NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR MOWING TALL GRASS AND WEEDS

The City of Bismarck is requesting bids for the mowing and trimming of properties that do not comply with the city ordinance governing tall grass and weeds and have been authorized for mowing. Bagging and/or collection of the tall grass and weeds resulting from mowing is not required.

Bids for mowing and trimming tall grass and weeds for the City of Bismarck will be received by the Board of City Commissioners of the City of Bismarck in the office of the City Administrator, until three (3:00) o’clock p.m. (CST), Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Bids will be publicly opened and reviewed at four (4:00) o’clock p.m. (CST), on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.The proposals must be mailed to the City Administrator (PO Box 5503, Bismarck ND 58506-5503) or otherwise deposited with the City Administrator (221 North Fifth Street, Bismarck ND 58501) and shall be sealed and endorsed “Mowing Bid”. If a bid is to be faxed, the bid must be sent to a bidder’s agent independent of the City of Bismarck, placed in a sealed envelope, labeled according to this specification and delivered to the office of the City Administrator prior to the bid deadline.

Bids must be submitted on blanks furnished by the City of Bismarck and in accordance with specifications and conditions therein contained. Copies of proposal blanks and specifications may be obtained from the Bismarck Fire Department, 1020 E Central Ave Bismarck, ND 58501-1936

All bidders are encouraged to attend a pre-bid meeting at the Public Works Department (601 South 26th Street) at 1:30 p.m. (CDT) on Friday, April 13, 2012

All bidders are invited to be present at the opening of the proposals.

The right is reserved to hold all bids for a period of forty-five (45) days, to reject any and all bids, to waive technicalities or to accept such as may be determined to be for the best interest of the City of Bismarck.

A. TYPES OF MOWING OPERATIONS

The types of mowing operations to be performed for the City of Bismarck are defined as follows:

1. Light Duty Mowing - The mowing of residential and business properties.

2. Heavy Duty Mowing – The mowing of overgrown lots.

3. Trimming – the trimming of vegetation from around objects located on designated mowing areas in order to present a neat and attractive appearance.

NOTE: Determination of light and heavy duty mowing shall be done at the discretion of the Environmental Health staff.

B. EQUIPMENT REQUIRMENTS

The equipment used for mowing shall be of sufficient type, capacity, and quantity to safely and efficiently perform the mowing work as specified.

1. Minimum equipment requirements for Light Duty Mowing & Trimming shall include the following:

a. (1) Walk behind or push lawn mower.

b. (1) Riding lawn mower that has no less than a 3ft cut and no less than 15 horsepower.

c. (1) Weed trimmer capable of cutting weeds ½ inch in diameter.

2. Minimum equipment requirements for Heavy Duty Mowing & Trimming shall include the following:

a. (1)Tractor mounted mower that has no less than a 5ft cut and no less than 60 horsepower.

b. (1) Weed trimmer capable of cutting weeds ½ inch in diameter.

C. HOURS OF OPERATION

All mowing operations shall be performed between legal sunrise and legal sunset. Mowing operations shall not be performed if tall grass and weeds are too wet to cut evenly or if so directed by the Environmental Health Administrator.

Interested contractors shall bid an hourly rate for Light Duty Mowing and/or Heavy Duty Mowing. The bid hourly rate shall include all cost for equipment, labor, fuel, transportation etc. Successful bidders shall honor the hourly rate for the entire 2012 mowing season.

All proposals will be evaluated to determine the best combination of price and service to fit the City of Bismarck’s requirements. Price may not be the sole determining factor. The city may consider other factors such as efficiency, effectiveness, equipment, dependability, workmanship, quality, schedule, or other costs of factors relevant to meet the mowing expectations of the city. The City of Bismarck reserves the right to utilize the services of more than one bidder. The City of Bismarck reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

The successful contractor will be expected to enter into a mowing agreement. The contractor shall indemnify and hold harmless the city of Bismarck for all claims, damages, cost, or penalties of any nature as a result of the contractor’s performance of this agreement, and the contractor agrees to maintain, throughout the term of this agreement, liability insurance insuring the contractor and the city of Bismarck against all such claims, damage, cost or penalties in the minimum amount of $250,000.00 for bodily injury or death to any one person, $500,000.00 for bodily injury or death resulting from any one accident and $500,000.00 for all other types of liability. The contractor shall furnish to city of Bismarck, at the time of execution of this agreement, a certificate showing that a satisfactory insurance policy has been obtained.

All bids must be received by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 and shall be sealed and endorsed “Mowing Bid”. Bid opening will occur at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. The bids must be mailed to the City Administrator’s Office, PO Box 5503, Bismarck, ND 58506-5503; or otherwise deposited with the City Administrator’s Office, 221 North Fifth Street, Bismarck, ND 58501.

All bidders are encouraged to attend a pre-bid meeting at the Public Works Department (601 South 26th Street) at 1:30 p.m. (CDT) on Friday, April 13, 2012.

All bidders are invited to be present at the opening of the proposals.

Copies of proposal blanks and specifications may be obtained from the Bismarck Fire Department, 1020 E Central Ave Bismarck, ND 58501-1936

The right is reserved to hold all bids for a period of forty-five (45) days, to reject any and all bids, to waive technicalities or to accept such as may be determined to be for the best interest of the City of Bismarck.