Buckler Road Water Main Replacement

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) is soliciting sealed bids for the Buckler Road Water Main Replacement project in Clinton, Prince George's County, Maryland, through an Invitation for Bids (IFB) process. The procurement encompasses the installation of approximately 2.17 miles of water mains comprising 0.33 miles of 4-inch diameter ductile iron pipe (DIP), 1.35 miles of 8-inch DIP, and 0.49 miles of 10-inch DIP, along with approximately 1.14 miles of water service house connections across multiple residential streets including Buckler Road, Hellen Lee Drive, Armor Drive, Pin Oak Street, Florence Court, Paros Drive, and associated courts and lanes. All water mains must be constructed with zinc-coated Class 54 minimum ductile iron pipe featuring V-Bio enhanced polyethylene encasement, with fusion-bonded epoxy-coated fittings, and the project includes installation of new fire hydrants, valves, blow-off connections, and related appurtenances to replace existing cast iron pipes installed between 1956 and 2008. Bidders must meet stringent qualification requirements including a minimum of five miles of water main installation experience (3"-14" diameter) using ductile iron pipe completed over the past five years, with at least 2.5 miles completed by the contractor's own crews, and must demonstrate an OSHA Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) below 2.67 for the last three years and provide certified traffic control and erosion/sediment control personnel. The contract duration for substantial completion is 1,015 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed, with liquidated damages of $925.00 per day assessed for delays beyond the contract period. Sealed bids must be submitted electronically via WSSC's eProcurement Portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/wsscwater, with a question submission deadline of May 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and a response submission deadline of June 3, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.; late responses will not be accepted. The project is subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements, Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act compliance mandating United States-origin materials, Maryland Water Quality Revolving Loan Fund and Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund requirements, and Maryland Antidegradation Implementation Procedures for Tier II high-quality waters.

The procurement includes a 23 percent combined Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) subcontracting goal, negotiated Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation requirements of 22 percent minority business enterprise and 16 percent women business enterprise, and contractors must demonstrate six good faith efforts to achieve DBE participation through developing bidders lists of qualified DBE firms, establishing reasonable delivery schedules, dividing work into smaller components where economically feasible, and encouraging DBE consortiums. Bidders must provide a Bid Guarantee of 5 percent of the bid price, a Performance Bond of 100 percent contract value, a Labor and Material Payment Bond of 100 percent contract value, and a Maintenance Bond of 100 percent contract value. The contract is subject to the Maryland Little Miller Act with 5 percent retainage withheld from payments, and contractors must submit an Assurances for Compliance form signed by the prime contractor within seven days of bid opening and provide weekly certified payroll records demonstrating Davis-Bacon wage compliance. While no specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the solicitation documents, the project scope—involving 2.17 miles of water main installation, service connections, traffic control, erosion and sediment control measures, dewatering, temporary water service, staging areas, and full restoration of affected roadways—represents a substantial infrastructure investment. The project is financed through Maryland's Water Quality and Drinking Water Revolving Loan Funds, and WSSC retains responsibility for mill and overlay work following completion of underground utility installation.