Grounds maintenance-north augusta WC

The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT) is seeking a qualified contractor for comprehensive grounds maintenance services at the North Augusta Welcome Center through an Invitation for Bid (IFB) solicitation. The contract requires a monthly fixed-price service covering extensive landscaping and vegetation management, including mowing, pruning, fertilization, weed control, and irrigation system monitoring. Bidders must possess a minimum of five years of commercial landscaping experience and provide three professional references. The initial contract term is one year, with options for four additional one-year renewals, potentially extending the total contract period to five years. Key dates include a pre-bid conference on 10/20/2025 at 1:30 PM at the North Augusta Welcome Center, bid response deadline of 10/23/2025 at 3:00 PM, and anticipated award posting on 10/24/2025. Contractors are required to use licensed pesticide applicators, maintain detailed service records, and submit monthly reports. A bid bond or certified check of $5,000 is mandatory for bid submission.

The solicitation includes provisions for South Carolina Resident Contractor and Subcontractor Preferences, which may provide additional consideration for local businesses. The contract allows for potential landscaping improvements up to $50,000 over the contract term, with the selected contractor responsible for maintaining any improvements. Contractors must adhere to specific clear zone mowing requirements, including maintaining vegetation height between 2-4 inches and following strict safety protocols such as using equipment with amber warning lights and workers wearing class II safety vests. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, the local contractor preference suggests some prioritization of South Carolina-based businesses. The scope of work encompasses not only the welcome center grounds but also includes mowing services on interstate shoulders and around interstate signs and structures, with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) planning three annual mowing cycles. The contract will require precise coordination between SCPRT and SCDOT, with payment contingent upon satisfactory completion of specified maintenance tasks.