Weed Control   2

Background
The Minneapolis VA Health Care System is seeking to procure weed control services to maintain a healthy lawn on its campus. The contract aims to ensure the effective application of weed control products across an area of approximately 25 acres, with the goal of establishing and maintaining a healthy lawn.

Work Details
The contractor shall provide four applications of weed control products at designated intervals throughout the year. The specific applications include:
1) Application #1 (April): Pre-emergent treatment with 35-0-7 fertilizer and 10% Dimension for over 30 grasses and broadleaf weeds, along with a blanket application of Vessel/Triplet herbicide.

2) Application #2 (June): Use of Horsepower or Sublime selective herbicide, including Quinclorac for breakthrough annual grasses, along with health checks for turf, trees, and shrubs.

3) Application #3 (August): Blanket application of Vessel/Triplet for broadleaf weeds and Quinclorac for remaining crabgrass.

4) Application #4 (October): Late fall application with 20-0-4 fertilizer and black gypsum to strengthen plant roots for spring growth. The contractor must also target seasonal weeds such as ground ivy, dandelion, crab grass, spurge, thistle, pineapple weed, clover white, garlic wild, plantain broad leaf, and prickly lettuce. All applications must adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is from June 20, 2026 to June 19, 2027 with four option years available if exercised.

Place of Performance
Services will be performed at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System located at 1 Veterans Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55417.

Bidder Requirements
Contractor staff applying herbicides must possess a commercial applicator license issued by the Department of Agriculture. Offerors must also demonstrate past performance in providing similar services within the last three years and submit references including contact information.

Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
This opportunity appears to have a confirmed incumbent based on contract 36C26321P0648, awarded to Budding Stars for “Annual Fertilizer and Weed Control” from 06/01/21–05/31/26 (value $134,400). The prior work likely aligns closely with the current requirement for scheduled weed control applications (including pre-emergent and blanket herbicide treatments) and turf health maintenance using fertilizer and herbicides across the VA campus.