IFB 11A4301 Application of Pre-Emergent & Contact Herbicides, San Diego County

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is soliciting bids through Invitation for Bid (IFB) 11A4301 for herbicide application services across approximately 1,200 acres of bare and landscaped areas within Caltrans rights-of-way throughout San Diego County. The primary objectives are weed control, fire prevention, flood prevention, erosion control, and preservation of roadside vegetation. The successful contractor must provide all labor, tools, materials (excluding herbicides which Caltrans will supply), equipment, and travel necessary to perform hand application spraying methods requiring a minimum of two personnel and capable of treating at least four acres per day. Services will be performed on an on-call and as-needed basis during standard working hours of 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays and inclement weather. Required qualifications include holding a current and valid Qualified Applicator License (QAL) or Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) from the California Department of Pesticide Regulations, maintaining valid Department of Industrial Relations registration, and compliance with prevailing wage requirements for contracts exceeding $15,000. The written question deadline is April 9, 2026, with a final bid submission deadline of April 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., followed by bid opening at 2:30 p.m. that same day, with a proposed award date of April 29, 2026, and an estimated contract commencement of June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2029.

The solicitation includes a five percent small business preference available to certified small businesses and microbusinesses, and a separate Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) incentive program offering incentives ranging from one to five percent based on verified participation. Non-small businesses may satisfy preference requirements by subcontracting at least 25 percent of the net bid price to certified small businesses. All bidders must provide required certifications including the Bid/Bidder Certification Sheet, Bidder Declaration, California Civil Rights Laws Certification, and Darfur Contracting Act Certification, and the selected contractor must furnish proof of insurance within ten working days of award notification with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate for general liability, $1,000,000 combined single limit for automobile liability, and $1,000,000 employer's liability limits for workers' compensation. State general prevailing wage rates apply, with Labor Code compliance required including weekly certified payroll submissions and apprenticeship participation for contracts of $30,000 or more. No incumbent vendor or budget range information is provided in the solicitation documents.