Forest Hill Nature Center - New Building

Ingham County, Michigan is soliciting bids for the construction of a new Forest Hill Nature Center building located at 1297 N Rich Road, Alma, Michigan 48801, in Seville Township, Gratiot County. This construction project encompasses comprehensive design and construction services for a new nature center facility consisting of approximately 9,321 square feet in Phase 1 with provisions for 2,389 additional square feet in Phase 2 expansion across approximately 90 acres of development (3.887 acres of disturbance). The scope of work includes complete architectural, civil, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and site development services, with deliverables encompassing building construction featuring conventional wood-framed construction with wood trusses, metal roofing, and composite siding; mechanical systems utilizing water source heat pumps (HP-1 through HP-9), two propane boilers with 1,000 CFH combined capacity, energy recovery ventilators, cooling tower systems, in-floor heating across nine zones, and snow melt systems across nine zones; electrical systems including a 230 kW/287 kVA generator with automatic transfer switch, 800-ampere main distribution panel, comprehensive lighting design with occupancy sensors and daylight harvesting controls compliant with ASHRAE 90.1 2019 standards, fire alarm systems, and security access systems; site development including demolition of existing structures, on-site septic system (1,500-gallon tank), new well installation, stormwater management with detention areas, 67-space parking facility, and native landscaping; and utility infrastructure including wastewater and drainage systems with duplex sump pump station and drain field. A mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM EDT at the project site, with sealed proposals due on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT at the Gratiot-Isabella Regional Educational School District office (1131 E. Center Street, Ithaca, Michigan 48847). All work must conform to the National Electrical Code, Michigan Mechanical Code, Michigan Plumbing Code, and applicable local codes, with contractors required to provide separate pricing for Phase 1 and Phase 2 scopes and to coordinate across all trades including geotechnical, architectural, structural, and civil engineering disciplines.

The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder capable of completing the project in a prompt timeframe, contingent upon bid compliance and available funding. Bidders must submit proposals in triplicate and provide a 5% bid security in the form of a certified check or bid bond valid for 90 days, with any awarded contract exceeding $50,000 requiring Performance and Labor/Material Payment Bonds at 100% of the contract amount. The project includes two alternates: Alternate #1 for asphalt shingles instead of standing seam metal roofing, and Alternate #2 for a design-build geothermal system instead of propane and cooling tower systems, allowing bidders flexibility in their proposals. Key qualifications required include licensure as appropriate for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades; demonstrated experience with similar nature center or public facility projects; and ability to coordinate complex multi-phase construction with multiple integrated mechanical, electrical, and structural systems. Control Solutions, Inc. is specified as the approved installing contractor for all building automation and control systems, requiring coordination with this existing vendor. The project is funded through Michigan state and local government resources allocated to the Forest Hill Nature Center development initiative, with the construction schedule extending from March through December 2026, though no specific contract award value or budget range is disclosed in the available procurement documents.