Duncan VIPER Tower Rebuild

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is seeking bids for the Duncan VIPER Tower Rebuild project, an infrastructure replacement initiative located at 8494 Christian Light Road in Fuquay Varina, Harnett County. The procurement is an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for constructing a new 293-foot self-support communications tower with a prefabricated equipment shelter, diesel generator, and chain-link fenced compound. Deliverables include complete tower construction, removal of existing infrastructure down to 24 inches below grade, and restoration of access roads damaged during construction. Bidders must attend a mandatory pre-bid site visit on December 10, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET, with written questions due by December 11, 2025, and state responses provided on December 12, 2025. Bid submissions are due December 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET, with a public bid opening at that time and anticipated contract award on December 23, 2025. Evaluation criteria will focus on completeness, content, cost, and vendor responsibility, with award going to the lowest responsive bid meeting specifications. Contractors must submit firm fixed-price bids with separate line items for tower construction and decommissioning labor and materials.

Vendor qualifications include being registered in North Carolina and possessing current General Contractors' Licenses with Public Utilities (Communications) Classification and Electrical Contracting Licenses. The state has established a 10 percent utilization goal for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) as first or second-tier subcontractors. Bidders must provide three customer references for similar equipment, complete financial stability certifications, and submit worker location attestations. The contract term is one year from final execution, with a project completion timeline of approximately 90 calendar days, excluding inclement weather days. All materials and workmanship will be warranted for one year from acceptance, with concrete requiring a 30-day cure period before weight-bearing. The engineering firm Engineered Tower Solutions (ETS) will conduct foundation inspection, concrete testing, and post-construction inspection at state expense. While no specific budget range is provided in the documents, the project involves comprehensive infrastructure development including underground conduit runs, electrical systems, tower lighting, and a complete grounding ring system.