Grounds maintenance-little river WC

The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT) is soliciting bids for comprehensive grounds maintenance services at the Little River Welcome Center located at 2121 Highway 17 in Little River, South Carolina. The procurement, identified as Solicitation Number 5400020237, seeks a contractor to provide monthly grounds maintenance and as-needed Clear Zone Area mowing services for a five-year contract period from November 1, 2020, to October 31, 2025. Key service requirements include vegetation management, weekly mowing, fertilization, mulching, pruning, weed control, irrigation system monitoring, debris removal, and landscape maintenance. Contractor qualifications mandate a supervisor with a minimum of five years landscaping experience, a South Carolina Certified Pesticide Applicator License, and the ability to provide all necessary equipment and materials. The solicitation requires a pre-bid conference on September 14, 2020, at 1:00 PM, with bid questions due by September 21, 2020, at 12:00 PM, and final bids due September 29, 2020, at 2:00 PM through the online procurement system. Award notification is scheduled for October 2, 2020, with the contract awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder.

Bidders must be registered South Carolina vendors and may claim resident contractor preferences under SC Code Section 11-35-1524 if meeting specified requirements. A $5,000 bid bond is required at submission, and apparent low bidders must provide comprehensive responsibility information within 48 hours of request, including business history, comparable commercial contract references, equipment details, and litigation disclosures. The contractor must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including general liability, auto liability, and workers' compensation, with SCPRT named as an additional insured. The contract allows for potential landscaping improvements up to $100,000 per location and includes provisions for monthly payments based on satisfactorily completed services. SCPRT reserves the right to conduct unscheduled inspections and may impose liquidated damages for non-compliance. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the contract structure suggests a significant ongoing maintenance investment with potential for additional landscaping work throughout the five-year term.