Geotechnical Report for Fire Station #7 Auxiliary Apparatus Storage Construction Project

This geotechnical report is a supporting exhibit for the City of Ocala's Invitation to Bid (ITB) #CIP/260548 for construction of auxiliary apparatus storage at Fire Station #7 located at 885 SE 31st Street, Ocala, Florida 34471 in Marion County. The project encompasses approximately 7,500 square feet of pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) construction, including metal panel siding combined with partial mesh exterior siding, additional canopies, exterior signage, and one enclosed shop area with rolling door and work bench space. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting and site visit is scheduled for April 14, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST at Fire Station #7. The final bid submission deadline is May 6, 2026. Upon award, the contractor must achieve substantial completion within 75 calendar days of the notice to proceed, followed by 15 calendar days for final completion. All labor, materials, and equipment necessary to complete the project must be provided by the selected contractor.

Bidders must be licensed general contractors in the State of Florida with a minimum of five years of verifiable building construction experience. Bids will be evaluated on a lump sum basis with award going to the lowest qualified bidder; all line items must be included in the price proposal. Bonding requirements include a five percent bid bond, a public construction bond equal to the total bid amount, and a maintenance and guarantee bond of ten percent of the project value for three years. Contractors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate and commercial automotive liability of $1,000,000 combined. The contractor must perform a minimum of 30 percent of the work with their own forces and is responsible for obtaining all required permits at no additional cost to the City, with estimated permit costs of approximately $7,350. A five percent retainage will be held until final project acceptance, and liquidated damages apply at rates ranging from $904 to $10,224 plus 0.00005 of any amount over $40 million per calendar day of delay. No set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are identified, and all non-governmental vendors must provide a notarized affidavit attesting compliance with Florida Statutes Section 787.06 regarding coercion for labor or services.