Southwest Region - Broad "Turf" Ground Maintenance

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Southwest Region is soliciting bids for broad turf ground maintenance services across twelve locations throughout the Southwest Region, including carpool lots, maintenance facilities, and regional offices. This Request for Proposal (RFP 26.1114), issued on February 25, 2026, with a proposal deadline of March 11, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, seeks a single contractor to provide comprehensive grounds maintenance services including mowing, string trimming, grass cutting removal, debris and litter disposal, landscape pruning, flower planting, and spring and fall cleanup. The contract encompasses approximately 30 locations across multiple counties in Southwest Michigan, with individual sites ranging from 0.25 acres to 4.13 acres, for a combined scope of approximately 20 acres. Services will be performed once weekly or according to site-specific schedules determined by the program manager, with an estimated 30 mowing occasions annually per location, supplemented by one spring cleanup, one fall cleanup, and pruning occasions as specified for individual sites. Contractors must provide reliable commercial equipment including mowers, string trimmers, and blowers that are owned and available at contract commencement on April 1, 2026; equipment failure is not an acceptable reason for schedule deviation, and contractors must maintain backup service capabilities for mechanical breakdowns. The contract term is two years with no renewal options, ending March 31, 2028. The evaluation process is pass/fail based on complete responses to vendor questions, completion of Schedule A, and completion of Schedule B pricing, with award made to the responsive and responsible bidder with the lowest price. Bidders must submit questions by March 3, 2026, with answers posted by March 4, 2026. Contractors must comply with Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices high-visibility clothing requirements, local noise and dust ordinances, assume full responsibility for property damage, and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including $2,000,000 Commercial General Liability, $5,000,000 Umbrella/Excess Liability, $1,000,000 Automobile Liability, and Workers' Compensation.

No subcontractors are permitted under this contract, and no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged or minority-owned enterprises are mentioned in the procurement documents. The RFP does not identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors, nor does it specify existing technology infrastructure requiring integration. Payment will be made exclusively through Electronic Funds Transfer within 45 days of invoice receipt, and pricing must be provided in a separate Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and must remain firm for the entire two-year contract duration; bidders are encouraged to offer quick payment discounts. Liquidated damages apply for late or improper completion based on contract value, ranging from $500 to $4,000 per day depending on the total contract amount. Contractors must supply all materials and equipment, maintain communication capability with the Program Manager, and submit a detailed project work plan within seven calendar days of the contract effective date. While specific budget ranges are not disclosed in the RFP, individual location pricing schedules are provided in separate Excel spreadsheets that allow bidders to calculate one-year and two-year costs based on submitted unit pricing for each service occasion. All equipment is subject to pre-award inspection, and interested bidders should direct inquiries to Contract Administrator ReChelle Kendrick at 517-335-5905 or KendrickR1@michigan.gov, or Program Manager Mike Streeter at 269-217-7785.