Forest Hill Cemetery - John Catlin Chapel Masonry Repairs

The City of Madison Engineering issued Request for Bids (RFB #8669-0-2017-MR) for masonry restoration work at Forest Hill Cemetery's John Catlin Chapel, located at 1 Speedway Road in Madison, Wisconsin. The project focuses on repairing historic Madison sandstone interior walls that have experienced moisture-related deterioration. Specific work includes redressing existing sandstone in place, removing and replacing salvageable stones, replacing severely deteriorated stones with new Glacier Buff limestone, installing stainless steel pins and strap anchors for wall stabilization, and repointing mortar joints. Bidders were required to demonstrate contractor responsibility through proof of valid licenses, insurance (minimum $1,000,000 Commercial General Liability), and financial capability. Contractors also needed to provide three professional references showing similar masonry restoration experience and evidence that project masons have a minimum of five years' specialized experience. The bid submission deadline was October 5, 2017, at 2:00 PM CST, with questions due by September 21, 2017, and answers posted by September 28, 2017. All work was to be completed by July 31, 2018, with construction operations limited to 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

The procurement included a local vendor preference scoring system for registered suppliers. Four vendors submitted proposals: A&M Masonry, B&B Quality Building Restoration of Wisconsin, Made by Greer Construction, and RD Woods. A&M Masonry was selected as the winning proposer with a total bid of $22,495.00, which included $16,895.00 for stone replacement and inspection work and $5,600.00 for redressing in situ work at $175.00 per unit. B&B Quality Building Restoration of Wisconsin, identified as a local vendor, submitted the second-lowest proposal at $23,100.00. The contract included a two-year warranty on materials and workmanship, with all work subject to City inspection and acceptance. The project did not have specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, and no incumbent vendors were explicitly mentioned beyond the bidders list. The work was structured as a lump-sum base bid, with contractors required to provide a fixed, all-inclusive, not-to-exceed fee covering all labor, materials, equipment, and incidentals.