Grounds Maintenance - WHFTC

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, specifically the Finance and Administration Cabinet's Office of Procurement Services, is seeking grounds maintenance services for the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center (WHFTC) located in Greenville, Kentucky. The procurement is a multi-step sealed bid (RFB 758 2500000380) for comprehensive grounds maintenance of 166 acres, including 109.5 acres of Cantonment area to be mowed weekly and 58.30 acres of Ranges to be mowed bi-weekly between April 1 and September 30 (27 total mowing services). Bidders must have a minimum of 5 years of experience and are required to complete a mandatory site visit prior to submitting a bid. The procurement process is structured in two phases: Phase 1 involves submission of unpriced technical responses due February 5, 2025, at 1:30 PM ET, and Phase 2 is an online reverse auction scheduled for February 18, 2025, at 11:00 AM ET. Bidders must initially enter a $0.01 placeholder price and will only be allowed to submit actual pricing during Phase 2 if their technical proposal is deemed acceptable. Evaluation will be conducted on a "best value" basis, with specific requirements including grass height maintenance, weed trimming, drainage ditch maintenance, sidewalk edging, and debris removal.

The solicitation includes provisions for resident bidder preference for Kentucky-based companies and requires specific insurance coverage, including $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate commercial general liability insurance. Bidders must complete and submit several mandatory affidavits, including documentation of compliance with campaign finance laws, resident bidder status, and potential qualification for nonprofit organizations serving individuals with severe disabilities. The contract term is one year with four optional one-year renewal periods, and the awarded vendor will be required to pay a 2.9% transaction fee to eBridge for the electronic bidding platform. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the grounds maintenance contract suggests a significant annual investment. Bidders must also demonstrate compliance with state regulations, including maintaining tax payments, unemployment insurance contributions, and workers' compensation coverage. The procurement emphasizes local economic participation and provides opportunities for businesses with a commitment to employing individuals with disabilities.