GROUNDS MAINTENANCE-SANTEE WC

The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for grounds maintenance services at the Santee Welcome Center located on Southbound I-95, Mile Marker 99 in Santee, South Carolina. The procurement encompasses monthly grounds maintenance and as-needed Clear Zone Area mowing services, with a comprehensive scope including vegetation management, irrigation system maintenance, litter removal, and landscape upkeep. Contractors must provide weekly mowing, string trimming, pruning, mulching, and maintaining all exterior grounds within property boundaries to ensure a safe and attractive environment. Key qualifications include a minimum of five years of ground maintenance business history, three recent comparable commercial contracts with references, and a supervisor with at least five years of applicable landscaping experience. All herbicide applicators must hold a valid South Carolina Certified Pesticide Applicator License. The solicitation timeline includes a pre-bid conference held on September 15, 2020, with bid submissions due online by September 29, 2020, at 2:00 PM. The initial contract term spans five years from November 1, 2020, through October 31, 2025, with potential automatic one-year renewals.

Bidders may claim South Carolina Resident Contractor Preferences of 2% or 4% if meeting specific statutory requirements, including maintaining an in-state office and employing South Carolina-domiciled labor. A $5,000 bid bond is required with submission, and the contractor must maintain insurance coverage including $1,000,000 Commercial General Liability, $1,000,000 Auto Liability, and Workers' Compensation as mandated by state statute. Contractors are required to register as a South Carolina vendor prior to bidding and must provide comprehensive documentation including business history, equipment lists, and disclosures of any failed projects or legal issues. The contract allows for landscaping improvements up to $100,000 per location over its duration, with the contractor reimbursed for detailed expenditures. While specific total contract value is not explicitly stated, the procurement covers five annual line items with monthly unit pricing, suggesting a potential multi-year contract value in the range of $50,000 to $150,000 annually, depending on the specific scope of maintenance services required.