Athletic Field Wall Padding

Western Carolina University is requesting sealed bids for the furnishing and installation of athletic field wall padding at its baseball and softball facilities, IFB #73-IFB-00777, with bids due September 16, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. EST via Microsoft Teams virtual meeting. All bids must be submitted through the electronic Bid Portal at https://wcu.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/27852 and must be from approved North Carolina registered vendors authorized resellers through North Carolina Term Contract 420A; no product substitutions are permitted.

The scope covers outdoor-rated wall padding on the existing brick outfield wall at the baseball field and padding on outfield fencing at both baseball and softball fields. Padding must be specifically designed for outdoor athletic use with a UV-resistant vinyl covering and high-density impact-absorbing foam core or approved equivalent, capable of withstanding weather exposure, ultraviolet radiation, and repeated athletic impacts. The contractor shall provide all labor, materials, equipment, supervision, transportation, hardware, mounting systems, brackets, fastening hardware, and incidental items necessary for complete installation in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and industry standards. The contractor is responsible for verifying field dimensions and existing conditions prior to fabrication, coordinating work with University personnel to minimize disruption to athletic activities, and removing all debris and restoring the work area upon completion at no additional cost to the University.

Bids must include product specifications, warranty information, estimated lead times, and a lump-sum price covering all costs for materials, freight, delivery, labor, equipment, installation, and cleanup. The awarded vendor shall be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder determined to be in the best interest of the University. Prior to contract execution, the vendor must be registered with the North Carolina Secretary of State and comply with North Carolina General Terms and Conditions, E-Verify requirements, criminal background check requirements, and insurance requirements. The vendor must provide at least three customer references for similar projects and demonstrate experience with public and/or private sector clients of similar size and complexity. Written questions were due September 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. EST, with responses provided by September 9, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST. The installation window is scheduled between July 13, 2026 and August 21, 2026, with exact timing to be provided to the awarded vendor at a later date.