Dane County Sustainability Campus – Initial Building and Infrastructure Construction

Dane County, Wisconsin is soliciting sealed bids for the Dane County Sustainability Campus – Initial Building and Infrastructure Construction project located at 7103 Millpond Road, Madison, Wisconsin through a lump sum contract delivery method. The procurement encompasses the design and construction of three primary buildings: an Education and Administration Center (approximately 23,806 gross square feet), a Scale House (814 gross square feet), and a Maintenance Shop (approximately 10,601 gross square feet), along with associated site infrastructure, utilities, and security systems. The scope of work includes structural steel framing, concrete foundations and flatwork, mechanical and HVAC systems, electrical service and distribution with emergency backup power capabilities, plumbing systems with specialized vehicle maintenance features, fire protection systems, access control and video surveillance infrastructure, site grading and excavation, stormwater management including pond construction, utility infrastructure development, paved surfaces, landscaping, and soil stabilization. All work must comply with applicable Dane County specifications, ordinances, local permitting requirements, prevailing wage laws, the 2021 International Building Code, Wisconsin Commercial Building Code, and the 2017 National Electrical Code. Qualified contractors must demonstrate minimum experience with at least one completed project of 50 percent or greater size or value in similar work types, and bidders must be pre-qualified as Best Value Contractors prior to the bid due date with subcontractors required to become pre-qualified ten days before commencing work. A mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 10:00 am at 7102 Maahic Way, Madison, Wisconsin, with all bidder questions due by Friday, May 8, 2026 at 5:00 pm and responses provided by May 14, 2026. Sealed bid packages must be submitted electronically through Dane County's eProcurement Portal by Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 2:00 pm, with the project requiring substantial completion by September 30, 2027, assuming a July 6, 2026 start date.

The procurement includes an Emerging Small Business (ESB) set-aside goal requiring minimum ten percent participation, with bidders demonstrating good faith efforts to award at least ten percent of work value to ESBs or face disqualification; all bidders must submit confirmation of an Emerging Small Business Report submission to the Office of Equity and Inclusion within ten business days of the bid due date for projects exceeding $100,000. All bids must be accompanied by a bid guarantee of no less than five percent of the total bid price in the form of a bid bond, cashier's check, or bank certified check made payable to Dane County, with performance and payment bonds required from a surety company licensed to do business in Wisconsin. Non-resident bidders must comply with Wisconsin Statute Section 71.80(16)(a) regarding surety bond requirements equal to three percent of contract price for contracts of $50,000 or more. Bidders must submit a proposed subcontractor list, Fair Labor Practice certification, W9 form, and acknowledge all issued addenda and reviewed questions and answers as part of their proposal submission. The bid pricing structure includes four base bids, three alternate bids (3-sided structure addition, solar photovoltaic array at maintenance shop, and sound masking system), unit pricing for unsuitable soil and rock removal, and a $100,000 lump sum allowance for unforeseen field conditions. The specific contract award value is not disclosed in the procurement documents; however, the project scope, three-building construction program, comprehensive infrastructure requirements, and anticipated project duration through September 2027 indicate a substantial public works construction contract. The contract will be awarded to the lowest qualified responsible bidder, subject to Owner approval of the bidder's qualifications and experience with projects of similar size and scope.