Grounds maintenance-hardeeville WC

The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT) is soliciting bids for comprehensive grounds maintenance services at the Hardeeville Welcome Center located in Richland County. The procurement seeks a contractor to provide monthly grounds maintenance and as-needed Clear Zone mowing services, with a comprehensive scope including weekly landscape maintenance, vegetation management, mowing, string trimming, edging, mulching, fertilization, weed control, and maintenance of various landscape areas. The contract term is five years, running from November 1, 2020, to October 31, 2025, with potential automatic annual renewals. Key contractor qualifications include having a supervisor with minimum five years of landscaping experience, trained crew members, and the ability to provide all necessary equipment and materials. The solicitation requires bidders to submit detailed monthly unit pricing, a $5,000 bid bond, business qualifications, and financial statements. Critical procurement dates included a pre-bid conference on September 16, 2020, bid questions deadline of September 24, 2020, and bid submission deadline of October 6, 2020, with award notification scheduled for October 9, 2020.

The procurement appears open to all qualified vendors, with specific provisions for South Carolina resident contractor and subcontractor preferences. Bidders must maintain specific insurance coverages, including $1,000,000 in commercial general liability and auto liability insurance, and workers' compensation insurance. Contractors must be registered in the state vendor system and certify compliance with drug-free workplace requirements, ethical standards, and immigration provisions. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the contract allows for potential landscaping improvements up to $100,000 per location during the contract period. The contractor will be responsible for all labor, equipment, and materials, with SCPRT covering the cost of plant materials. Payment will be issued monthly on a reimbursable basis, contingent upon satisfactory service completion and submission of detailed monthly reports. SCPRT reserves the right to conduct unscheduled inspections, withhold payment for unsatisfactory work, and impose liquidated damages for non-compliance.