Grounds Maintenance

Portsmouth Public Schools (PPS) in Virginia has issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB #1106-B-2526) for comprehensive grounds maintenance services across 23 school facilities in four service areas: Uptown, Downtown, Manor, and Mid-Town. The procurement seeks a contractor to provide extensive grounds maintenance including mowing, trimming, mulching, litter removal, weed control, edging, pruning, pesticide application, and athletic field maintenance for elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and preschool locations. Contractors must maintain specific performance standards, such as ten-calendar-day mowing cycles at two-inch height and specialized athletic field maintenance with varying height requirements. The solicitation requires detailed qualifications, including completed background certification forms, Virginia pesticide applicator certifications, and compliance with E-Verify program requirements for employers with over 50 employees. Key procurement dates include a bid question deadline of December 15, 2025, with site visits available until that date, and a bid submission deadline of January 6, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Procurement Office located in Portsmouth.

The procurement includes a Minority and Woman Business Enterprise (M/WBE) program with an 8% participation goal for certified M/WBE subcontractors, requiring bidders to submit comprehensive M/WBE documentation to remain responsive. Contractors must demonstrate good faith efforts in M/WBE recruitment, including activities such as notifying M/WBE businesses of opportunities, making project documents available, breaking work into economically feasible units, and providing financial or bonding assistance. The contract structure allows for a two-year initial term with three potential one-year renewal options, and PPS reserves the right to make multiple awards without guaranteeing minimum work volume. Contractors must provide all-inclusive pricing covering labor, supervision, materials, equipment, and incidental expenses, with potential re-inspection fees of $425 for the first non-compliance correction and $50 for subsequent re-inspections. While specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive scope covering 23 school facilities across four service areas suggests a substantial contract opportunity for grounds maintenance services.