Janitorial Services: Rowan Co. I-64 Rest Areas

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Purchases, issued a Request for Bid (RFB) on behalf of the Division of Maintenance for janitorial and grounds maintenance services at two Interstate 64 rest area facilities in Rowan County, Kentucky (eastbound at mile-point 140.981 and westbound at mile-point 140.836), with an approximate combined daily traffic count of 950 vehicles. The procurement seeks a qualified contractor to provide daily custodial and grounds maintenance services for 365 days annually, including cleaning of building interiors (lobbies, restrooms, storage areas, and vending areas), grounds maintenance, trash removal, snow and ice removal, minor repairs, and supplemental temporary staffing on an as-needed basis of 40 man-hours. The contractor must provide a minimum of twelve employees distributed across three daily 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.), with two employees per shift including a designated shift supervisor and one Project Supervisor available 24 hours daily. Required qualifications include a minimum of 24 months in business, general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, Kentucky workers' compensation insurance, criminal background checks for all employees within 30 days of hire, and provision of uniforms and all cleaning supplies and equipment at the contractor's expense. Award evaluation was based on best-value criteria: price weighted at 95 points (with the lowest compliant bid receiving maximum points) and months in business weighted at 5 points (maximum of 120 months evaluated). The bid submission deadline was June 22, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with electronic submission only through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service portal; the anticipated contract start date is August 1, 2023, with an initial contract period of August 1, 2023, through July 31, 2024, and four optional one-year renewal periods available.

The procurement includes qualified bidder preferences for Kentucky Industries for the Blind, nonprofits furthering KRS Chapter 163 purposes, and qualified nonprofits serving individuals with severe disabilities, which receive a 15 percent preference on maximum points contingent upon documentation within 30 days of hire demonstrating 75 percent man-hour compliance from these protected groups. Reciprocal preferences also apply to Kentucky resident bidders under KRS 45A.490-494 if the nonresident bidder's state grants similar preferences. All bidders and offerors were required to submit a completed Annual Affidavit for Bidders, Offerors and Contractors, executed and notarized in accordance with KRS 45A.110 and 45A.115, confirming compliance with Kentucky's campaign finance laws. Performance will be monitored using the Rest Area Maintenance Inspection Report form (TC 71-126), which evaluates vendor performance across eight areas (Lobby/Tourism Area, Women's Restroom, Men's Restroom, Family Restroom, Grounds Area, Vending Building, Utility Room, and Staff Performance) with a total of 258 points; vendors must maintain a minimum score of 175 points to avoid complaints or show cause letters. Liquidated damages may be assessed for performance failures, staffing shortages, safety violations, and uniform compliance issues, deducted from monthly compensation. Price increases are not permitted during the first 12 months of the contract; one price increase is allowed thereafter only if industry-wide justification is provided. No specific budget or award value was disclosed in the solicitation documents, as bidders were required to submit their own unit cost proposals for evaluation.