Janitorial Services: Woodford Co. I-64 Rest Areas

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Purchases, issued a Request for Bid (RFB 605 2300000783) for comprehensive janitorial and grounds maintenance services at two Interstate 64 rest area facilities located in Woodford County, Kentucky (eastbound at mile-point 60.227 and westbound at mile-point 60.719), with an approximate daily traffic count of 1,700 vehicles. The procurement requires the successful contractor to provide custodial maintenance including cleaning of lobbies, restrooms, storage areas, and vending areas; grounds maintenance encompassing litter removal, trash collection, sidewalk cleaning, snow and ice removal; and minor mechanical and structural repairs (up to $25) at both facilities. Services must be delivered 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.) seven days per week for 365 days annually, with a minimum staffing requirement of 12 employees per 24-hour period plus one project supervisor available on a 24-hour basis. The contractor must furnish all labor, equipment, materials, supplies, and chemicals; provide uniforms to employees at no cost; maintain $1,000,000 per occurrence general liability insurance and Kentucky workers' compensation insurance; conduct criminal background checks for all employees (including National Sex Offender Registry verification) with employees at least 18 years old; and pay for a private telephone line to the facility. The contract period commences August 1, 2023, and runs through July 31, 2024, with four optional one-year renewal periods available. Award determination utilized a best value evaluation methodology with price weighted at 95 points (lowest price receives maximum points) and months in business weighted at 5 points (minimum 24 months required, maximum 120 months evaluated for scoring purposes). The bid closing date was June 28, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with electronic submission required through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service (VSS) portal at https://vss.ky.gov and online bid readings conducted via conference call at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. Written questions were due by June 8, 2023.

The solicitation included qualified bidder preferences under Kentucky law, with Kentucky Industries for the Blind and nonprofits furthering KRS Chapter 163 purposes (serving individuals with severe disabilities) receiving a 15 percent preference, and the Department of Corrections Division of Prison Industries receiving a 20 percent preference on maximum points awarded. Kentucky resident bidders were eligible for reciprocal preference equal to preferences given by other states to Kentucky bidders. Performance is subject to daily inspections utilizing the standardized Rest Area Maintenance Inspection Report form (TC 71-126), with potential liquidated damages assessed at 10 percent of the daily contracted rate for non-compliance with minimum staffing requirements, uniform standards, safety standards, and cleaning specifications. Critical Pass/Fail inspection items include sharps containers, blood pathogen and first aid kits, snow and ice removal, full staffing levels, and uniform compliance, with failure in any Pass/Fail item triggering immediate penalties per contract terms. The solicitation required completion of the Annual Affidavit for Bidders, Offerors and Contractors certifying compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws (KRS 45A.110 and 45A.115) and the Disability Form for employees with qualifying severe disabilities as defined under KRS 45A.465 and KRS 12.450. No specific budget ceiling or award value range was identified in the solicitation documents; pricing was submitted as line items for daily janitorial services (365 days) and supplemental temporary staffing (40 man-hours) for peak demand periods.