Grounds maintenance-charleston

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is seeking a contractor for weekly grounds maintenance services at three specific locations in the Charleston area: the District 6 Engineering Office, Charleston Maintenance Office, and Parkers Ferry Section Shed, all located in North Charleston. The scope of work encompasses comprehensive landscape maintenance including mowing, edging, weed control, shrub and hedge trimming, mulch replenishment, debris removal, and initial cleanup services. A mandatory site visit was scheduled for April 20, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., with written questions due by April 21, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. Sealed bids were required to be submitted through the online procurement system at www.procurement.sc.gov by April 29, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. The contract will have an initial term of one year, beginning May 13, 2021, through May 12, 2026, with automatic one-year renewals unless 30 days' notice of non-renewal is provided. Evaluation will be based on the lowest total bid, determined by summing extended prices across 18 line items covering each location's services over the five-year contract period.

The solicitation encourages South Carolina resident contractors to claim preference if they meet specific statutory requirements, including maintaining an in-state office for at least one year and directly employing South Carolina residents for at least 50 percent of total labor costs. Contractors must obtain a South Carolina vendor number and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including commercial general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and auto liability of $1,000,000 per accident. Nonresident contractors may be subject to 2 percent income tax withholding unless they register with the South Carolina Department of Revenue and submit Form I-312. Pricing is structured as a lump sum paid in twelve equal monthly installments, with separate line items for each year of service at each location. While no specific budget range was explicitly stated, the detailed pricing structure suggests a multi-year contract with predictable monthly payments. The procurement process includes provisions for potential contract termination, with contractors able to end the contract at the conclusion of any term by providing 90 days' prior notice.