BD26002 - 417 N Market St Renovation

The Delaware Affordable Housing Group (DAHG) issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) #BD26002 seeking qualified general contractors to perform complete renovation of a residential unit located at 417 North Market Street in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware. The scope of work encompasses comprehensive renovation of the entire three-story mixed-use building containing approximately three one-bedroom residential units (totaling approximately 2,258 square feet) and 839 square feet of ground-floor retail space, with detailed architectural, structural, civil, and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) bid drawings and specifications provided. The project requires contractors to perform all construction work including structural framing, mechanical and HVAC systems installation and commissioning, plumbing infrastructure, electrical service and lighting systems, roofing, window and door replacement, interior finishes including flooring and wall assemblies, and comprehensive ADA-compliant accessibility features for one designated unit, with all work to comply with the 2021 International Building Code, Delaware State Fire Regulations, NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, and applicable 2018 and 2020 code standards. Contractors must submit all bids exclusively through the Bonfire (Euna) electronic procurement platform by Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM, with a mandatory pre-bid conference and site visit scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Elwyn Building (321 E. 11th Street, Wilmington, DE), followed immediately by a site visit to 417 N. Market Street; written questions must be submitted by April 10, 2026, at 12:00 Noon. Bidders must submit comprehensive documentation including a completed Form of Bid, HUD-5369-A certifications, Profile of Firm Form with resumes, proof of required business licenses and insurance, a bid bond of at least five percent of the bid amount, detailed subcontractor lists organized by trade category, managerial capacity and financial viability information, client references demonstrating experience with similar projects, and an Equal Employment Opportunity policy. The anticipated contract period is 180 days from the start of construction, with all work pricing to be all-inclusive of labor, materials, equipment, overhead, and profit, and overtime at 1.5 times the regular hourly rate only for work formally requested outside normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM); the agency reserves the right to award the contract to the lowest priced responsive and responsible bidder.

This procurement includes specific Section 3 employment and contracting requirements under HUD's Community Development Block Grant program, mandating that contractors establish benchmarks of 25 percent Section 3 labor hours of total project labor hours and 5 percent targeted Section 3 labor hours (workers residing within the project service area or one mile of the worksite, YouthBuild participants, or employees of Section 3 business concerns), with Section 3 workers defined as low or very low-income individuals with annual income at or below $36,900 (very low-income) or $22,150 (extremely low-income) as established by HUD for Wilmington, Delaware in fiscal year 2022. Contractors and subcontractors must prioritize hiring Section 3-eligible workers and may receive bonus considerations for meeting or exceeding diversity and inclusion targets through documented hiring of small, minority-owned, and women-owned business subcontractors; all workers must submit Section 3 Worker Self-Certification Forms confirming income eligibility status, and all subcontracted businesses must submit Section 3 Business Concern Certification Forms. Required insurance includes Workers Compensation, General Liability with minimum $1,000,000 per claim and $1,000,000 general aggregate coverage naming DAHG as additional insured, and Automobile Insurance with $1,000,000 combined single limit; insurance certificates must be submitted directly from insurance companies (not by email) to DAHG at 321 E. 11th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801, with thirty days' prior written notice required before any coverage cancellation. The contract is subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements established by the U.S. Department of Labor Wage Decision WD20260001 for New Castle County residential construction, with prevailing wage rates ranging from $7.25 to $12.50 per hour depending on worker classification, plus mandatory paid sick leave and minimum wage provisions; no specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the solicitation documents.