54-TJK-11-PR39598, STATE ROUTE SHOULDER AND MEDIAN MOWING

Work includes mowing of vegetation along State Highway System routes within Wilkes County. The furnishing of all equipment, tools, materials, transportation, and labor shall be incidental to completion of the work.

Work includes mowing of vegetation along State Highway System routes within Wilkes County. 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 Swath 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.

The Contractor shall provide at minimum (quantity) the following functional and operating equipment each cycle in the performance of mowing for this contract:

• 60" – 90" Mowers: 4
• 10' – 15' Flex Wing Mowers: Prohibited
• Long-arm Mowers: No minimum specified
• 60" to 72" Zero Turn type Mowers: 1

A supervisor and service truck will be required for each county.

Rear and side flail mowers only on all routes. The Contractor is prohibited from full batwings and half batwings on any route except divided routes.

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

**Mandatory** prequalification: Firms that wish to bid on these projects as the prime contractor must be pre-qualified as either a "Bidder" or "Purchase Order Contract (POC) Prime Contractor" prior to submitting the bid. Prospective bidders shall obtain prequalification approval at least two (2) business days prior to any letting in which they intend to submit a bid.

Bid opening: **November 18, 2026 at 2:00 P.M.**

A contract awarded pursuant to this RFP shall have an effective date of March 15, 2027. The completion date shall be December 31, 2027. 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).

**Performance Guarantee:** Option 1: Performance Bond in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract amount and a Payment Bond in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract amount. Option 2: For the initial term and any extensions, the NCDOT shall retain six percent (6%) from the amount of each invoice as a performance guarantee.

An award in a maintenance contract may be for an amount less but shall not exceed $5,000,000 per year.