SH-13-PR28751

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Division 13 is seeking a professional contractor for comprehensive lawn and grounds maintenance services at the Madison County Rest Area/Welcome Center and Scenic Overlook on Interstate 26. The contract encompasses full-scale grounds maintenance, including monthly mowing, landscaping, plant bed maintenance, pesticide application, fertilization, aeration, overseeding, repair seeding, mulching, pruning, leaf removal, and irrigation system operation and maintenance for two facilities. Bidders must submit proposals by 2:00 PM on December 10, 2025, with bid questions due by 5:00 PM on November 26, 2025. The contract will run from March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027, with potential for four additional one-year extensions at NCDOT's discretion. Key service requirements include maintaining 60 man-hours per week from March through November and 12 man-hours per week during December through February. Estimated quantities include 12 months of monthly maintenance, 600 cubic yards of mulch, 2.5 tons of turfgrass fertilization, 12 tons of limestone, 2,500 pounds of turfgrass overseeding, and 3 acres of repair seeding.

The contract does not include specific MBE/WBE participation goals, and prequalification is waived for this procurement. Contractors must employ a full-time on-site supervisor holding a valid North Carolina Ground Applicator Pesticide License with Ornamental and Turf Pest Control subclassification. The contract requires commercial general liability insurance of $5,000,000 per occurrence and aggregate, with all employees subject to national criminal background checks. The contractor must maintain a 5% performance guarantee on the first-year maintenance service amount. The procurement will be structured with a monthly lump-sum price for maintenance services and unit prices for landscape materials, payable monthly upon invoice approval. While no specific budget range is detailed, the comprehensive nature of the maintenance requirements suggests a substantial annual investment. Site visits are encouraged but not mandatory, and NCDOT will conduct weekly inspections with a compensation reduction schedule for non-compliance with detailed performance standards.