Grounds maintenance-fair play WC

The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT) is soliciting bids for comprehensive grounds maintenance services at the Fair Play Welcome Center located on I-85 North in Fair Play, South Carolina. The procurement is an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for monthly grounds maintenance and as-needed clear zone mowing services, covering a 60-month contract period from December 13, 2019, to December 12, 2024. Services include routine mowing, vegetation management, mulching, weed control, tree inspections, irrigation system monitoring, and debris removal across designated service areas. Contractors must provide all necessary equipment, materials, and personnel, with specific requirements including employing a supervisor with at least five years of landscaping experience, maintaining crews trained in grounds maintenance, and performing work during weekday daylight hours. Key qualifications include holding a valid South Carolina Certified Pesticide Applicator License in Category 3, providing comprehensive insurance coverage, and demonstrating at least five years of stable ground maintenance experience. The bid opening was originally scheduled for November 19, 2019, with an amendment extending the date to November 26, 2019, at 2:00 PM, and potential bidders were required to submit questions by November 8, 2019.

The procurement offers South Carolina Resident Contractor Preference or Resident Subcontractor Preference at 2% or 4% discount levels for qualifying vendors. A bid bond equal to five percent of the total bid amount is required, and contractors must provide Commercial General Liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, Auto Liability of at least $1,000,000 per accident, and Worker's Compensation with Statutory Limits. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, with SCPRT retaining the right to withhold payment for unsatisfactory work or claim damages. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the solicitation indicates the contract allows for landscaping improvements up to $50,000 per location during the contract term. Contractors will be reimbursed for documented expenditures and will be responsible for maintaining these improvements. Although a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the contract covers five consecutive years of monthly maintenance services, suggesting a potentially significant total contract value based on the monthly pricing structure and comprehensive service requirements.