Darlington traditional mowing

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for Darlington Traditional Mowing services, targeting roadside maintenance across Richland County. The solicitation seeks a contractor to perform comprehensive mowing services on interstate, primary, and secondary routes, encompassing routine mowing, rail mowing, ditch mowing, and bridge mowing activities. Specific work quantities include 7,383.60 acres of Interstate Routine Mowing, 2,199,450 linear feet of Interstate Rail Mowing, 840 acres of Interstate Ditch Mowing, 20,343 acres of Primary Routine Mowing, 1,395,120 linear feet of Primary Rail Mowing, 39,606 acres of Secondary Routine Mowing, and 430,580 linear feet of Secondary Rail Mowing. Contractors must provide a minimum of seven tractors, each with a minimum 75 horsepower PTO output, and meet daily production requirements of at least 50 acres. Mowing activities are restricted to April 1 through November 15 annually, with vegetation to be maintained at a uniform height of four to six inches. Key deadlines include a mandatory pre-bid conference on December 13, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., with questions due by December 14, 2023, at 12:00 p.m., and bid submissions due January 16, 2024, at 2:30 p.m., with award notification scheduled for February 23, 2024.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention any set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract term is one year with potential for four one-year renewals, creating a total possible contract period of five years with an estimated start date of March 5, 2024. Contractors must provide a labor and material payment bond equal to one year's contract value within ten days of contract execution. The estimated annual costs for routine mowing, guardrail mowing, and ditch mowing activities total $2,904,980 across the five-year contract term. Pricing will be evaluated on a unit price basis, with the lowest responsible and responsive bidder expected to be awarded the contract. Non-compliance with specifications may result in non-refundable deductions ranging from $500 to $1,000 per offense, plus potential repair costs and contract termination for repeated violations. The solicitation includes a detailed Non-Compliance Notice template to enforce service quality standards throughout the contract term.