Landscaping and grounds maintenance

The South Carolina State Fiscal Accountability Authority, Division of Procurement Services, on behalf of the Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), is soliciting landscaping and grounds maintenance services for four locations in Columbia, SC. The scope of work includes comprehensive grounds maintenance activities such as grass cutting, pruning, edging, trash/debris collection, gutter and walk cleaning, mulch application, soil amendment, fertilization, and weed/pest control. The services will be performed at the Robert E David Building, Midlands SC Works, C. Lem Harper Building, and SCDEW Warehouse. Bidders must possess a minimum of 5 years of commercial landscaping experience and provide references from five similar contracts completed within the last 3 years. The contract requires weekly mowing during the growing season (April 1-October 31) and bi-weekly mowing during the non-growing season (November 1-March 31), with quarterly pruning and fertilization, bi-annual pine straw installation, and annual mulching. Proposals are due by December 30, 2024, at 11:00 AM ET, with an anticipated award date of January 3, 2025. The initial contract term is one year, with four optional one-year renewals, potentially extending the contract to a maximum of five years from January 15, 2025, to January 14, 2030.

The solicitation includes South Carolina resident contractor and subcontractor preferences, with potential bidders able to request either a 2% or 4% preference. Contractors must provide proof of appropriate licenses for chemical applications and have certified applicators on staff. Required insurance includes Commercial General Liability ($1M per occurrence), Auto Liability ($1M), and Worker's Compensation coverage. The contractor will be compensated through 12 equal monthly installments, with separate line item pricing required for each of the four locations. While no specific set-asides for disadvantaged businesses are mentioned, the solicitation emphasizes local contractor preferences. The contractor must provide all materials, equipment, labor, and supplies necessary to perform the specified services, and will be required to obtain approval from the DEW Property Manager for a detailed service schedule. Though specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the landscaping services and the multiple government locations suggest a substantial contract value for the selected vendor.