DNR Giant City Post Oak Trail Repairs

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is soliciting bids through an Invitation for Bid (IFB) process for repairs to the Post Oak hiking trail at Giant City State Park in Jackson County, Illinois. The procurement encompasses replacement of three wooden bridges (Bridges 3, 4, and 5) and one wooden viewing deck, with an alternate bid option for parking lot improvements including demolition and asphalt resurfacing of approximately 424 square yards. The base bid deliverables include public safety barricades, demolition of existing wood components, concrete footings and abutments, treated wood framing and decking with rough sawn 3" x 12" boards, steel mesh railing panels, stainless steel pipe handrails compliant with ADA standards, and comprehensive restoration of the site. The project specifications require adherence to the 9th Edition of AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, the 2018 International Building Code, and ACI 318 standards, with all timber treated with preservatives meeting AWPA specifications and concrete work specified at 4,000 PSI normal weight. Bidders must have a minimum of three years of experience in commercial public works and public park construction, with documented completion of at least five similar projects, and must comply with prevailing wage requirements under the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act including submission of monthly certified payroll records. The bid submission deadline is January 13, 2026, with all bids required to be submitted electronically through the BidBuy platform; the bid must remain firm for 90 days from opening, and the contract term runs through July 30, 2026. Evaluation will be based on responsibility, responsiveness, and price, with award made to the lowest priced responsive and responsible bidder; written questions must be submitted no later than seven days from bid opening.

There are no set-aside designations restricting the types of organizations that can respond, though bidders may voluntarily submit Business Enterprise Program or Veterans Small Business Program utilization plans; the awarded vendor H & N Construction, Inc. did not include such utilization in their proposal. All bidders must submit either a Vendor Disclosure form or an IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure demonstrating registration in the Illinois Procurement Gateway, along with Standard Illinois Certifications covering financial, legal, ethical, and operational compliance requirements. The contract requires a Performance Bond from a surety licensed to do business in Illinois or an irrevocable letter of credit, general commercial liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, workers' compensation insurance, and a construction bond pursuant to the Public Construction Bond Act for contracts exceeding $150,000. The project may be partially or wholly funded with federal funds and is subject to Buy American Act provisions requiring use of domestic construction materials. The awarded contract value is $214,000.00, with unsuccessful bids from Samron Midwest Contracting, Inc. at $305,064.00 and Heartland Services, Inc. at $332,346.00; a $15 Minority Contractor Opportunity Initiative fee applies to all awarded contracts valued at $1,000 or more. The contractor must employ at least 51 percent of the workforce as the prime contractor and provide a two-year warranty on workmanship and materials, plus a one-year plus one growing season warranty for seeded areas.