Lawncare for Lewiston Armory

The State of Maine Department of Defense, Veterans & Emergency Management, through the Office of State Procurement Services, is seeking a lawncare service contractor for the Lewiston Armory located at 55 Alfred Plourde Parkway in Lewiston, Maine. The procurement is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for comprehensive grounds maintenance services covering 1.47 acres, with specific requirements including weekly mowing to maintain grass height between 3.5 to 5 inches from May through October, edging along sidewalks and planting beds, debris removal, and winter cleanup services such as fallen tree and branch removal. Contractors must submit quotations electronically through the State of Maine's Advantage Vendor Self Service (VSS) system by February 5, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, with questions due by January 20, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. The contract term spans May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027, with two optional one-year renewal periods potentially extending through October 31, 2029. Evaluation will be conducted on a best value basis, with lowest price being the primary consideration among conforming bids, though the State reserves the right to reject bidders based on documented poor performance.

The contract does not specify specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. The current incumbent vendor is Evergreen Yard Care Inc., with an annual contract value of approximately $9,000. Bidders must comply with several critical requirements, including providing a Bid Cover Page with Responsible Bidder Certification, a detailed itemized quote, a Subcontractors/Disaster Recovery Plan, and a completed Cost Response Sheet. Contractors are restricted in that no subcontractors may perform more than 15% of contract work, and all must undergo background vetting through the Department of Defense. Additional mandatory requirements include providing Certificates of Insurance, conducting monthly performance evaluation tours with the Program Administrator, and responding to all communications within one business day. Contractors must also be prepared to perform all work during facility operating hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with specific hours to be negotiated and approved by the Program Administrator, Ken Merrifield.