Deadlines Soon: 9 public-sector bids closing Feb 16–17 (fertilizer, trash services, EV charger circuit install, auditing, literacy toolkit, and more)

Executive takeaway

Several time-sensitive opportunities close on Feb 16–17, spanning straightforward commodity/service buys (fertilizer, trash removal, grave markers, grounds maintenance) and more specialized scopes (DC fast charger circuit installation, financial auditing under Uniform Guidance, and a digital adolescent literacy toolkit aligned to Indiana’s science of reading definition). Two of the Indiana Natural Resources events explicitly note they are not eligible for electronic submission through the supplier portal—plan for email/fax/mail submission logistics and a complete bid package by the finish time.

What the buyer is trying to do

Fertilizer (Indiana Department of Natural Resources)

Purchase fertilizer needed for seedbed soil maintenance, with quoted prices held for 30 calendar days after the response due date to comply with Indiana state law.

Trash Removal Services at Raccoon State Recreation Area (Indiana)

Obtain bids for ongoing trash removal services at Raccoon State Recreation Area, with all-in pricing (including applicable charges/fees/shipping as required) and a 30-day price validity period after the response deadline.

Mobile Battery Electric Bus (Level 3) Charger Circuit/Connection Installation (SRTA, New Bedford MA)

Install one dedicated 100AMP, 480V circuit/feeder to an exterior pin/sleeve receptacle to enable a level 3 DC fast charge (DCFC) mobile electric bus charging unit at SRTA’s New Bedford Maintenance Facility. Site visits are available on weekdays during business hours.

RFP-0026-2026: Financial Auditing Service (Bridgewater State University)

Engage a qualified, independent CPA firm licensed in Massachusetts to conduct financial auditing services in accordance with Uniform Guidance (formerly OMB Circular A-133).

RFQ Grave Marker with Flag Holder (Massachusetts Veterans’ Home in Holyoke)

Purchase grave markers with flag holders; the design and item specifics are provided in the attachment and items tab.

Adolescent Literacy Toolkit (Indiana Department of Education)

Select a vendor to deliver a digital toolkit for adolescent literacy (grades 4–12), including resources, materials, and video exemplars for educators aligned with the “science of reading” as defined in IC 20-18-2-17.5.

Grass Cutting and Grounds Maintenance (Gloucester Housing Authority)

Secure 2026 grass cutting and grounds maintenance services.

HVAC Replacement at the Dunstable Town Hall

Replace two air handlers and condensers serving Town Hall offices on the basement level and second floor.

Entry Level Driving Training School (Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game)

Provide entry-level driving training so employees can complete training required for a CDL license. This opportunity is marked SBPP eligible.

What work is implied (bullets)

• Fertilizer: confirm product type/specs and quantities in bid documents; provide compliant quote valid for 30 days after due date; deliver per buyer instructions (verify in attachments).
• Trash services: perform trash removal at a state recreation area; incorporate all applicable charges/fees/shipping into pricing; submit questions at least 7 days before bidding ends.
• EV charger circuit install: furnish and install a dedicated 100AMP, 480V feeder to an exterior pin/sleeve receptacle; coordinate and attend a site visit as needed; integrate with the operational needs of a mobile level 3 DCFC unit.
• Financial auditing: execute audits consistent with Uniform Guidance; ensure the engagement team is composed of independent CPAs licensed to practice in Massachusetts.
• Grave markers: provide markers with flag holders per design graphics/specs in attachments/items tab; quote manufacturing and delivery (verify delivery expectations in attachments).
• Adolescent literacy toolkit: design and deliver a digital toolkit for grades 4–12; develop educator-facing resources/materials; produce video exemplars aligned with Indiana’s science of reading definition (IC 20-18-2-17.5).
• Grounds maintenance: provide routine grass cutting and grounds maintenance for the 2026 season (verify scope, sites, and schedule in attachments).
• HVAC replacement: remove/replace two air handlers and condensers serving two areas of Town Hall; coordinate shutdowns and commissioning expectations (verify in attachments).
• CDL entry-level driving training: deliver entry-level driver training for employees pursuing CDL; align training offering to the buyer’s requirements (verify in attachments).

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Bid if you already deliver the exact commodity/service and can meet submission constraints (especially non-portal submissions) and short turnaround timelines.
• Bid if you can comply with price validity requirements where stated (Indiana events cite 30 calendar days after response due date).
• Bid on the EV circuit install if you routinely perform 480V electrical work and can coordinate a site visit at the New Bedford Maintenance Facility.
• Bid on the audit RFP if you are an independent CPA firm licensed in Massachusetts with Uniform Guidance audit capability.
• Bid on the literacy toolkit if you have proven capacity to create digital instructional resources and video exemplars aligned to science-of-reading expectations for grades 4–12.
• Pass if you rely on portal-only submission processes—two Indiana Natural Resources solicitations explicitly state the bid is not eligible for electronic submission through the supplier portal.
• Pass if you cannot meet the question cutoff (trash services: questions must be submitted no less than 7 days before bidding ends) or cannot hold pricing firm for the required validity window.

