GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SCDOT HQ BLDG

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has issued an Invitation for Bid for comprehensive grounds maintenance services at its headquarters building located at 955 Park Street in Columbia, South Carolina. The procurement seeks a contractor to provide lawn maintenance services including mowing, edging, string trimming, plant bed cleaning, mulch installation, and irrigation system management across 16 zones. Specific deliverables include weekly services from May 1 through October 31 (approximately 27 services), monthly services from November 1 through February 28 (approximately 4 services), and twice-monthly services from March 1 through April 30 (approximately 4 services), totaling approximately 35 service days annually. Key service requirements include shrub pruning twice annually, tree pruning with branches trimmed to a minimum of 6.5 feet from the ground, and parking garage cleaning. The mandatory site visit is scheduled for May 19, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., with questions from offerors due by May 20, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. Bids must be submitted by May 26, 2022, at 2:30 p.m., with award notification planned for June 3, 2022.

The contract will have an initial term of one year beginning June 13, 2022, and ending June 12, 2027, with potential automatic annual renewals. Contractors must maintain Commercial General Liability insurance with limits of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and Auto Liability coverage of $1,000,000 per accident. South Carolina resident contractor and subcontractor preferences are available and must be claimed in the bid if applicable. The award will be made to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, subject to Transportation Secretary approval. Pricing must be submitted as unit prices for 175 service units of general lawn maintenance and 10 units of hardwood mulch installation. Contractors must register as state vendors and complete a certification regarding conflicts of interest with SCDOT Commission members. The contract is subject to fund availability and may be terminated for convenience by the state. While no specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements are mentioned, contractors must comply with state procurement regulations and provide all necessary labor, materials, supplies, and equipment to perform the work.