Bridge painting, new castle county, FY27

The Delaware Department of Transportation is requesting bids on bridge painting services across nine bridges in New Castle County under Federal Aid Project No. ESTP-2026(02), with bids due August 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and work commencing on or about April 1, 2027 with a 244-calendar-day completion window. A 0% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goal currently applies; all DelDOT-certified DBEs were decertified as of September 30, 2025 pending recertification.

The scope encompasses cleaning and painting structural steel and concrete on nine bridges (BR 1-001, BR 1-027P, BR 1-155, BR 1-229A, BR 1-279E, BR 1-279W, BR 1-640, BR 1-701, and BR 1-740) totaling approximately 131,646 square feet of steel and 39,876 square feet of concrete. Steel surfaces require specified surface preparation and shall be painted cyan blue (#25183) or forest green (#24172) depending on location; concrete receives epoxy or silicone-based acrylic sealer in insignia white (#37925). Work must comply with Delaware Department of Transportation Standard Specifications dated January 2026 and Standard Construction Details dated 2026. Traffic control varies by bridge, including full detours at two locations (45 and 30 days maximum) and lane closures at others; no more than three bridges may be in containment simultaneously. Environmental compliance includes migratory bird and bat surveys, tree-trimming restrictions April 1–July 31, and air monitoring for hazardous coating removal. Road User Cost penalties ranging from $100 to $5,000 per 15-minute increment apply for delays in opening bridges to traffic.

Bidders must be registered with DelDOT and provide a surety bond equal to at least 10 percent of bid amount. The contract is federally funded and requires compliance with Buy America provisions, prevailing wage standards per General Decision Number DE20260005 (issued May 18, 2026), Executive Order 14026 ($17.75 minimum wage), paid sick leave requirements, and Davis-Bacon Act labor standards. Contractors must perform at least 30 percent of contract work with own organization, excluding specialty items. Contractors with DelDOT performance ratings of 85 percent or higher may bid without retainage restrictions; those below 85 percent must execute an Agreement to Accept Retainage. Weekly certified payroll submissions using Form WH-347 are required. Bids are submitted as lump sum across seven line items (clearing and grubbing, removal of structures, cleaning and painting steel, testing and disposal of hazardous coatings, initial expense/de-mobilization, netting migratory bird exclusion, and maintenance of traffic). Submissions are accepted via internet-based and paper methods.