Janitorial Services: Clark Co. I-64 Rest Area

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Purchases, issued a Request for Bid (RFB 605-2300000787) on behalf of the Division of Maintenance for janitorial and grounds maintenance services at the Eastbound Interstate 64 Rest Area in Clark County, Kentucky (mile-point 98.041, District Seven). The procurement seeks a contractor to provide comprehensive custodial and grounds maintenance services including cleaning of rest area buildings, restrooms, lobbies, vending areas, parking areas, sidewalks, and picnic areas; removal of litter and debris; snow and ice removal; and minor repairs to fixtures and equipment. Services must be provided seven days per week, twenty-four hours per day across three shifts (7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) at a facility serving approximately 450 vehicles daily. The contractor must maintain a minimum staff of six full-time employees (two per shift with one designated shift supervisor per shift) plus one project supervisor available 24 hours per day, and must furnish all cleaning supplies, chemicals, materials, equipment, uniforms, and blood-borne pathogen and safety-first-aid kits. Required qualifications include a minimum of twenty-four months in business, criminal background checks for all employees from Kentucky State Police or the Administrative Office of Courts, verification against the National Sex Offender Registry, employees at least 18 years of age, general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and Kentucky workers' compensation insurance. The evaluation criteria allocate 95 points to pricing (lowest responsive bidder receives maximum points) and 5 points to months in business (evaluated up to 120 months maximum). The bid solicitation opened June 1, 2023, with an initial closing date of June 16, 2023 extended via Addendum 1 to June 28, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with Addendum 2 addressing vendor questions regarding performance requirements, background checks, uniforms, staffing protocols, and emergency procedures. All bids must be submitted electronically through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service website at https://vss.ky.gov. The initial contract period runs from August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024, with four optional one-year renewal periods available, and the tentative award date is August 1, 2023.

The procurement includes qualified bidder preference designations of 15 percent of maximum points for Kentucky Industries for the Blind, nonprofits furthering KRS Chapter 163, and qualified nonprofit agencies for individuals with severe disabilities, as well as reciprocal resident bidder preference for Kentucky residents meeting specific tax, unemployment, and workers' compensation filing requirements under KRS 45A.490-494. All bidders must submit an Annual Affidavit for Bidders, Offerors and Contractors attesting compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws (KRS 45A.110 and 45A.115), notarized and effective for one year from execution. Performance is subject to daily inspections utilizing the Rest Area Maintenance Inspection Report form (TC 71-126 revised January 2023), which establishes a minimum performance threshold of 175 points out of 258 possible points across eight evaluation areas (lobby/tourism area, grounds area, women's restroom, men's restroom, family restroom, vending building, utility room, and staff performance), with scores below this benchmark triggering a vendor complaint or show cause letter. Failure to meet minimum staffing requirements, uniform compliance (light blue shirts with dark blue trousers provided within thirty days of contract start and within five days for new hires), performance standards, or the 75 percent man-hour requirement for qualified bidder claimants results in liquidated damages of 5 to 10 percent of the daily contracted rate per occurrence. No incumbent vendor or budget range was specified in the solicitation documents. The contract may be extended to other state agencies and political subdivisions with vendor consent, and prices are firm for the initial 12-month period with only one price increase permitted thereafter based on industry-wide cost changes.