Snow & Ice Removal at Bus Stops

Howard County, Maryland is requesting bids on snow and ice removal services at Regional Transit Authority bus stops throughout the county under IFB 2027-14, with bids due October 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. and a pre-bid conference on October 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. via WebEx. A mandatory 15% equal business opportunity (EBO) subcontracting goal applies to all contracts valued at $50,000 or more, requiring good faith effort to engage minority, women, and disabled business enterprises certified by Howard County, Maryland Department of Transportation, City of Baltimore, or other recognized entities. A living wage requirement of $19.83 per hour applies to all covered employees performing direct measurable work on the contract.

The scope includes labor and equipment on an as-needed basis to clear snow and ice from bus stop areas, sidewalks, walkways, and adjacent areas. Work is weather-dependent with no guaranteed service hours. The contractor must commence removal within 24 hours of a snow or ice event accumulating 4 inches or upon county notification, and must revisit cleared stops 24 hours after initial removal. Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) is the required deicing material for non-roadway surfaces, with pricing established each November based on anticipated market prices plus a 10% handling markup. The contractor must have at least five years of active snow and ice removal experience and maintain Commercial General Liability Insurance ($1 million combined single limit), Automobile Liability Insurance ($1 million), and Worker's Compensation Insurance with $100,000 employer's liability.

The initial contract term commences December 1, 2026 for one year, with five optional one-year renewal periods at the county's sole discretion. Prices are firm for one year from the effective date; escalation requests are limited to the Consumer Price Index or 5% increase, whichever is lower. The county intends to make a single award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Site visits are strongly encouraged. Contractors must submit three references from accounts where they provided specified services within the past three years.