2026-85 Standard Boarding Up of Commercial and Residential Properties Rebid

The City of Allentown is soliciting bids for standard boarding up of commercial and residential properties under Bid 2026-85, with a public opening on November 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM through PennBid. No set-aside applies, but the bid carries a 5% resident preference, an Identified Business Enterprise (IBE) preference for bids within 95% of the lowest non-IBE bid, and minimum MBE and WBE participation levels of 5% and 3%. Bidders must register with PennBid to download the solicitation, and the City will reject any bid submitted outside PennBid. Questions were due November 5, 2026 at 4:00 PM.

The work is as-needed boarding, securing, tarping, and call-out response for city properties, performed weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Contractors must respond within 30 minutes of notification and arrive with all tools and equipment to work immediately. Historical volume ran between 22 and 157 calls per month from 2013 through 2025, with no guaranteed minimum. Pricing consists of maximum unit rates for seven line items, including $75.00 per 4' x 8' plywood sheet, $125.00 or above per inspector call-out, and up to $3,000 for shoring or stabilization with prior approval. Prices remain binding through the term unless modified by mutual written agreement. The City may award by item, section, group, or in its entirety.

The initial term runs three years from full execution, with two optional one-year extensions by written agreement. Required insurance includes $1 million per occurrence and $2 million general aggregate in general liability, $1 million combined single limit in auto liability, and statutory workers' compensation. Prevailing wage requirements apply under Pennsylvania's Prevailing Wages Act, and vendors must use E-Verify for employees hired after January 1, 2013. Prime contractors must report MBE/WBE participation quarterly. The MBE/WBE solicitation and commitment form is mandatory for bids exceeding $40,000, and a bid is rejected if the form is omitted.

Bid security is listed as $500 in the invitation to bid, while the forms checklist calls for a 10% bid bond. Council approval by resolution establishes the Official Award Date, and the successful bidder has 40 days from that date to execute the contract.