Forest Hill Nature Center - New Building

The Gratiot-Isabella Regional Education Service District is soliciting bids for the construction of a new Forest Hills Nature Center building located at 11297 N. Rich Road in Alma, Michigan (Project #24-43), within Seville Township, Gratiot County. This is a general construction contract for a phased building project encompassing design and construction of a new one-story nature center facility consisting of approximately 12,000 to 14,200 square feet in Phase 1, with provisions for a Phase 2 expansion of additional classrooms and hallway construction totaling 11,710 square feet. The project deliverables include construction of a wood-framed building with metal roofing and composite siding, comprehensive mechanical systems utilizing propane fuel, heat pumps, cooling towers, in-floor heating, and snow melt systems, complete plumbing infrastructure with septic sanitary systems and on-site well, electrical systems with backup generator and fire alarm systems, site grading and utility development across a 90-acre parcel, demolition of two existing structures, and landscaping with automatic irrigation. Bidders must submit sealed proposals in triplicate on prescribed forms with pricing expressed in both words and figures, with separate line-item pricing required for Phase 1, Phase 2, and combined Phase 1 & Phase 2 options, plus three optional alternates addressing roofing material, geothermal system substitution, and new well installation. 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 Wednesday, May 26, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT at the Gratiot-Isabella RESD office located at 1131 E. Center Street, Ithaca, Michigan 48847. Each bidder must submit a proposal guarantee equal to five percent of the base bid via certified check or bid bond from an approved surety company, and the successful contractor will be required to furnish Performance Bonds and Labor and Material Payment Bonds each equal to 100% of the contract value in accordance with Michigan Public Act 1963, No. 213. Qualified contractors must demonstrate professional licensing appropriate to their trade, relevant experience with similar institutional or nature center facility construction, adequate bonding capacity, and compliance with all applicable Michigan Building Code Rules and accessibility requirements including ADAAG and ADA standards.

This procurement contains no stated set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or minority-owned businesses, and no restrictions on the types of organizations eligible to respond are specified in the available documentation. The project is not subject to prevailing wage requirements and is not classified as a "Buy America" project, allowing broader competition among potential bidders. The design team includes Roger L. Donaldson, AIA, as the architect, with engineering support from Matrix Consulting Engineers, Inc., KEBS, Inc., and Kyes Engineering, and Control Solutions, Inc. is identified as the approved installing contractor for the Building Automation System requiring coordination and integration during construction. The project anticipates construction commencement in August 2026 with completion expected within 12 to 18 months depending on product delivery schedules, and the contractor will have 24-hour site access with provisions for $10,000 in asbestos testing and abatement allowance and $40,000 for water filter and water softener equipment and installation costs. Specific award values or total contract budget ranges are not disclosed in the available bid documentation; however, contractors will establish pricing through their sealed proposal submissions for evaluation by the district. The successful bidder shall assume full site control and coordination of all trades with all associated costs included in the bid, and proposal guarantees remain valid for ninety calendar days following bid opening with no proposals subject to withdrawal during this period.