, ethics compliance, drug-free workplace certification, and illegal immigration compliance. Successful bidders will be required to attend a pre-performance conference within five days of award and will be subject to potential non-refundable deductions ranging from $500 to $1,000 for noncompliance, with the possibility of contract termination if three or more noncompliance notices are accumulated. While specific budget ranges were not detailed, the per-acre pricing cap of $300.00 and the potential for work across seven districts suggest a significant potential contract value. Bidders are not required to bid on all lots but must bid on all items within any lot they choose to participate in, providing flexibility for various sized contractors.