Drill and Blasting D-11 FEDERAL

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), District 11, is soliciting bids for drill and blasting services to support rock fracturing and stable final rock cut face construction on highways in the Manchester District of Carter County. The procurement consists of seven line items: hand-operated rock drill services (500 hours), hydraulic track drill services (10,000 linear feet), blasting agent charges for holes up to 10 feet deep (5,000 each), blasting agent charges for depths exceeding 10 feet (5,000 linear feet), emergency response incentive services ($750 per equipment piece), presplitting services (90,000 square feet), and pre-blast structure surveys (20 surveys). Successful vendors must employ a licensed Kentucky blaster-in-charge, submit a general blasting plan at least 15 working days prior to operations, conduct pre-blast condition surveys, maintain comprehensive shot reports, and comply with federal, state, and local regulations including KRS 351.310-351.9901, 805 KAR 4:005-4:165, OSHA requirements, and DOT shipping regulations. Vendors must maintain Contractor's General Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and Kentucky workers' compensation insurance, with certificates submitted within ten days of award notice. The evaluation is based on best-value criteria with 95 points allocated to price (lowest bidder receives maximum points) and 5 points allocated to response time commitment in calendar days. The RFB closes August 9, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with written questions due by August 1, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. and Commonwealth responses due August 2, 2023. The tentative award date is August 15, 2023, with the initial contract period running from award through August 31, 2024, plus four optional one-year renewal periods.

The contract is federally funded through the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief program and requires compliance with Davis-Bacon Act wage determinations, Buy America provisions, and Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) requirements. Kentucky resident bidders receive reciprocal preference against nonresident bidders from states offering similar preferences. Emergency response work must commence within 48 hours of notification with guaranteed equipment delivery within 24 hours, subject to $1,000 daily penalties for failure to respond within 72 hours; a 1 percent daily penalty applies for delays beyond contracted completion dates except under circumstances beyond vendor control. Bids must be submitted electronically through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service website (https://vss.ky.gov), and all bidders must complete and submit a notarized Annual Affidavit for Bidders, Offerors and Contractors attesting compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws. No incumbent vendor information, set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, or specific budget ranges are identified in the solicitation documents; pricing will be determined competitively through the bid evaluation process.