On call tree removal - fairfield*

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) issued Solicitation 5400021488 for on-call tree removal services specifically for Fairfield County, seeking contractors to perform tree cutting and removal services across multiple size categories. The solicitation requires contractors to provide three primary service types: cutting and leaving, cutting and removing, and cutting, removing, and stump grinding for trees ranging from 6 to 60 inches in diameter. Contractors must complete all work within ten business days of notification, with potential emergency call-outs possible at any time. The procurement timeline included a solicitation opening on May 27, 2021, with questions due by June 14, 2021, and bid submissions required by June 24, 2021 at 2:30 PM through the state's online procurement portal. The anticipated contract term spans five years, from July 26, 2021 through July 25, 2026, with automatic annual renewals unless either party provides thirty days' notice of non-renewal. Bidders must demonstrate capability to provide all necessary equipment, labor, materials, and disposal services, and maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence.

No specific set-aside designations were identified for this procurement, and the solicitation explicitly stated that no state preference would apply. Contractors must ensure their personnel carry Personal Protective Equipment and emergency contact lists, with work restricted to sunrise-to-sunset hours, Monday through Saturday, excluding state-observed holidays. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, with unit pricing established per tree by size category. Penalties for non-compliance range from $500 to $750 per offense for issues such as late starts, work suspension, and traffic control violations. While specific budget ranges were not detailed, the solicitation estimated approximately 100 trees per line item for most categories, with lower quantities for larger diameter trees requiring stump grinding. Contractors must also comply with traffic control standards outlined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) 350 standards.