FY18 Fertilization & Weed Control Secondary/Capital Complex

The State of Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) issued Request for Proposal No. 18-1958 to procure fertilization and weed control services for fiscal year 2018 across multiple facilities in Grand Traverse County and Lansing City. The procurement seeks qualified contractors to provide lawn maintenance services at three primary locations: the Capital Complex (including SOM Warehouse, State Lab & Records facility) covering 25 and 8 acres respectively, and the Secondary Complex covering 100 acres (excluding a 30-acre Precision Drive Track area). Services required include three fertilizations, one pre-emergent application, and two weed control treatments at the Capital Complex, and one fertilization, one pre-emergent application, and two weed control treatments at the Secondary Complex. Contractors must apply granular fertilizer with a mandatory Fertilizer/Dimension combo product containing 0.10 Dimension and 25-30% slow release herbicide, along with either Wise Momentum FX2 or Millennium Ultra2 herbicide products. Bidders were required to submit questions by April 2, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern, with answers provided by 4:00 p.m. the same day, and proposals were due April 9, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern via www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS in modifiable format. Mandatory qualifications include proper licensure to apply fertilization and weed control products, proof of insurance, a toll-free customer service line available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, detailed organizational charts with staff information, and full disclosure of all subcontractors. Work restrictions mandate that lawn areas around buildings cannot be serviced until after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, while track and field areas may be serviced during standard daytime hours. Evaluation criteria include fair market value determination, with the State reserving the right to conduct facility tours, require oral presentations, and perform reference checks; the State is not obligated to accept the lowest price proposal.

Contractors must maintain Commercial General Liability insurance with minimum coverage of $2,000,000 for General Aggregate Limit and Products/Completed Operations Aggregate Limit, $1,000,000 for Personal & Advertising Injury Limit, and $1,000,000 for Each Occurrence Limit, with the State of Michigan listed as an additional insured. Certificates of Insurance must be submitted on the standard Accord form prior to Purchase Order issuance; failure to do so results in award disqualification. Bidders must certify compliance with various requirements including abusive labor practices avoidance, Michigan business tax filing, Iran-linked business status, clean corporate citizen status, and absence of outstanding tax or debt obligations. The RFP does not specify set-aside designations; however, bidders may indicate qualified disabled veteran status if applicable. Pricing proposals must be submitted on a per-acre basis with separate material and labor costs for each location and application type, and contractors are encouraged to offer early payment discounts. Liquidated damages of $5,000 plus $100 per day apply for late or improper completion of work. No incumbent vendors or award value ranges were identified in the procurement documents, and the anticipated contract begin date was to be determined at the time of posting.