Alpha Substation Construction

The City of Springfield, Illinois Office of Public Utilities (CWLP) is requesting sealed bids for construction of a new 138 kV substation (Project UE27-10-46) with bids due November 5, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. via the City's Bid Portal, and a mandatory pre-bid meeting on October 20, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at CWLP Engineering in Springfield.

The scope encompasses a complete 138 kV electrical substation facility including one 138 kV circuit breaker, two transmission line deadend arbors, one incoming transmission line span, one 23' × 14' control enclosure, backup emergency propane tank and generator, and associated switching, bus, and metering equipment. Work includes steel structure erection, foundation installation, grounding system installation, underground conduit and duct banks, cable vault and raceway systems, lighting and receptacle systems, and transmission line stringing and sagging. The contractor must furnish all labor, supervision, materials, tools, equipment, and incidentals necessary for completion, including material procurement, rigging, hauling, unloading, placement, hardware, field verification, coordination with other contractors, and provision of a climate-controlled on-site construction trailer. All work must comply with NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code), IEEE standards, ASTM specifications, OSHA requirements, and NEMA standards. The contractor must coordinate with surrounding solar array construction for access and logistics.

The site is located approximately 1.5 miles south of the intersection of Illinois State Route 4 and Goldenrod Drive in Chatham, Illinois 62629, with a pad-ready substation footprint of 124 feet by 147 feet within a fenced area. Substantial completion is required by July 1, 2027, with final commissioning readiness by September 1, 2027. Anticipated contract award is December 15, 2026. Bid security is 10 percent of the total bid amount. A performance bond equal to the contract price must be furnished within fourteen calendar days after contract execution and remain in effect for at least one year after final payment. Written questions are due October 26, 2026 at 12:00 p.m., with responses provided by October 29, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Notification of pre-bid attendance is required by October 13, 2026.