TREE, BRUSH, STUMP REMOVAL

The State Fiscal Accountability Authority on behalf of the South Carolina Education Television Network (SCETV) is soliciting bids for comprehensive tree, brush, and stump removal services across six geographic lots throughout South Carolina. The solicitation (5400022320) requires contractors to perform vegetation management at multiple transmission and microwave tower sites, including clear-cutting trees and brush within 75 feet of guy-wire corridors and roadways, selective removal of trees over 75 feet tall, limb removal, stump grinding, and debris disposal. Bidders must be registered South Carolina vendors with a minimum of three years of experience in commercial tree cutting, brush clearing, and stump removal. A pre-bid conference was held on February 1, 2022, at 3:00 PM via Microsoft Teams, with site visits conducted from January 17-19, 2022, at various tower locations. Written questions were due by February 4, 2022, at 5:00 PM, and sealed bids were required to be submitted online by March 9, 2022, at 11:00 AM, with award notification scheduled for April 20, 2022. The contract will have an initial one-year term with four possible one-year renewals, beginning May 4, 2022.

The solicitation provides opportunities for South Carolina Resident Contractor Preferences and South Carolina Resident Subcontractor Preferences under Sections 11-35-1524(C)(1)(III) and 11-35-1524(D), offering potential bidders the ability to claim preferences at 2% and 4% levels. Contractors must provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including $1,000,000 in commercial general liability, $1,000,000 in auto liability, and $1,000,000 in workers' compensation with employer's liability, with SCETV named as an additional insured. The contract is divided into six lots covering sites in multiple counties, with pricing to be submitted on a unit price basis for each lot. Contractors will be responsible for obtaining necessary licenses and permits from state, county, and local authorities, and must maintain professional standards while restoring properties to their original condition. While no specific award value is explicitly stated, the contract allows for potential price adjustments during renewal terms with at least 90 days' notice, though no price increases are permitted during the initial contract term. The State reserves the right to add or remove tower locations from the contract scope throughout its duration.