Bollman Truss Bridge Railroad Timbers and Framing Replacements

Howard County, Maryland is requesting proposals for labor and materials to replace railroad timbers and framing on the historic Bollman Truss Bridge at 8600 Foundry Street, Savage, Maryland, under RFP 02-2027, with proposals due September 23, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. EST and a pre-proposal conference at the project site on September 2, 2026 at 10:00 A.M. Contractors must demonstrate at least five years of active experience in railroad bridge restoration, a key qualification filter.

The contract carries an Equal Business Opportunity subcontracting participation goal of 15% with certified minority, women, or disabled business enterprises on contracts valued at $50,000 or more. The Howard County Living Wage Requirement applies to service work exceeding $100,000 annually; as of January 15, 2026, the living wage rate is $19.83 per hour. Contractors may voluntarily participate in the Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise program, which has an aspirational goal of 1% of the County's total procurement dollar value.

Scope includes replacement of timber framing, ties, support beams, blocking, and hardware while maintaining pedestrian access to the attached walking bridge whenever possible. All replacement timber must meet America Wood Protection Association standards for marine exposure. Hardware must be pre-approved by the Maryland Historic Trust and hot-dip galvanized or stainless steel. The replacement timbers must be dapped to match existing conditions, and hardware shall be historically consistent with the original structure.

The estimated annual contract value ranges from $500,001 to $1,000,000. The agreement period is one year from approval and execution, with a renewal option for one additional year at the County's sole discretion. Contractors must submit a 5% bid deposit and obtain a 100% performance bond within ten days of award. Pricing must remain firm for one year from the effective date, with price adjustments limited to the Consumer Price Index or 5% maximum increase, whichever is lower. Completion timeline is 120 calendar days from notice to proceed.

Questions are due September 8, 2026 at 4:00 P.M. Evaluation emphasizes experience and technical competence, staff qualifications, project risks and mitigation strategies, past project examples, proposed timeline, accessibility planning, Certified Local Business status, proposal completeness, and price. Contractors must submit three professional references from accounts completed within the past three years.