Response package checklist (bullets; if unknown say “verify in attachments”)

• Completed bid/proposal package (forms, pricing sheets, and required certifications): verify in attachments.
• Submission method confirmation (email/fax/mail vs portal): verify in attachments, and note the Indiana Natural Resources events state not eligible for supplier portal submission.
• Pricing validity statement (where required): include language confirming pricing is valid for 30 calendar days after the response due date/time (Indiana Natural Resources events).
• All-in pricing (trash services explicitly requires pricing to include all applicable charges, fees, and shipping).
• For EV circuit install: site visit plan (optional but often advantageous) and a clear scope narrative tied to “one dedicated 100AMP, 480V circuit/feeder to an exterior pin/sleeve receptacle.”
• For auditing: proof of Massachusetts CPA licensure and approach aligned to Uniform Guidance: verify specific requested documentation in the solicitation.
• For grave markers: acknowledgment of design graphic specifics from attachment and items tab; confirm compliance with those specifications.
• For literacy toolkit: narrative describing resources/materials/video exemplars and how alignment to science of reading (IC 20-18-2-17.5) will be ensured: verify required format and any content standards in attachments.

Pricing & strategy notes (how to research pricing; do not invent pricing numbers)

Because several of these are RFQs/RFRs for commodities or standard services, competitiveness often comes down to clean, complete submissions and realistic, all-in pricing that matches the buyer’s instructions.

• Start with the bid documents: pull the pricing schedule and any required inclusions/exclusions from the attachments/items tabs (especially for grave markers and fertilizer).
• Account for required validity windows: for the Indiana Natural Resources events, ensure your quote can remain firm for 30 days after the response deadline as stated.
• Trash services: build a rate that already includes all applicable charges, fees, and shipping where required—avoid add-on surprise line items that could be deemed non-responsive.
• EV circuit install: use the site visit window to reduce contingency and avoid under-scoping. Price should map clearly to the stated electrical scope (dedicated feeder, receptacle, installation).
• Auditing: highlight value through a compliant Uniform Guidance approach and a realistic delivery plan; price structure details (fixed fee vs other) should follow the RFP instructions (verify in the solicitation portal link).
• Literacy toolkit: price the full lifecycle implied (content creation plus video exemplars). Tie cost drivers to the deliverables listed in the solicitation snippet and confirm any required licensing/hosting expectations in attachments.

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• EV circuit install: team with a local electrical contractor familiar with 480V installations if you are a prime integrator but not locally staffed.
• Literacy toolkit: consider a content-development prime partnering with a video production subcontractor to deliver the video exemplars efficiently (ensure a single, consistent instructional voice).
• Grounds maintenance: if coverage area is broad (verify), partner with a local landscaping firm for surge capacity.
• HVAC replacement: if you’re a mechanical prime, line up controls/commissioning support as needed (verify requirements in attachments).
• Trash services: partner with a local waste hauling provider if disposal arrangements require local infrastructure (verify in bid documents).

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• Submission channel risk: Indiana Natural Resources events state they are not eligible for electronic submission through the supplier portal; follow the stated email/fax/mail instructions and submit a complete package by the due date/time.
• Completeness risk: multiple notices stress that a completed bid package must be submitted—partial submissions are a common reason for rejection.
• Timing risk: trash services requires questions to be submitted no less than 7 days before bidding ends; late questions may go unanswered.
• Pricing validity risk: for Indiana events, ensure you can hold prices for 30 days after the response due date/time.
• Spec compliance risk: grave marker design graphic specifics are in attachments/items tab—quote only after confirming exact dimensions/materials/graphics requirements.
• Scope clarity risk: EV circuit install is narrowly described; don’t assume additional electrical upgrades are included unless stated in the documents—use site visit to confirm conditions.
• Standards alignment risk: literacy toolkit deliverables must align to the science of reading as defined in IC 20-18-2-17.5; ensure your proposal language maps directly to that requirement.

Related opportunities

• Fertilizer
• 300 SP Raccoon SRA Trash Services
• Mobile Battery Electric Bus (Level 3) Charger Circuit/Connection Installation
• RFP-0026-2026: Financial Auditing Service
• RFQ Grave Marker with Flag Holder
• Adolescent Literacy Toolkit
• Grass Cutting and Grounds Maintenance
• HVAC Replacement at the Dunstable Town Hall
• Entry Level Driving Training School

How to act on this

1. Open the BidPulsar notice and immediately download/inspect the bid documents (or follow the linked portal where provided) to confirm required forms and submission instructions.
2. Confirm your ability to meet the submission method (email/fax/mail where required) and the response deadline time shown in the notice.
3. Draft your pricing and narrative to match the deliverables stated (and any attachment specs), then add explicit compliance statements for price validity/all-in charges where required.
4. Submit early enough to avoid last-minute delivery issues—especially for non-portal submissions.

If you want a rapid compliance review (responsiveness risks, missing forms, and submission-channel pitfalls) before you hit “send,” contact Federal Bid Partners LLC for proposal support.