Furnish North Oak Park Maintenance for Physical Plant

Southeastern Louisiana University's Purchasing Department is soliciting sealed bids through an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for routine maintenance services at North Oak Park, located in Vernon Parish, Louisiana. The contractor will provide comprehensive landscape maintenance services for a 12-month contract period from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, including weekly mowing, string trimming, edging, debris removal, herbicide application, and selective pruning. The scope of work encompasses 39 weekly visits from March through November and one monthly visit each in December, January, and February for a total of 42 annual service visits, plus a separate one-time initial cleanup cost. Bidders must submit separate pricing for weekly maintenance services and the initial cleanup, with all prices quoted on an F.O.B. University, Hammond, Louisiana basis and billed monthly after service completion. A mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for April 22, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at the university's Physical Plant location, with failure to attend resulting in automatic bid rejection. Sealed bids must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on May 6, 2026, with public opening to follow immediately thereafter, and the deadline for fax inquiries is April 23, 2026. Bid prices must remain firm for a minimum of 30 calendar days and include all applicable taxes except state sales and use tax.

The contractor must demonstrate proof of comprehensive insurance coverage prior to commencing work, including workers' compensation with $1,000,000 employers' liability, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 annual aggregate, and automobile liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, all from insurers with A.M. Best ratings of A-:VI or higher. The contractor must also execute an indemnification agreement protecting the State of Louisiana and all state departments and agencies from claims arising from the contractor's actions or omissions. Louisiana preference is available for products produced or manufactured in the state that are equal in quality to out-of-state alternatives. The initial contract term may be extended for four additional 12-month periods at the same prices, terms, and conditions if mutually agreeable and contingent upon legislative appropriation of funds, with price increases for renewals limited to documented increases in actual costs or the Consumer Price Index-U percentage increase for the preceding 12 months. No specific budget range or award value is identified in the solicitation documents, and no incumbent vendor information or set-aside designations are mentioned.