Gladwin County Fire Well Project

Gladwin County, Michigan is seeking engineering and environmental review services for the Fire Wells Project, a Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funded initiative aimed at improving fire suppression capabilities across the county. The procurement involves selecting a qualified firm to prepare environmental review records and provide comprehensive engineering services for installing eight large-diameter wells with pumps, power infrastructure, and backup generators at strategic locations. Deliverables include preliminary design, investigations, permit preparation, bid package development, construction administration, and project oversight, with a focus on enhancing water access for fire fighting operations in rural areas outside Gladwin and Beaverton cities. The evaluation criteria will assess proposers based on qualifications (30 points), approach and methodology (30 points), and cost proposal (40 points), with emphasis on experience with similar construction projects, CDBG project familiarity, work capacity, and client references. Key submission deadlines include a proposal due date of January 23rd, 2025, an anticipated award date of January 30th, 2025, and final deliverables expected 90-120 calendar days after the Notice-to-Proceed. Proposers must meet specific qualifications, including comprehensive insurance coverage and expertise in environmental review processes that satisfy National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.

The county encourages participation from small, minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and labor surplus area businesses, implementing inclusive procurement practices. Required insurance coverages include $1,000,000 general liability, $1,000,000 automobile liability, $500,000 workers' compensation, and a $2,000,000 umbrella policy. The project is funded by a $1,500,000 CDBG-DR grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), with engineering fees subject to MEDC approval and potential contract adjustments. The initiative specifically addresses infrastructure challenges resulting from massive flooding in May 2020, which compromised road and bridge access and water supply for fire fighting operations. The wells will be strategically placed on paved roads with electrical infrastructure at fire stations, township halls, or other county properties to ensure multiple water access options during potential road closures or power failures. The project aims to create robust emergency water supply infrastructure that can operate during adverse conditions, with a particular focus on improving fire suppression capabilities in rural and potentially vulnerable areas of Gladwin County.