751/23038. TAP; Otter Creek - GEM Bridge Replacement

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, State Facilities Administration, Design and Construction Division, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, seeks qualified contractors for the Otter Creek GEM Bridge Replacement project (751/23038.TAP) located on an unnamed tributary to the West Branch Otter River in Houghton County, Michigan. This procurement involves the complete removal of an existing 20-foot timber bridge and its foundations, followed by excavation, construction of new concrete abutments and wingwalls, installation of a new 30-foot timber superstructure with nail-laminated decking and wearing surface, backfill operations, sign installation, gravel approach construction, erosion and sedimentation control measures, riprap placement, and site restoration. Deliverables include the fabrication and installation of timber bridge components with specifications for lumber materials (Stress Group D Spruce, Pine, Fir with maximum 19 percent moisture content), four-inch by two-inch nominal laminations, and galvanized spike attachments at 12 to 18-inch intervals, with all materials treated with copper naphthenate per AASHTO specifications. Key qualifications required include submission of an experience modification rating, proposed project superintendent information, references for three similar completed projects, and a list of nominated subcontractors; bidders must also obtain and submit Qualified Disabled Veteran and Michigan-Based Business certifications where applicable. A mandatory pre-bid meeting was held virtually on Microsoft Teams on January 22, 2025, with 21 representatives in attendance, and questions were accepted until January 29, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. EST. Bids were due electronically through the SIGMA VSS portal on February 5, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with substantial completion required by August 15, 2025, and final completion by August 29, 2025. Liquidated damages are assessed at $250 per calendar day for delays beyond completion dates, and a five percent bid guarantee and performance and payment bonds are required for all bids exceeding $50,000.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting bidder participation are detailed in the procurement documents; however, the project incorporates prevailing wage requirements under Michigan Public Act 10 of 2023, with detailed wage schedules provided for multiple construction classifications. Bidders are required to comply with soil erosion and sedimentation control regulations and submit an SESC Implementation Plan before commencing earthwork, and all contractors must obtain necessary permits and approvals at their own expense, with the exception of the EGLE Part 31 and Part 301 permit already secured by the Owner. Construction work in the river is restricted from October 1 to May 15 due to critical spawning, migration, and recreational use periods. A staging area is available approximately 450 feet south of the bridge site on the west side of Hazel Swamp Road and must be restored with topsoil, seed, and mulch at no additional cost upon project completion. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the available procurement documents, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified. The project is state-funded, and the apparent low bidder will be required to demonstrate post-bid qualifications prior to contract award.