State Route Shoulder & Median Mowing - Alleghany County

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is soliciting bids for state route shoulder and median mowing in Alleghany County, Division 11, with written questions due October 30, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. and bid opening on November 18, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Prospective bidders must hold NCDOT prequalification for Work Code 016607 (Mowing), with approval obtained at least two business days before the letting, and contractors performing work zone traffic control must also be prequalified for Work Code 001105. The solicitation carries no combined MBE/WBE goal.

The scope covers mowing vegetation along State Highway System routes in the county, with the contractor furnishing all equipment, tools, materials, transportation, and labor. Routine and cleanup mowing cycles span Interstate, Primary Divided, Primary Undivided, Secondary Divided, Secondary Paved, and Secondary Unpaved routes, with anticipated cycles of one to four per system. The contract requires a minimum of four 60"–90" mowers, prohibits certain equipment types, imposes a mowing moratorium from May 1 to 31, and sets work zone safety and traffic control requirements. Each supervisor must carry a cellular telephone, and all vehicles and equipment must bear identification.

Work begins March 15, 2027 and the initial term runs through December 31, 2027. The Department may extend the contract for up to four additional one-year terms at its discretion, with unit prices adjusted annually using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index for Services. Payment is monthly for quantities completed and accepted, measured in shoulder miles for routine and cleanup mowing and in acreage for additional mowing. A fuel price adjustment applies against a diesel base price of $5.0299 per gallon, calculated monthly using a 1.6 fuel factor. The contractor must select either 100% Performance and Payment Bonds or a 6% retainage held as a performance guarantee. Liquidated damages include $500 per day for failure to begin work within five days of availability, $250–$500 per day for missed intermediate completion times, $500 per incident for prohibited equipment use, and $100–$250 per day for various safety and operational violations.