Landscape Maintenance Carter County I-64 Rest Areas

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Purchases, is issuing a Request for Bid (RFB) for comprehensive landscape maintenance services at Carter County I-64 Rest Areas located in District Nine. The solicitation encompasses grounds maintenance across approximately 182.5 acres annually at two rest area facilities, including mowing and trimming of turf grass, mulching of landscape beds (1,700 square feet), herbicide and insecticide applications for weed and pest control, fertilization of turf and landscape plantings, tree and shrub pruning and removal, leaf removal, bi-weekly landscape bed weeding, and general grounds work including seeding and planting. Qualified vendors must maintain a minimum crew of two laborers and one vehicle, with work commencing within six calendar days of receiving a delivery order, and must employ certified pesticide applicators holding Kentucky Category 3 (Turf and Ornamental) certification to perform all herbicide and fertilizer applications. Electronic bids are due by 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time on April 4, 2025, with a written questions deadline of March 27, 2025 and Commonwealth responses issued by March 28, 2025. The master agreement will commence no earlier than March 29, 2025, and expire March 31, 2026, with four optional one-year renewal periods available with written approval from both parties. Evaluation will be conducted on a best value basis, allocating 97 points to price (with the lowest bidder receiving maximum points) and 3 points to response time (with the best response time receiving maximum points), and vendors must bid all line items to be considered for award. Site visits are encouraged and should be coordinated with Kristie Gifford, Roadside Environment District Administrator, at the District Nine office in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, with the understanding that pricing information must not be discussed during site visits.

Qualified bidders receiving additional preference points include Kentucky Correctional Industries and nonprofits serving individuals with disabilities, while resident bidders from Kentucky are eligible for reciprocal preference against nonresident bidders. Vendors must maintain general liability insurance with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and Kentucky workers' compensation insurance, with certificates provided to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet within ten days of notice of award. Price increases are prohibited during the first twelve months of the contract and thereafter require written justification and proof of industry-wide price changes. The vendor is responsible for all traffic control, equipment provision, and materials supply unless otherwise specified in delivery orders, and must comply with the KPDES Pesticide General Permit (KYG99) and associated Pesticide Discharge Management Plan requirements by executing a pesticide certification prior to commencing work. Liquidated damages of $250 per occurrence apply for work performance that does not conform to specifications, and $250 per calendar day applies for failure to respond to a delivery order within the guaranteed timeframe. No specific budget range or award value is listed in the solicitation documents, with pricing to be determined through the competitive bidding process.