SUMTER TREE REMOVAL*

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) issued a solicitation for on-call tree removal services specifically in Sumter County, targeting tree removal within right-of-way limits on state-maintained roads and routes. The procurement covers three distinct tree removal categories: trees cut and left in the tree line, trees cut and removed without stump grinding, and trees cut, removed, and ground. Each category includes five size classifications ranging from 6-12 inches to 49-60 inches in diameter, with an estimated 25 trees per size classification per category annually. The five-year contract will run from October 6, 2020, to October 5, 2025, with an initial one-year term and automatic annual renewal options. Contractors must submit unit pricing for each line item, with costs including traffic control, mobilization, labor, equipment, permits, licenses, and disposal. The original solicitation was issued on September 2, 2020, with a submission deadline of September 16, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., and questions were required by September 9, 2020, at 12:00 p.m.

The solicitation does not indicate specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Contractors must be registered as South Carolina vendors and maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence. An important compliance requirement, added in Amendment #1, prohibits contractors from procuring telecommunication or video surveillance equipment from specific manufacturers, including Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corporation, and others. Work must be performed during daylight hours Monday through Friday, with emergency debris removal required within 72 hours for areas adjacent to residences or businesses and within five business days for other areas. Non-compliance penalties range from $500 to $1,000 per offense depending on the violation category. While specific budget ranges are not detailed, the solicitation suggests a potentially significant contract value given the multi-year duration and comprehensive tree removal services across multiple size classifications. The procurement process has experienced some delays, with award notifications being extended indefinitely as of the September 17, 2020 notice.