6130-EGBA-FY16-LaVITA TOWER: RN-16-0294

The State of Colorado Office of the State Architect, State Buildings Programs, on behalf of the Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT), is soliciting Design/Build Lump Sum services to replace the DTRS Communication Tower at the La Veta location in Huerfano County, Colorado, serving both Kit Carson County and Denver City jurisdictions. This procurement involves the complete design, management, and construction of a replacement 100-foot self-supporting communication tower facility capable of supporting multiple microwave dishes, antennas, weather equipment, and future installations. Key deliverables include signed and sealed engineering drawings, material certifications, construction plans, as-built drawings, and a two-year warranty against mechanical and engineering defects, with all structural work complying with the 2012 International Building Code, TIA-222-G Structural Standards, and current FCC and FAA regulations. The tower must be designed for a basic wind speed of 121 mph with a structure class III rating, constructed using United States-fabricated materials with hot-dip galvanized steel components, and completed by December 31, 2016, with construction activity prohibited between May 15 and July 15 without Bureau of Land Management approval due to migratory bird concerns. Respondents were required to meet minimum qualifications including prior Design/Build experience on at least two projects exceeding $500,000 in hard costs within the previous three years, demonstrated experience on projects of similar scope and complexity, and bonding capability up to $1,000,000 with surety letter confirmation, with qualifications and costs weighted at 40% and 60% respectively in the selection methodology. The prequalification submittal deadline was January 19, 2016, at 2:30 PM Mountain Time at OIT offices in Denver, with only three contractors permitted to submit proposals: EasTex Tower Inc., Rex Industries, and Advanced Tower Services; a mandatory pre-submittal conference and site visit occurred on September 24, 2015; the short list was announced on February 2, 2016; and contract approval was projected for March 1, 2016, with design to commence on March 1, 2016, and construction scheduled from June 1 through September 30, 2016.

Colorado state public works projects are subject to an 80% Colorado labor requirement, mandating that no less than 80% of work be performed by Colorado residents, representing a critical compliance requirement for all responding contractors. The Design/Build Entity must provide performance bonds, labor and material payment bonds on state forms, and insurance certificates including commercial general liability coverage of $2,000,000 aggregate, builder's risk coverage, workers' compensation, and professional errors and omissions liability before commencing work, with monthly progress reports utilizing approved project management software and submission of detailed cost breakdowns required throughout the project lifecycle. The estimated project budget totaled $262,815, distributed across tower installation and removal ($107,730), site preparation and civil work ($64,260), building modifications ($16,200), grounding system ($2,700), mobilization and construction engineering ($28,800), and communication dishes and waveguide ($42,525), with the contract structured as a bonded lump sum agreement with possible allowances and bid alternates, including one additive alternate for transmission lines and antennas installation. The lump sum contract price includes all labor, materials, equipment, permits, bonds, insurance premiums, design fees, and contingencies necessary for project delivery, with payment due within forty-five days of submittal to OIT upon final acceptance and inspection. All submittals became property of the State and were non-returnable, with cost proposals treated as proprietary information, and the State retained perpetual nonexclusive license rights to the design documents for purposes of constructing, using, maintaining, and making future alterations to the project.