ON-CALL TREE REMOVAL-BERKELEY MAINT

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is seeking an on-call tree removal contractor for services in Berkeley County, specifically targeting tree removal within or near right-of-way limits on primary and secondary roads. The solicitation covers three primary service categories: cutting and leaving, cutting and removing, and cutting, removing, and stump grinding. The bidding schedule comprises 30 line items organized by service type and tree diameter, ranging from 6-12 inches to 68-72 inches, with quantities varying between 1 and 85 trees per item. Contractors must provide comprehensive services including traffic control as directed by the Resident Maintenance Engineer, with all associated labor, materials, equipment, tools, and debris disposal being the contractor's responsibility. The solicitation deadline is April 5, 2022, at 2:30 p.m., with questions due by March 24, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. The contract will be awarded on April 18, 2022, with a contract term beginning May 2, 2022, and extending through May 1, 2027, including automatic annual renewals unless 30 days' notice of non-renewal is provided.

No specific set-asides are mentioned for this procurement, indicating open competition for qualified contractors. Successful bidders must maintain specific insurance requirements, including $1,000,000 Commercial General Liability per occurrence, $1,000,000 Auto Liability per accident, and Worker's Compensation with Statutory Limits. The contract includes a pre-performance conference to be conducted by Berkeley Maintenance within five business days after award. Non-compliance penalties are significant, with potential deductions including $500 for inclement weather delays, $500 per business day for failure to start, $750 per business day for work suspension or incompletion, and $750 per offense for work zone traffic control violations. While no specific award value is explicitly stated, pricing will be determined by unit prices per tree per size category as detailed in the bidding schedule. Invoicing will be completed by the contractor post-service, with payment contingent upon satisfactory completion and acceptance by the engineering team.