Landscape Maintenance Boone Co I-75 Rest Area

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Purchases, issued a Request for Bid (RFB) for landscape maintenance services at the Boone County I-75 Rest Area and related facilities in KYTC District Six. The procurement encompasses comprehensive grounds maintenance services across four locations totaling approximately 61 acres per mowing cycle with an estimated 30 cycles per season, including mowing and trimming of approximately 1,830 acres, mulching of 20,000 square feet, pre- and post-emergence weed control across 66 acres, landscape insect control, fertilization, tree and shrub pruning and removal, herbaceous plantings trimming, leaf removal, landscape bed weeding on a bi-weekly basis, and seeding of grasses and plantings at the Boone County Rest Area South Bound (22.50 acres), Boone County Rest Area North Bound (17.00 acres), I-71 Boone County Weigh Station South Bound (6.75 acres), and I-75 Kenton County Weigh Station South Bound (14.75 acres). The RFB closed on March 15, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with electronic submission required through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service portal, and the tentative award date was March 15, 2024. The initial contract period runs from the award date through February 28, 2025, with four optional one-year renewal periods available. Vendors must guarantee a specific response time for beginning work after receipt of a Delivery Order and provide a minimum of one complete crew consisting of two laborers/equipment operators and a supply vehicle. Required qualifications include current workers' compensation insurance in accordance with Kentucky law, general liability insurance with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet named as an additional insured, and proof of commercial applicator certification in Category 3 (Turf and Ornamental) from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. The award was made on a best value basis with pricing weighted at 95 points and response time weighted at 5 points, with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder receiving the award, and vendors face liquidated damages of $250 per day for failure to meet guaranteed response times and $250 per occurrence for work not conforming to specifications.

Reciprocal preference applies to Kentucky resident bidders in accordance with KRS 45A.494, with additional preferences of 15 to 20 percent of maximum points available for qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries (20 percent preference), Kentucky Industries for the Blind, nonprofits furthering KRS Chapter 163, and qualified nonprofit agencies for individuals with severe disabilities (15 percent preference). All contractors and subcontractors performing pesticide-related work must comply with the KPDES Pesticide General Permit (KYG99) and the Pesticide Discharge Management Plan (PDMP), with detailed specifications provided for six pesticide products including landscape pre-emergent herbicides, post-emergent herbicides, insecticide, turfgrass pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides. Price increases are not permitted during the first twelve months; only one price increase is allowed during the contract period based on industry-wide changes with thirty days' written notice and proof of justification. Vendors must complete and submit a notarized Annual Affidavit for Bidders, Offerors and Contractors attesting compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws pursuant to KRS 45A.110 and 45A.115. No specific budget range or award value was disclosed in the solicitation documents; the Commonwealth reserves the right to adjust quantities based on actual needs, weather conditions, and budgetary constraints, with all supplies, equipment, and services subject to inspection and acceptance by the Commonwealth prior to payment.