IFB: Lawn Care for Zone 4 (Gastonia 2 Schools)

Location:	North Carolina
Posted:	May 11, 2026
Due:	May 22, 2026
Agency:	Gaston County Public Schools
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	S - Utilities and Training Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Gaston County Schools

Gastonia, North Carolina

INVITATION FOR BID

Lawn Care for Zone 4 (Gastonia 2) Schools

For all questions about this IFB contact:

Jeffrey Crane

Facility Services

Gaston County Schools

941 Osceola Street

Gastonia, North Carolina 28053

(office)704-810-8828

(cell) 704-214-4131

jdcrane@gaston.k12.nc.us

Pre-bid

10:00 a.m. Friday, May 15, 2026

Bids Due by

2:00 pm Friday, May 22, 2026

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this Invitation for Bid (IFB) is to award a contract for the lawn care of Zone 4

(Gastonia 2) schools to the vendor offering the highest quality service at the best value.

The laws of the State of North Carolina shall prevail concerning all purchases and services

under this IFB and subsequent contract(s).

Mandatory pre-bid visit… No bid will be accepted from a vendor that does not attend the pre-

bid meeting on 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 15, 2026. There will be a sign in sheet. All bidders will

meet at:

Gaston County Schools Facilities

941 Osceola St.

Gastonia, NC 28054

Point of Contact- Jeffrey Crane

(cell) 704-214-4131

(office)704-810-8828

SCOPE OF WORK

GENERAL

1) The following specifications are to be followed to the extent of their description. In the event

that certain specifications are not described, or omitted, the contractor is to specify material

that does not interfere, or conflict with specifications listed herein.

2) Under no circumstance will substitutions for the delivered services be allowed without prior

written consent of owner representative. In the event that a substitution is allowed, all

parties shall be notified in writing before the product is used.

3) Any and all damages caused, directly or indirectly, shall be the responsibility of the

contractor to the degree that he/she shall be responsible to restore whatever was damaged

back to its previous condition.

4) The Owner maintains the right to inspect the work site at any time while work is in progress.

In the event the Principal’s designee and Logistics Manager determine for any reason that

performance is inadequate, the Owner retains the right to cancel the agreement with no

further obligation on its part.

5) The Contractor shall be responsible for all materials (loss, theft, freeze, etc.) once delivered

to the job site.

SPECIFICATIONS

Grounds Maintenance:

Lawn areas for grounds related to the schools will cover the following:

• School yards (front, sides, rear, around buildings, etc.)

• Playground

• Waste treatment drain fields

• Courtyards inside buildings or bounded by buildings

• Athletic fields and enclosures except high and middle school practice/game fields.

• All fenced areas including chiller yards, cooling towers, electrical transformers, etc.

• Mobile classroom and mobile restroom units

Anticipated Schedules:

• Grass mowing (including drainage ditches & storm water ponds), trimming, blowing off,

and trash/debris removed with each mowing

• Power edge all sidewalks and curbs with each mowing

• Weed control applications: once a month (see the Lawn Service Frequency Chart for

more details)

• Trim shrubbery three times (August, February, & May) a year.

• Mow detention/retention once a month

• Leaf removal six times a year (November, December, January February)

Grass Mowing:

Each mowing should include the following as needed to maintain an attractive campus:

• Mow established grass at 3 1/2”- 4” height, mow new grass 5” in height for one year.

After a year, mow at established heights.

• If grass becomes excessively long and windrowing or clumping occurs, the excess will

be removed immediately

• Trim appropriate areas with trim mowers and/or string trimmers (close to buildings,

around trees, beside steps, along fences, curbs, etc.).

• Weed control application (fence lines, pavement cracks, fenced equipment, enclosure

shrubbery beds, mulched trees, under bleachers, etc.).

• Service provider will be responsible for removing and disposing of all tree limbs 4 inches

in diameter and smaller. Service provider will contact the Principal’s designee to have

limbs larger than 4 inches in diameter removed through the work order system.

• Clean up (blow clippings off walkways, driveways, and all paved areas and landscape

beds)

• Weed shrubbery and flowerbeds, hand pull if necessary

Pesticide Applications:

• Applicators must hold or be under supervision of a North Carolina Ornamental and Turf

Certified Applicator and have proof if requested

• Care must be taken so as not to create erosion problems or damage desirable

vegetation. Glyphosate (Roundup) and pre-emergents are encouraged. Sterilants

should only be used with special written authorization from the Principal’s designee and

the Logistics Manager

• The use of roundup and vegetation killers around buildings and downspouts should not

exceed a 4-inch coverage around buildings, posts, and shrub beds. Vegetation killers

should not be used on the turf side of curbs of concrete and asphalt.

