Skowhegan Armory Lawn Care

The State of Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Office of State Procurement Services, is soliciting quotations on behalf of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management - Military Bureau for lawn care services at the Skowhegan Armory. The contract covers weekly lawn maintenance for 1.7 acres, including mowing to a height between 3.5 and 5 inches during the growing season (May through October), edging, debris removal, grass clipping collection, walkway maintenance, trash pickup, and fence line trimming. Winter cleanup services are also required, involving removal of fallen trees and branches. Contractors must perform work during facility operating hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with scheduling to be negotiated with the Program Administrator. The evaluation criteria will be based on a monthly performance assessment using a rating system of Excellent, Good, Needs Improvement, and Not Applicable, with poor performance potentially leading to contract termination. Bidders must submit questions by January 28, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. and quotations through the State's electronic procurement system (Advantage VSS) by February 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. local time.

The contract does not specify specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. The current vendor is York's Landscaping LLC, which charges approximately $3,400 annually. The contract term runs from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027, with four optional one-year renewal periods potentially extending through October 31, 2030. Contractors must comply with State of Maine Standard Terms and Conditions and provide required certifications, including a Bid Cover Page, Responsible Bidder Certification, and a Subcontractors/Disaster Recovery Plan. All personnel must pass federal background checks and be vetted by the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. No more than 15 percent of contract work may be subcontracted, and subcontractors must carry equivalent insurance coverage. Payment will be made on a net 30 basis upon submission of accurate invoices, and the State reserves the right to reject all bids if specifications are not met. Bidders are required to submit a total contract amount covering all five potential years of service using the provided RFQ Lawncare Bid Sheet in Excel format.