26-02 Cal883229BN & BS (Calhoun)

The State of Iowa, Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality, is soliciting sealed bids for the design and construction of two pumped nutrient reduction wetlands in Calhoun County (Project 26-02 Cal883229BN & BS). This procurement requires contractors to perform selective clearing, excavation, grading, installation of solar-powered lift stations with dual and single pump configurations, force mains, tile drainage systems, inlet risers, water control structures, drawdown pipes, riprap placement, and seeding across two sites totaling approximately 17.6 acres. The North site (Cal883229BN) encompasses 31,200 cubic yards of earthwork and 16.6 acres of seeding, while the South site (Cal883229BS) involves 10,300 cubic yards of earthwork and 1.0 acre of seeding, with both projects designed to manage stormwater runoff and provide nutrient reduction benefits. All construction work except seeding must be completed by December 31, 2026, with structure seeding due by May 15, 2027, and buffer seeding by June 30, 2027. Sealed bids must be submitted electronically through the Iowa Management of Procurement and Contracts System (IMPACS) by 3:00 PM on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, with public bid opening occurring simultaneously via Microsoft Teams. A pre-bid conference is scheduled for 10:00 AM on April 24, 2026, at the Calhoun County Conservation Board in Rockwell City, Iowa, with attendance encouraged but not mandatory. Bidders must submit all written questions concerning plans and specifications to the Engineer of Record, Dan Jensen, P.E. of Shive-Hattery (djensen@shive-hattery.com), with copies to Tracy Blocker (tracy.Blocker@iowaagriculture.gov), and all inquiries must be received by 3:00 PM on May 5, 2026, to be addressed in a final addendum. Successful bidders must be registered with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing and shall commence construction within 14 days of the preconstruction meeting.

Bidders must submit a proposal guarantee (bid bond) equal to 10 percent of the base bid amount, and the successful contractor will be required to furnish a Performance and Payment Bond equal to 100 percent of the contract price within fourteen days of the Notice-of-Award. Construction materials purchased for this project are exempt from Iowa sales and use tax, and the Division will provide tax exemption certificates to the contractor. Liquidated damages are assessed at $175.00 per day for all work except seeding and $125.00 per day for seeding activities to address project delays. The contract documents, including comprehensive engineering plans and specifications sealed by Professional Engineers Daniel Jensen (License No. 25063) and Kevin Bruxvoort (License No. 19927), specify compliance with NRCS standards, NFPA 70, ASTM standards, ANSI standards, and UL certifications for electrical and photovoltaic system components. No incumbent vendor or current contractor is identified; however, the project requires integration with existing site conditions and coordination with NRCS inspection protocols for designated work items. The estimated total construction cost for the North site (Cal883229BN) ranges from $375,000 to $475,000, while the South site (Cal883229BS) ranges from $175,000 to $275,000, with compensation computed on a unit price basis and monthly progress payments processed at 97 percent of completed work value, subject to a 3 percent retention.