Capital Ave Corridor Utility Expansion Bid Package B (Bittersweet Road Utilities)

The St. Joseph County Department of Infrastructure, Planning & Growth Division of Public Works (South Bend, Indiana) is requesting sealed bids on Capital Ave Corridor Utility Expansion Bid Package B (Bittersweet Road Utilities) under Contract W-92603, with bids due August 11, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the County-City Building. The project scope is construction of approximately 15,000 linear feet of 16-inch ductile iron water main, sanitary sewer segments, and fiber optic conduit within utility easements and roadway rights-of-way paralleling Bittersweet Road between Cleveland Road and Day Road. Bidders must demonstrate experience within the last ten years in ductile iron water main installation of similar size and horizontal directional drilling construction techniques.

The project is structured in four divisions with staggered completion dates: water main testing and operation completion by March 12, 2027, and full project completion including restoration by May 7, 2027. Liquidated damages are assessed at $2,500 per calendar day for each division that misses its deadline. The contractor must perform at least 50 percent of contract work with its own organization; all subcontractors require prior written approval. Payment, performance, and maintenance bonds equal to 100 percent and 10 percent of the awarded contract amount are required. Retainage is withheld at six percent for the first 50 percent of project completion, then three percent for the remainder and all change order work.

The owner has procured below-ground water main piping, fittings, and valves for delivery on or before October 5, 2026; the contractor is responsible for all other materials and equipment. The contract includes four contingency allowances of $200,000 each (one per division) and four groundwater monitoring well allowances of $10,000 each. Permits required from federal, state, and local agencies are the responsibility of either the Owner or Contractor as specified in the bid documents. The contractor must coordinate with concurrent projects, including an intersection improvement roundabout at Bittersweet Road and Douglas Road (beginning April 2027) and Microsoft property activities, with no time extensions granted for coordination conflicts. Notice to Proceed is anticipated on August 24, 2026, with award expected within 60 calendar days of bid opening. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting was held July 30, 2026.