Charlotte Water Grounds Maintenance Services

Charlotte Water, a department of the City of Charlotte, North Carolina, is seeking comprehensive Grounds Maintenance Services for various sites and properties within Mecklenburg County. The Request for Proposal (RFP) solicits a contractor to perform an extensive range of maintenance activities including general mowing, fertilization, weed control, chemical spraying, leaf removal, stormwater outfall cleaning, bush and tree trimming, rain garden maintenance, gravel grading, snow removal, and site restoration. The contract will have an initial two-year term with options to renew for two additional consecutive two-year periods. Proposing companies must be capable of servicing multiple site groups, which include water and wastewater treatment plants, tanks, pump stations, and lift stations across approximately 80+ locations. The proposal submission deadline is November 7, 2025, with a non-mandatory virtual vendor pre-proposal conference scheduled for October 8, 2025, and anticipated City Council contract award on January 12, 2026. Evaluation criteria will likely include the company's ability to perform specified services, pricing, past performance, and compliance with city requirements.

The procurement emphasizes the Charlotte Business INClusion (CBI) policy, which requires proposing companies to be certified as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and demonstrate commitment to including Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBE) and Woman-owned Business Enterprises (WBE). Vendors must complete the MWSBE Utilization Form, detailing their own certification status and plans for subcontractor inclusion, with the city seeking to maximize diverse business participation. While specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive scope of services covering multiple site groups suggests a significant annual investment. Companies must provide detailed pricing for various service categories, including hourly rates for different labor types, equipment rental rates, and percentage markups for overtime and replacement materials. The solicitation requires companies to have robust operational capabilities, extensive experience in municipal grounds maintenance, and the ability to service a geographically dispersed set of facilities across Mecklenburg County.