Landscape Maintenance Rowan County Rest Areas Rebid

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Purchases seeks qualified landscape maintenance contractors to provide comprehensive grounds maintenance services at Rowan County Rest Areas located on I-64 Eastbound and Westbound in District 9. The scope of work encompasses mowing and trimming of approximately 425 acres per season (estimated at 15 acres per cycle over approximately 25 cycles), mulching of 5,500 square feet of landscape plantings and beds, pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control, landscape insect control, trimming of 225 square feet of herbaceous plantings, pruning and shearing of 20 individual shrubs and 6,000 square feet of mass plantings, pruning of 15 trees, removal of 5 trees and shrubs, landscape and turf grass fertilization, leaf removal from 15 acres, bi-weekly weeding of 5,500 square feet of landscape beds, and seeding of grasses and flowers requiring 24 man-hours of labor. The initial contract period runs from award through March 31, 2026, with four optional one-year renewal periods available. Bidders must submit responses electronically through Kentucky's Vendor Self Service (VSS) system by May 1, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with a tentative award date of May 9, 2025. Written questions must be submitted by April 22, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with Commonwealth responses provided by April 23, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Site visits are encouraged but not mandatory. Evaluation will be based on a best value approach weighted at 97 points for pricing and 3 points for response time, with the lowest-priced conforming bid receiving maximum price points and subsequent bids scored proportionally. Contractors must employ only pesticide applicators certified and licensed by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Division of Pesticide Regulation in Category 3 (Turf and Ornamental), maintain a minimum crew of two laborers/equipment operators and a supply vehicle, and guarantee work initiation within a stated response time not to exceed the contractor's specified number of days. Contractors must provide certificates of insurance documenting $1,000,000 general liability coverage and Kentucky workers' compensation insurance within ten days of notice of intent to award. Performance penalties of $250 per occurrence apply for non-conforming work, with liquidated damages of $250 per calendar day assessed for failure to respond within the guaranteed timeframe and 1% per day assessed for failure to meet contracted completion dates, except for delays caused by acts of God or pandemics. Additionally, contractors must complete and sign the Pesticide Certification form acknowledging compliance with the KPDES Pesticide General Permit (KYG99) and the Pesticide Discharge Management Plan (PDMP) prior to commencing any pesticide-related activities.

Kentucky resident bidder preference applies to this procurement in accordance with KRS 45A.494, and preference is also granted to qualified bidders as defined in KAR 200 5:410. No specific incumbent vendors, current contractors, or disadvantaged enterprise set-asides are identified in the solicitation materials. The specific budget or award value for this contract has not been disclosed in the provided documents. All vendors must register in the VSS system at least 24 to 48 hours before the May 1, 2025, closing date to submit responses. For technical assistance with the VSS submission process, vendors may contact the Kentucky Customer Resource Center at Finance.CRCGroup@ky.gov, 502-564-9641, or toll-free at 877-973-4357. Pesticide product specifications are detailed in the Pesticide Specifications document (revised February 2025), which outlines required active ingredients and approved equivalent products for herbicides, insecticides, and other landscape maintenance chemicals.