Bridge Operations-Fort Street Bridge

The State of Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) issued Request for Proposal No. 200000001437 to procure 24/7, 365-days-per-year operational and custodial services for the Fort Street Lift Bridge (M-85) spanning the Rouge River in Detroit, Wayne County. The procurement seeks a qualified contractor to provide comprehensive bridge operations including opening and closing procedures in compliance with United States Coast Guard regulations (33 CFR Title 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters Part 117), custodial and housekeeping maintenance, personnel training, equipment inspections, and detailed record maintenance and reporting. Key deliverables include appointing a dedicated Program Manager and qualified, certified bridge operators to maintain continuous on-site presence during all operational hours, performing daily custodial duties such as cleaning, floor waxing, water level checks, snow removal, and light bulb replacement, conducting monthly power washing operations, and submitting comprehensive monthly reports documenting all activities. Required qualifications for bridge operators include corrected vision of 20/40 or better, color vision capability, hearing capability to communicate on VHF marine radio, ability to climb stairs and ladders, physical capacity to hand crank bridge gates and carry approximately thirty pounds, drug-free status under federal requirements, fluency in reading and comprehending MDOT and U.S. Coast Guard manuals, and ability to maintain accurate logs and obtain Trained Bridge Operator certification valid for twenty-four months per bridge. The evaluation will be conducted using a best value selection methodology, with the State awarding to the responsive and responsible bidder offering the best combination of evaluation factors and price after meeting minimum point thresholds; evaluation considerations include bidder capacity to meet mandatory requirements, prior performance with the State, Michigan employment and job creation impact, and facility inspection results. Critical solicitation deadlines include two vendor question submission periods (March 26, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern and April 6, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, with State answers posted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on March 30 and April 10, 2020 respectively), and a proposal submission deadline of April 27, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern through the SIGMA VSS electronic system, with late proposals subject to disqualification; the anticipated contract commencement date is August 1, 2020, with the contract running through July 31, 2023, and renewable for up to two additional one-year periods at the State's sole discretion.

No set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise restrictions are explicitly identified in the procurement documents. Subcontracting is permitted provided the prime contractor performs at a minimum 50% of the original contract amount. The contractor must integrate with existing infrastructure including the Panatrol electrical control system serving the Fort Street Bascule Bridge and must comply with all operational procedures, bypass protocols, and safety interlocks detailed in the Panatrol Operating Manual prepared by Ferndale Electric. Contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, automobile liability of $1,000,000 per accident, workers' compensation in accordance with applicable law, and employers' liability of $500,000 per accident, with the State named as an additional insured. The procurement documents do not identify any incumbent contractor or provide specific award values or budget ranges; however, the pricing structure requires contractors to submit firm pricing for all three years of the contract term with no price escalation permitted, including monthly bridge operation labor costs billed on a lump sum basis and annual mobilization costs encompassing training, relocation, custodial supplies, equipment, safety equipment, clothing, materials, insurance, and office overhead expenses. Payment terms provide that all undisputed invoices are due within 45 days of the State's receipt via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), and the contractor bears all transportation, handling, and F.O.B. destination charges unless otherwise specified in the Statement of Work.