D1 Office, OMR & Signal Landscaping

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) solicitation for comprehensive landscaping and grounds maintenance services for the District 1 Campus in Columbia, South Carolina. The procurement covers three specific facility locations: the District One Engineering Office, the Office of Materials & Research, and the District 1 Signal Shop. Required services include weekly mowing and edging during the growing season (April-November), bed maintenance, shrub pruning, irrigation management, and seasonal chemical applications such as pre-emergent treatments, weed control, and fertilization. The solicitation contains 45 line items distributed across three lots, with varying service quantities for each location. Key procurement dates include a question submission deadline of June 30, 2023 at 12:00 PM, sealed bid submissions due by July 6, 2023 at 2:30 PM, and award notification scheduled for July 7, 2023. The contract will have an initial one-year term with four optional one-year renewal periods, potentially extending the total contract period to three years from the estimated start date of July 7, 2023 through July 6, 2026.

Contractors must maintain specific insurance coverages, including Commercial General Liability insurance with $1,000,000 per occurrence, Auto Liability coverage of $1,000,000 per accident, and Workers' Compensation with statutory limits. South Carolina resident contractors and subcontractors may qualify for preference discounts of 2% or 4% if specific criteria are met. The contract pricing is fixed and lump sum, with payments made in twelve equal monthly installments based on properly submitted invoices. Contractors are required to assign an on-site supervisor available within thirty minutes of notification and assume full responsibility for materials, labor, equipment, and debris disposal. The state reserves the right to withhold payment for unsatisfactory work and deduct damages as appropriate. Price adjustments are only permitted upon renewal terms, with any increase requests requiring submission at least ninety days prior to term expiration and accompanied by supporting documentation. While a specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the services and multi-year potential suggest a significant annual investment in grounds maintenance for the SCDOT District 1 Campus.