Lackawanna Secondary Herbicide Services

The Lackawanna County Roads Department, in conjunction with PennDOT Engineering District 4, is seeking a qualified contractor to provide comprehensive secondary roadside herbicide and pesticide spraying services. The procurement involves roadside pesticide application services that include bare ground treatment across 450 acres, broadleaf and brush spraying over 24 hours, side trimming/tree growth control for 15 hours, and stockpile spraying for an additional 15 hours. Contractors must possess a Pennsylvania Commercial Pesticide Application Business License with Categories E and F certifications and employ at least one Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator with valid certifications in Category 10 (Right-of-Way) and Category 23 (Park/School Pest Control). The public bid opening is scheduled for January 13, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. EST via Microsoft Teams, with all questions due by January 6, 2026, at 3:00 P.M. EST. Contractors must demonstrate equipment and personnel capability within 10 calendar days of bid opening and complete equipment calibration within 10 working days of Purchase Order issuance, with a mandatory pre-season meeting to follow successful calibration.

This contract is exclusively designated for DGS-certified small businesses, with proof of certification required as a condition of bid responsiveness. The contract term is one year with four optional one-year renewal periods, with potential annual rate escalation up to 5%. Contractors are prohibited from subcontracting any portion of the work and must maintain two-person crews with designated forepersons. Compensation is structured with 70% payment upon completion, 15% upon 90% control verification, and hourly work paid weekly based on Confirmation of Service forms. Liquidated damages of $500 per day will be assessed for non-compliance after the first written warning. The contractor must comply with NPDES permit requirements and use only PennDOT-approved herbicide products. While specific award value is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the services and the requirement for specialized equipment and certified personnel suggest a substantial contract opportunity for qualified small businesses in the herbicide and pesticide management sector.