Construction of Livestock Building

Suwannee County, Florida is procuring construction services for the development of a new livestock building and related site improvements through sealed competitive bidding. The project scope encompasses the construction of a 35,000 square-foot facility consisting of a show arena and livestock barn, along with site improvements including stormwater management infrastructure and utility extensions across approximately 3.51 acres at the county fairgrounds. The construction documents, prepared by North Florida Professional Services, Inc., specify comprehensive design requirements including concrete work meeting 4,000 PSI compressive strength standards, masonry construction per TMS 402/602-16 specifications, structural design per 2023 Florida Building Code with 130 MPH wind load design capacity, and stormwater detention basin design for 100-year storm events per Suwannee River Water Management District requirements. Bid submissions are due by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026, with public bid opening and reading scheduled for 10:05 a.m. the same day at the Suwannee County Administration Conference Room in Live Oak; a mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Suwannee County Coliseum, and written questions must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 13, 2026. The contract specifies a 270-day performance period from Notice to Proceed, with substantial construction to commence within 30 days of contract execution, liquidated damages of $1,000 per day for schedule non-compliance, and bidders required to provide a five percent bid guarantee, 100 percent public construction bond, and proof of one million dollars in insurance coverage. The bid evaluation will consider base bid and four additive alternatives for mechanical systems and metal building extensions, with bidders completing a standardized Bid Table form and providing required certifications including Anti-Collusion Statement, Conflict of Interest Disclosure, Debarment Certification, and Failure to Perform Questionnaire.

The procurement documents do not identify specific set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or incumbent vendor preferences; however, all bidders must demonstrate compliance with standard federal and state certifications and meet qualification requirements for public construction contracting in Florida. Bidders must provide three references for similar commercial projects completed within the last five years and execute the EJCDC C-700 Standard General Conditions of the Construction Contract, which establishes comprehensive performance and payment bond requirements, insurance specifications, quality standards, and dispute resolution procedures. The instructions mandate E-Verify authorization for all personnel performing work and establish a cone of silence prohibiting direct communication between bidders and County Commissioners, employees, or selection committee members except through the Procurement Department. The successful bidder must return an executed contract within 14 calendar days of receipt and provide construction bonds within 21 calendar days of contract execution. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the solicitation documents, with contract award based on sealed competitive bidding and evaluation of compliance with specifications, bid pricing, and contractor qualifications.