DNR Fox Creek - Rehabilitate Wetland Berms

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) issued an Invitation for Bid (Solicitation Number 26-422DNR-REALT-B-50456) for the rehabilitation of two existing earthen berms at Fox Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area in Wayne County, Illinois. The base bid scope includes clearing, grubbing, grading, seeding, erosion control, and riprap stabilization of the southern earthen berm of the northern wetland impoundment (3,000 linear feet) and the southern earthen berm of the southern wetland impoundment (2,150 linear feet), with approximate earthwork quantities totaling 400 cubic yards for the north berm and 1,600 cubic yards for the south berm and seeding areas of approximately 8.0 acres. An additive alternate bid includes clearing, grubbing, and seeding of the west berm corridor of the north wetland area (approximately 1,000 linear feet and 1.0 acre). All work must be completed by June 30, 2026, with no time extensions permitted. Bidders must demonstrate at least three years of civil construction experience and provide documentation of completion of at least three similar projects. The pre-submission conference was held on January 7, 2025, at Fox Creek SFWA, and the bid submission deadline was January 20, 2026, through the BidBuy electronic system. All work must comply with IDOT Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, NPDES permit requirements under the ILR10 General NPDES Permit, and prevailing wage requirements under the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act. Bids were evaluated and awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting all specified criteria, with the resulting contract governed by the State of Illinois Standard Terms and Conditions.

The solicitation included a Business Enterprise Program (BEP) utilization goal of 12 percent participation for businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, with bidders required to submit a completed BEP Utilization Plan with their bid or face disqualification. The contract is a federally funded project subject to compliance with the Buy American Act, the Davis-Bacon Act, the Clean Air Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Build America Buy America Act, the Copeland Anti-Kickback Act, and Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act. A construction bond is required for projects over $150,000, and general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 annual aggregate is mandated. An administrative fee of $15 to support the Minority Contractor Opportunity Initiative will be deducted from the first payment for any awarded vendor with a contract value of $1,000 or more. The contract was awarded on January 26, 2026, to May Excavating Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder at a total contract amount of $188,000.00. Four vendors submitted bids for this project, with unsuccessful bidders including Elevate Excavating ($113,750.00), JP Excavating and Trucking, KP Fencing ($308,464.00), and Schomburg & Schomburg Construction, Inc. ($261,433.14).