Grant Funded Construction of Rummell Road Trail

The City of St. Cloud, Florida is seeking bids for ITB No. 2025-131, a grant-funded construction project for the Rummell Road Trail, partially funded by the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The project involves constructing an 8-foot wide asphalt trail approximately 6,400 linear feet long and a 5-foot wide concrete sidewalk approximately 1,125 linear feet in length along Rummell Road. The comprehensive scope includes clearing and demolition of existing features, utility relocation, storm water piping and structure installation, concrete driveway and sidewalk construction, signage, and striping. A trail head park segment will be developed with an asphalt parking area, concrete sidewalks, stormwater infrastructure, and a dry pond excavation and grading component. The bid was released on August 31, 2025, with a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting held on September 9, 2025, and responses are due by October 7, 2025, at 10:00 am via electronic submission. Bidders must submit a bid bond or cashier's check for 5% of their total bid and demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience in underground utilities, sidewalk construction, and paving, with appropriate state licensing.

The contract opportunity appears to have specific requirements for disadvantaged business enterprises, as evidenced by the USDOT non-discrimination assurances detailed in the contract documents. Contractors must comply with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program requirements, with potential sanctions for non-compliance including withholding payments, assessing penalties, and disqualifying contractors from future bidding. The total project budget is $1,600,000, with a 300-day timeline for substantial completion and an additional 60 days for final completion. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with considerations given to past performance, financial capability, and experience in similar projects. Insurance requirements are comprehensive, including general liability, auto liability, workers' compensation, and additional insured status for the City of St. Cloud. The project involves multiple utility providers including Toho Water Authority, Osceola County, OUC, CenturyLink, and Brighthouse, suggesting complex utility coordination and potential infrastructure integration challenges.