Summary of Veterans Park East Lobe Expansion Issued for Bid Plans

This is an Invitation to Bid (ITB PW 41-26) document issued by the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners for the construction of the Veterans Park East Lobe Expansion, a public park improvement project located on Okaloosa Island, Florida. The project scope encompasses construction of a concrete walking path, boardwalk, statue pedestals, an irrigation well, and landscaping improvements as detailed across 33 sheets of construction drawings and 234 pages of technical specifications prepared by Mott MacDonald Florida, LLC. Sealed bids must be submitted electronically through the OpenGov portal by 3:00 PM Central Standard Time on April 23, 2026. A mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for 9:00 AM on April 13, 2026 at the Okaloosa County Public Works Office located at 1759 S. Ferdon Boulevard, Crestview, Florida. The contractor must achieve Substantial Completion within 100 calendar days after the Notice to Proceed and final completion within 130 calendar days. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder on a unit price basis, with estimated quantities provided for comparison purposes only; final payment will be based on actual quantities as determined by the Engineer.

Bidders must submit a bid bond or cashier's check equal to five percent of the maximum bid price and maintain performance and payment bonds equal to the full contract amount. All contractors must possess a valid Florida state contractor's license and provide comprehensive insurance including workers' compensation and commercial general liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000. Liquidated damages are assessed at $904 per calendar day for failure to meet Substantial Completion deadlines on contracts valued at $299,999 and under, suggesting the project budget is approximately $300,000 or less. Progress payments will be made at ninety-five percent of work completed with five percent retainage, and final payment is due thirty days after submission of the final application and supporting documentation. The project is subject to a Consolidated Environmental Resource Permit and Sovereignty Submerged Lands Authorization issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with a construction phase expiration date of May 31, 2027, requiring compliance with environmental protection conditions including floating turbidity screens, manatee protection provisions, marine turtle lighting guidelines, and migratory bird protections. All bidders must comply with the Immigration & Nationality Act through E-Verify, provide drug-free workplace certification, submit anti-human trafficking attestation, and register in the System for Award Management database prior to contract award.