• The only approved pre-emergent for use is (Surflan) IV Space AS

• The only approved weed & grass killer is Round Up

• All chemicals need to be approved by the Logistics Manager prior to being used.

Performance of Scheduled Work

• Service providers are required to sign-in at the school’s office visitor sign in

system prior to performing scheduled work. If performing services before or after

hours, please contact the Principal’s designee and leave a message with your name,

date, and time of your arrival to perform services. Within 24 hours of completing

services, an email shall be sent to the Principal’s designee and Logistics Manager

stating the school name, date work performed, and a brief summary of work completed.

This is required in order to aid in the verification process of work performed. Adjustments

to schedule may be required to avoid conflict with school activities or to accommodate

special needs.

• Invoices should be e-mailed to the Logistics Manager. Invoice should include location,

dates, service performed and cost

• If an area is under construction contact the Logistics Manager for clarification if the area

is to be maintained under this scope of work or by the contractors. Adjustments to the

contract will be made accordingly.

Special Request

• Schools often make special requests to have grass mowed for special events. Contact

the Logistics Manager prior to the special request being completed.

EXECUTION

• Any work requiring the disruption of normal school activities, or traffic activities shall be

coordinated in advance (at least 24 hours) with the Principal or the Principal’s designee

• Trash and other debris created shall be removed from the site daily. Keep the work area

free from unnecessary accumulation of tools, equipment, surplus materials and debris.

Dispose of in accordance with requirements of authorities having jurisdiction. Contractor

will be responsible for providing a waste container for debris / trash removal. No use of

school waste containers is permitted

• Work schedules shall be coordinated between the Contractor and the Principal’s

designee before work begins

• Contractor shall be responsible for all school property under his control while having

enough staff on hand to do so

• All work shall be performed in compliance with all local, state and environmental

codes and regulations

• Provide one (1) competent individual authorized to act in a supervisory capacity over the

work on the Project. The individual so authorized shall be experienced in the type of

work being performed and fully capable of managing, directing, and coordinating the

work. Read and thoroughly understand the Contract. Receive and carry out directions

from Gaston County Schools. Must speak fluent English.

Detailed list of specifications

Annual Lawn Service Frequency Chart (July 1, 2026--June 30, 2027)

FUNCTIONS

Litter Removal, Mowing,

Blowing, Edging, Weed

Eating, ponds

Shrubs

Trimming

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Total

3 3 3 3 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 24

01 00 0 001 0 0 1 0 3

Tree

Pruning

Chemicals (Pathogen & 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 9

Herbicides) Beds

Leaf removal

00 00 1 221 0 0 0 0 6

• Cutting- Cuts should be done every 10 days. If weather delays occur, notify Logistics Manager

and Principal’s designee for each school delayed.

• Pruning- You should be cutting the sapling branches off of trees as you cut the grass so they

don’t get big. The trees should always have a smooth look up to the canopy area. You should be

able to walk under the tree branches ( 8 foot clearance).

Insurance:

The awarded contractor shall furnish to GCS a Certificate of Insurance showing compliance with

the limitations listed herein. The Certificate of Insurance must be sent to Gaston County Schools

prior to commencement of work. All Auto, General Liability, and Umbrella policies shall name

Gaston County Schools as an Additional insured. Property policies should name Gaston County

Schools as Loss Payee, as their interest may appear. No insurance will be acceptable unless written

by a company licensed by the State Insurance Department to do business in Gaston County, North

Carolina.

The vendor, and any of the vendor’s sub-contractors, agrees to comply with the provisions of

worker’s compensation laws of the State of North Carolina. A certificate from an insurance

company showing issuance of worker’s compensation coverage for the State of North Carolina

must be provided to Gaston County Schools.

The vendor further shall maintain such other insurance (with limits as shown below) that shall

protect the vendor and Gaston County Schools from any claims for property damage or personal

injury, including death, which may arise out of operations under this contract, and the vendor shall

furnish Gaston County Schools certificates and policies of such insurance as shown below.

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

IFB: Lawn Care for Zone 4 (Gastonia 2 Schools)

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