26-55_Mar_30_26_solicitation_doc.pdf

This is an Invitation to Bid (ITB) issued by the City of Norwich, Connecticut, acting on behalf of Norwich Public Utilities, for comprehensive wood utility pole inspection services. The solicitation (Bid No. 26-55) opened on March 12, 2026, at 8:45 AM EDT and closes on March 27, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT. The scope of work encompasses inspection of approximately 600 utility poles annually between April and June, with capacity for up to 1,000 pole inspections per year. Inspection methods include visual inspections, sounding, boring, excavation, and treatment for decay, insect damage, and structural deficiencies. Deliverables span eight primary line items: excavated and external treatment (900 poles), visual inspection and sounding (1,000 poles), visual inspection with sounding and boring (1,000 poles), internal treatment (1,000 poles), pole number installation (500 poles), guy guard replacement (250 poles), ground wire maintenance (250 poles), and pole reinforcement (2 poles), with provisions for additional miscellaneous maintenance tasks. Work shall be performed Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The contract term is three years from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, with an option for a two-year extension negotiated at the Owner's discretion, for a maximum total contract term not to exceed five years through June 30, 2031. Bidders may not withdraw their bids within sixty days of the bid opening date.

Required qualifications include substantial prior experience with a minimum of 5,000 utility poles inspected under qualified instruction and an additional 5,000 inspected independently, along with supervision by State of Connecticut certified pesticide applicators. Contractors must provide comprehensive insurance coverage including Workers' Compensation (statutory), Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 each occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate), Commercial Automobile Liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), Pollution Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence), and Umbrella/Excess Liability ($2,000,000 per occurrence), with Norwich Public Utilities named as additional insured. Data deliverables must be submitted digitally in formats compatible with NPU's GIS pole database using ESRI Collector or an equivalent approved application. Sales and use taxes are not applicable under this contract per Connecticut Agencies Regulations. No estimated total contract value or budget range is provided in the available documentation. All vendors may respond to this bid. The primary contact is Robert Castronova at the City of Norwich, 100 Broadway, Room 105, Norwich, CT 06360, telephone 860-823-3706, or rcastronova@cityofnorwich.org.