East Road 14" Water Line Replacement

Los Alamos County is conducting an Invitation for Bids (IFB26-37) for the East Road 14" Water Line Replacement project, a critical infrastructure replacement initiative for the Department of Public Utilities in New Mexico. The procurement seeks qualified contractors to furnish and install approximately 5,443 linear feet of new 14-inch Ductile Iron Pipe (DIP) as the base bid, with a bid alternate option for an additional 1,236 linear feet to reroute the pipeline upstream. The project involves replacing an aging 14-inch steel water transmission line installed in 1949 along NM-502 that has experienced age-related deterioration and frequent leaks; the new pipeline will serve as a critical transmission main conveying water from Otowi Well #4 to the Los Alamos Townsite area. Required work includes installation of associated valves, fittings, fire hydrants, combination air valves, thrust blocks, joint restraints, tracer wire, warning tape, bedding, backfill, disinfection, and hydrostatic testing. Bidders must possess a current New Mexico Contractor's License with proper classifications for water line work, must submit a list of all subcontractors performing work exceeding $5,000, and must be registered with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and comply with the New Mexico Public Works Minimum Wage Act. Evaluation will focus on accurate submission of bid response documents and cost as primary factors. Key dates include a mandatory pre-bid conference on February 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. MST; electronic bid submission through the County's Bonfire Procurement Portal by 2:00 p.m. MDT on March 12, 2026; anticipated project award on April 1, 2026; Notice to Proceed on April 16, 2026; and Substantial Completion required by August 16, 2026, with Final Completion by September 16, 2026.

All bidders must submit comprehensive documentation including a 5 percent bid security (cash, certified checks, or bid bonds), copies of their New Mexico Contractor's License(s), authorization for verification of information, certification regarding debarment and suspension, campaign contribution disclosure form, certification of bid submission, permanent main office address verification, and a list of subcontractors with proper licensing documentation. No specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned in the solicitation documents, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified. Bidders must maintain comprehensive general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, as well as motor vehicle, workers' compensation, and property insurance; performance and labor-materials bonds must each equal 100 percent of the total contract price. The project is funded in part by Water Project Fund (WPF) monies administered through the New Mexico Authority Fund (NMAF) under grant agreement WPF-6584, though the specific contract award value is not disclosed in the available documents. Liquidated damages are assessed at $2,500 per day for failure to meet Substantial or Final Completion dates, and all bid documents and submissions are public records under New Mexico law, with submission constituting acknowledgment that the bidder has inspected the site and is familiar with local conditions affecting cost and performance.