Ferry Inspection and Preservation - Monroe Co

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), Division of Purchases, on behalf of Highway District 3, is soliciting bids for a one-time ferry inspection and preservation contract for Monroe County through a Request for Bid (RFB). The procurement involves the comprehensive inspection, restoration, and preservation of a 130,000-pound ferry barge (64 feet long, 19 feet wide, 4 feet tall) currently in the Cumberland River. The scope of work includes removal of the barge from the water using appropriate trailers, cribbing it 3-4 feet above ground, power washing and complete coating removal via sandblasting or media blasting, replacement of wearing plates, manway hatch seals, ramp cables and clamps, lifting winches and cables, repainting with coal tar epoxy or approved equivalent coating, and provision of a 5-year materials warranty. The contractor must coordinate with the U.S. Coast Guard for required inspections and comply with environmental protections for the Cumberland River's mussel habitat. Six scheduling options are available for barge removal between May 31 and July 30, 2024, with mandatory 2-week advance notice required. Bids are due April 11, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and must be submitted exclusively online through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service portal with no in-person or emailed submissions permitted. Award will be made to the lowest-priced bidder, with the contractor required to maintain $1 million in general liability insurance and Kentucky workers' compensation insurance.

The contract is funded through Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief program funds, making Davis-Bacon wage determinations, Buy America/Build America Act (BABA) compliance, and FHWA 1273 clauses mandatory requirements that all bidders must satisfy. Foreign entities must provide a certificate of authority from the Kentucky Secretary of State, and resident bidders may receive reciprocal preference if applicable. All bidders must submit a notarized Annual Affidavit for Bidders, Offerors and Contractors confirming compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws prior to contract award. The bid is structured as three line items: Line 1 is a lump-sum bid for all inspection and preservation work; Line 2 is a reimbursement line for unforeseen metal or parts; and Line 3 is an hourly rate line estimated at 500 hours for unforeseen labor outside the scope of work. Payment will be made within 30 working days of invoice receipt and acceptance of completed work, with liquidated damages of 1 percent per day assessed for delays, though no penalties apply if additional cure time is needed to honor coating warranty requirements. The specific work location is the KYTC District 3 - Monroe County Maintenance Storage Facility in Tompkinsville, Kentucky.