DEM Construction of Operations Facility at Colt State Park

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is seeking qualified vendors to construct a new regional operations facility at Colt State Park in Bristol County. This Request for Quotation (RFQ26006026) is a competitive procurement process open from October 16, 2025, to November 14, 2025, with a non-mandatory pre-bid conference scheduled for October 23, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the Colt State Park Guard Shack. The project involves constructing a comprehensive operations facility with an initial contract period of 18 months, beginning approximately January 1, 2026, with potential renewal for an additional 12 months contingent on vendor performance and fund availability. The solicitation includes several critical allowances totaling $315,000 for potential unforeseen costs such as utility connections, ledge and boulder removal, code compliance, and electric service extension. Vendors will be evaluated based on their ability to meet technical specifications, comply with project requirements, and demonstrate capability to complete the construction within the specified timeframe, with liquidated damages set at $5,000 per day of project delay.

The procurement includes specific vendor requirements and set-aside provisions, notably a mandatory 15% minority business enterprise participation requirement, which mandates that at least 15% of the project's dollar value must be awarded to minority-owned businesses. Vendors must submit a bid surety bond or certified check for 5% of their proposal value and will be required to provide 100% payment and performance bonds. Insurance requirements are stringent, including $1,000,000 in general liability, workers' compensation, and automobile liability coverage. While no specific incumbent vendors are mentioned, the solicitation suggests this is a new facility construction project with no existing infrastructure constraints. The total project budget appears to be substantial, with allowances and bonding requirements indicating a significant capital investment. Interested vendors must carefully review the full solicitation document, which can be accessed by clicking the "print/download solicitation" button on the public bid board or by logging into their WebProcure account.