Notice of Intent to Award

The State of Michigan Department of Technology, Management, & Budget's Financial Services office issued a Notice of Intent to Award for an FY18 Fertilization and Weed Control contract. The RFP was posted on SIGMA VSS on March 28, 2018, with proposals due on April 9, 2018, and the Notice of Intent to Award was posted on April 19, 2018, with a response period closing on April 23, 2018. The procurement sought a qualified contractor to provide fertilization and weed control services to support the state's grounds maintenance operations. Four vendors submitted proposals in response to the solicitation: Tru Green, Stine Turf & Snow, Inc., HTA Companies, and Pure Green. The evaluation process assessed bidders based on their status as responsible vendors capable of performing the identified duties and their submission of responsive proposals that complied with all solicitation instructions and mandatory requirements. Qualified Disabled Veteran (QDV) status was a considered evaluation factor under MCL 18.1261(8). The State reserved the right to utilize bidder information to determine fair market value and was not obligated to accept the lowest-priced proposal.

The State of Michigan recommended awarding the contract to Tru Green in the amount of $24,576.00, pending State Administrative Board approval if applicable. None of the four bidding vendors held Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) status, though QDV consideration was factored into the evaluation criteria. The solicitation did not include specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or minority-owned businesses beyond the QDV preference provision. Unsuccessful bidders were encouraged to schedule debriefing sessions with Solicitation Manager Kyle Stolicker to understand the rationale for non-selection and receive feedback on their proposals. The recommended award amount of $24,576.00 represents the anticipated contract value for the fertilization and weed control services during the fiscal year.