NIGP 91242: Drilling and Boring Services, Horizontal Directional (Hdd and Hdb)

NIGP 91242 Drilling and Boring Services, Horizontal Directional (HDD and HDB), an Item code, encompasses installation of underground utilities via directional drilling and boring methods, with state and local governments buying production water wells, irrigation systems, force main replacement, telecommunications conduit, and utility transmission mains using open-cut, jack-and-bore, and HDD techniques. Counties, municipalities, water authorities, school districts, and utilities dominate the issuing-body mix, with repeat activity from water and sewer authorities in Florida and Georgia. Recent solicitations include Boulder County Parks and Open Space RFP for stock water well installation (response due September 4, 2026), Pinellas County School District ITB for directional boring and hand trenching services on an as-needed basis (bids due June 12, 2026), Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority IFB for 16-inch steel water transmission main replacement via HDD under Archer Creek Bridge (response due March 4, 2026), and City of Calhoun, Georgia ITB for labor-only horizontal directional drilling of 12-inch ductile iron pipe across four segments including creek and wetland crossings (bids due July 9, 2026).

The code sees steady activity across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and California, with Florida water and wastewater infrastructure dominating recent postings. Representative work spans utility locating and permitting, pilot-hole drilling, final casing installation with pressure and bacteriological testing, jack-and-bore operations under waterways and railroads, boring of multiple pipe diameters (ranging from 2-inch irrigation conduit to 20-inch and 24-inch force mains), and associated site restoration including concrete pads, pavement restoration, and landscaping. Bonding and insurance requirements are standard: bid bonds at 5–10 percent, performance and payment bonds equal to 100 percent of contract price, commercial general liability in the $1–2 million range, and workers' compensation at statutory limits. BABAA compliance, E-Verify registration, Davis-Bacon wage provisions, and Section 3 HUD requirements appear frequently in federal and federally-funded projects. Contract values range from approximately $250,000 for school district as-needed services to $350,000 for county well development and $1 million-plus for transmission main replacement. Prequalification, demonstrated HDD/boring experience, valid state utility contractor licenses, and Florida water management district licenses where applicable are common requirements; set-asides for MBE, WBE, DBE, and Section 3 businesses appear in federally-funded water and sewer improvement projects.