City of Bartow Holiday Lighting Project

Bay County Board of County Commissioners issued Invitation to Bid (ITB) 26-31 to procure construction services for a new boat ramp facility at the McKenzie boat ramp location (1501 McKenzie Road, Panama City, Florida 32409). The procurement seeks qualified Florida-licensed General Contractors or Marine Contractors to provide all necessary labor, supervision, equipment, and supplies to construct the new boat ramp, with all subcontractors required to hold appropriate Florida trade licenses. The scope of work includes demolition of the existing boat ramp, clearing and grubbing of approximately 0.35 acres, excavation of approximately 2,050 cubic yards of material, installation of geosynthetic reinforcement and stabilization measures, placement of approximately 140 tons of asphalt concrete pavement (1,259 square yards), installation of two precast concrete deck panels (20 feet by 20 feet, 8 inches thick), riprap placement (85 tons), construction of approximately 76 linear feet of wooden dock, sod installation (270 square yards), pavement markings, galvanized beam rail systems, erosion and sediment control measures (743 linear feet of barriers), mobilization, and maintenance of traffic. The contract term is 180 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed, with liquidated damages of $500 per calendar day assessed for delays beyond the completion deadline. Evaluation criteria include qualifications and experience (35 points), key personnel experience (25 points), methodology and technical approach (35 points), cost proposal (5 points), and potential oral presentations (up to 15 additional points). A mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for 10:00 AM CDT on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Bay County Purchasing Department (840 W. 11th Street, Suite 2500, Panama City, Florida 32401), with attendance required or bidders will be automatically disqualified; written questions must be submitted by 5:00 PM CDT on Monday, April 27, 2026; sealed or electronic bids must be submitted by 2:00 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, through OpenGov Procurement or as paper submissions, with public bid opening immediately following the deadline; and the Board of County Commissioners will consider the recommended award on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

The solicitation does not identify any set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or specific restrictions limiting organizational type eligibility to respond, nor are any incumbent vendors or current contractors identified in the procurement documentation. Bidders must provide proof of current Florida contractor licensing with their bids, comply with E-Verify requirements for all workforce members, and submit certifications regarding compliance with scrutinized company lists, human trafficking prohibitions, foreign entities of concern restrictions, and antitrust provisions. All contractors and subcontractors must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including workers' compensation with $500,000 employer's liability limits, general liability with $1,000,000 minimum per occurrence, business auto liability, excess or umbrella liability, watercraft liability coverage (due to the marine nature of the project), pollution legal liability insurance ($1,000,000 minimum), products and completed operations coverage for three years post-completion, and builders risk insurance; the County must be named as additional insured on applicable policies. Each bid must be accompanied by a bid bond equal to five percent of the proposed base bid amount and a Public Construction Bond per Florida Statutes Section 255.05. The procurement incorporates the Florida Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction (2024 Edition), Bay County special provisions, and construction plans prepared by Gortemoller Engineering, Inc., with the project qualifying for potential sales tax exemptions under Florida Statute Section 212.08(6) for owner direct purchases exceeding $10,000 in estimated cost. The specific award value or budget range is not disclosed in the solicitation documents; compensation will be rendered on a lump-sum base bid with unit prices basis in accordance with the Florida Prompt Payment Act, with five percent retainage held at the County's discretion and final payment due within 30 days after project completion and substantial completion.