SH-06-PR29933

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Division 6 is seeking proposals for comprehensive state route shoulder and median mowing services in Columbus and Bladen Counties. This procurement covers extensive mowing operations across 2,095 total miles, including primary divided routes (113 miles), primary undivided routes (466 miles), secondary paved routes (1,410 miles), and secondary unpaved routes (106 miles). Bidders must be pre-qualified with NCDOT as either a "Bidder" or "Purchase Order Contract (POC) Prime Contractor" prior to proposal submission. The contract will involve multiple routine and cleanup mowing cycles, vegetation trimming, and litter/debris removal, with work scheduled to commence on March 14, 2026, and completion required by February 28, 2027. Contractors must maintain at least one NCDOT Certified Work Zone Supervisor on-site at all times and comply with specific work hour restrictions and traffic control requirements. The bid opening is scheduled for December 8, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., with 21 line items covering various mowing types, vegetation trimming, and debris removal services.

The contract contains no formal Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) participation goals, allowing broad participation from qualifying contractors. Contractors may choose between providing 100 percent performance and payment bonds or accepting a six percent retainage fee as a performance guarantee. Significant financial provisions include monthly fuel price adjustments based on DIESEL #2 FUEL with a base index price of $2.4928 per gallon as of October 1, 2025. Liquidated damages will be applied for various violations, including $500 per day for incomplete work, $500 per day for mowing during prohibited moratorium periods, and $250-$500 per occurrence for equipment or safety violations. The contract includes specific mowing moratoriums established under SL 2025-47 (SB 391) for calendar year 2026, with two potential intermediate completion time schedules dependent on potential primary runoff elections. Monthly payments will be made upon completion of work verified by NCDOT inspection, with invoices required to detail contract bid items and include documentation of all subcontractor payments.