54-TJK-13-PR39748, STATE ROUTE SHOULDER AND MEDIAN MOWING INCLUDING VEGETATION TRIMMING AND LITTER/DEBRIS REMOVAL

Work includes mowing/trimming of vegetation, and litter/debris removal along State Highway System routes within Burke, McDowell, Mitchell, and Rutherford 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 shall have an effective date of March 1, 2027. The completion date shall be February 29, 2028.

Work includes mowing/trimming of vegetation, and litter/debris removal along State Highway System routes within Burke, McDowell, Mitchell, and Rutherford Counties. [...]

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: 18
• OR 10’ – 15' Flex Wing Mowers: 18 (15’batwings only allowed on interstates and divided routes)

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

The Contractor shall perform trimming on every mowing cycle.

The Contractor shall provide a minimum of fifteen (15) qualified operators with string trimmers.

This operation will take place prior to each mowing cycle, or as directed by the Engineer. As directed, the removal of litter shall occur prior to mowing operations for all primary road systems and to the extent practical on secondary roads as stated in G.S. 136-28.12 (a).

**Pre-qualification is mandatory.** Any firm that wishes to perform work on this POC as either the prime contractor or as a subcontractor must be pre-qualified for the type work they wish to perform (including but not necessarily limited to NCDOT Work Code "016607 Mowing").

Bidders shall submit questions by email no later than **October 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM**. A response to bidder questions will be in the form of an addendum.

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 within fourteen (14) days after notice of award.
• Option 2: Retainage Fee of six percent (6%) from the amount of each invoice.

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).

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