54-TJK-06-PR40682, STATE ROUTE SHOULDER AND MEDIAN MOWING INCLUDING VEGETATION TRIMMING AND LITTER/DEBRIS

Work includes mowing/trimming of vegetation, and litter/debris removal along State Highway System routes within Columbus and Bladen Counties. The furnishing of all equipment, tools, materials, transportation, and labor shall be incidental to completion of the work.

The State of North Carolina Department of Transportation issues this *Request for Proposal* for state route shoulder and median mowing including vegetation trimming and litter/debris removal, Columbus and Bladen Counties, Division 6.

Work includes mowing/trimming of vegetation, and litter/debris removal along State Highway System routes within Columbus and Bladen Counties. The furnishing of all equipment, tools, materials, transportation, and labor shall be incidental to completion of the work.

A Contract awarded pursuant to this RFP will use the Ditch typical section for routine mowing cycles on all routes.

Cleanup mowing cycles shall include the area established for routine mowing and extend to the established tree/wood line or right-of-way, or as directed by the Engineer.

Vegetation shall be cut to a height of four (4) inches.

Vegetation trimming shall be performed each cycle and shall be included in the cost of mowing.

The Contractor shall provide a minimum of two (2) each four (4) man crews.

Required mowing equipment (minimum)

• 10' - 15' Flex Wing Mowers: 12 (6 10' and 6 15')
• 60" to 72" Zero Turn type Mowers: 1 (for roundabouts)
• A supervisor and service truck will be required for each county.
• The Contractor will be required to have a minimum of one (1) 4WD tractor available at the direction of the Engineer.
• The Contractor will be required to have a minimum of one (1) truck with a truck mounted blower for clearing the grass from the roadway.

Only primary routes will receive routine litter pickup. Secondary routes would receive litter pickup as needed under the on-call line item.

The Contractor shall begin work within forty-eight (48) hours of notification and will be required to prosecute the work in a continuous and uninterrupted manner from the time he begins work until completion and final acceptance of the work in each notification.

**Mandatory** pre-qualification: firms that wish to bid as the prime contractor must be pre-qualified as either a "Bidder" or "Purchase Order Contract (POC) Prime Contractor" prior to submitting the bid, including NCDOT Work Code "016607 Mowing". Attendance at the **mandatory** pre-bid conference is required in order for your bid to be considered.

A contract awarded pursuant to this RFP shall have an effective date of March 1, 2027. The completion date shall be February 29, 2028. At its discretion, NCDOT may offer extension of the contract for an additional term up to a maximum of five (5) total terms (original term and four (4) renewals).

This contract is a multi-year maintenance contract let pursuant to the provisions of N.C. General Statute §136-28.1(b). An award in a maintenance contract may be for an amount less but shall not exceed **$5,000,000** per year.

Performance Guarantee

Upon award of contract, the Contractor is required to choose one of the following Performance Guarantee Options:

• Option 1: Performance and Payment Bonds, each in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract amount, submitted to the Department's Purchasing Section within fourteen (14) days after notice of award.
• Option 2: Retainage Fee: NCDOT shall retain six percent (6%) from the amount of each invoice as a performance guarantee.

Mowing and string trimming operations performed under this contract shall comply with the moratorium established in SL 2025-47 (SB 391): ALL ROUTES: May 1 through May 31.