Effluent Sprayfields and Pipeline Route Clearing Grubbing

The City of Milton, Florida is soliciting sealed bids through Invitation to Bid (ITB-2026-01) for clearing and grubbing services on approximately 350 wooded acres in preparation for an effluent disposal system installation. The project encompasses the removal and disposal of trees, snags, logs, brush, stumps, and rubbish from designated areas, with work to be substantially completed within 360 days and fully completed within 390 days of receiving the Notice to Proceed. Bidders must submit pricing on a lump-sum basis for general conditions and mobilization (not to exceed 10 percent of total bid) and on a per-acre unit price basis for approximately 295 acres of clearing and grubbing work. Required qualifications include submission of a minimum of three project references, E-Verify employment verification compliance, and various certifications including Public Entity Crime Statements, Drug-Free Workplace Forms, Non-Collusion Affidavits, Conflict of Interest Disclosures, and Debarment Certifications. Key dates include a mandatory pre-bid meeting on January 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (CST) at the City of Milton Council Chamber (6738 Dixon Street, Milton, FL 32570), a written questions deadline of January 15, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. (CST) with answers posted by January 23, 2026, and sealed bid submission due February 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. (CST) with public opening at the same location. Evaluation criteria include responsiveness, responsibility, technical proposal quality, and price, with final award approval by the City Council. The contractor must maintain Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 general aggregate), Automobile Liability ($1,000,000 per accident), statutory Workers' Compensation coverage, and builder's risk coverage, and must provide a 5 percent bid bond at submission and 100 percent performance and payment bonds upon award.

The procurement is subject to prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act, American Iron and Steel provisions, equal employment opportunity requirements with minority and women business enterprise participation goals, and federal compliance with the Build America, Buy America provision. Environmental compliance requirements include gopher tortoise burrow protection measures with a 25-foot radius buffer and eastern indigo snake protection procedures with specified notification protocols to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The contract includes force majeure provisions allowing for potential inclement weather extensions based on weather records from the Milton Wastewater Treatment Facility, with a maximum delay of 30 calendar days unless otherwise agreed, and liquidated damages are assessed at $500 per day for delays beyond contractual milestones. Potential funding sources for this project include the State Revolving Fund Loan Program, RESTORE Act Grant Program, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Resiliency Grant Program, and other state and federal funds. The City of Milton retains the right to utilize value engineering and owner-direct-purchased materials, though material purchases are not anticipated. No specific award value or budget range is provided in the solicitation documents; however, the contractor is responsible for all materials, equipment, labor, and applicable sales taxes, with the City exempt from sales tax obligations.