State Route Shoulder & Median Mowing - Burke, McDowell, Mitchell, & Rutherford Counties

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is soliciting bids under proposal 54-TJK-13-PR39748 for State Route shoulder and median mowing, vegetation trimming, and litter and debris removal, with questions due October 30, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. and bid opening on November 18, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Mandatory pre-qualification applies to all bidders and subcontractors.

Work covers State Highway System routes in Burke, McDowell, Mitchell, and Rutherford Counties in Division 13. The contractor must furnish all equipment, tools, materials, transportation, and labor. The bid form requires at least 18 operational mowers (60–90 inch or 10–15 foot flex wing units), 15 qualified string trimmer operators, and service vehicles with safety equipment and signage. Vegetation trimming includes work around stationary objects. Traffic control must meet work zone signing, safety vest, lighting, and hazardous material requirements.

The contract is capped at $5 million per year under North Carolina General Statute 136-28.1(b). The term runs from March 1, 2027 through February 29, 2028, with an initial term and potential extensions of up to four additional years at NCDOT's discretion. Unit prices adjust annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for Services, and fuel prices adjust monthly against a base diesel index of $5.0299 per gallon. Upon award, the contractor selects either 100 percent performance and payment bonds or retention of six percent from each invoice. Liquidated damages range from $50 to $500 per day or per occurrence for performance failures.

Work is restricted to daylight hours and cannot occur on Sundays, legal state holidays, or holiday weekends. A mowing moratorium applies each year from May 1 through May 31. NCDOT will issue responses to bidder questions by addendum.