Great River Park Improvement Project

The Town of East Hartford, Connecticut Department of Public Works is soliciting sealed bids for the Great River Park Improvement Project, a waterfront construction undertaking at 301 East River Drive, with bids due October 7, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. under Bid No. 27-04. This project is subject to state contract compliance requirements with spending allocation goals of 9.26% for Small Business Enterprises and 3.70% for Minority Business Enterprises, with the selected contractor required to demonstrate good faith effort to meet these goals.

The scope includes demolition of existing structures, construction of a new fishing pier with support piles, new floating dock sections, electrical lighting upgrades, a scenic overlook, landscaping improvements, minor concrete repairs, and maintenance and protection of vehicular traffic and pedestrian access within the park. The park operator is Riverfront Recapture, Inc. and the project designer is GEI Consultants, Inc.

The contract price is lump sum with unit price work as specified in the contractor's bid. Substantial completion is required within 270 calendar days and final completion within 300 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed, with liquidated damages of $1,500 per day for delays beyond these timeframes. All bidders must submit 5% bid security in the form of a bid bond; the awarded contractor must provide 100% Performance Bond plus 100% Labor and Materials Bond. Required insurance includes Commercial General Liability of $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate, Commercial Automobile Liability of $1 million, Umbrella Liability of $5 million, and Pollution Liability of $1 million per claim / $2 million aggregate.

Companies must register as official plan holders and eligible bidders by submitting an email to the Purchasing Agent by October 2, 2026. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for September 16, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Requests for information are accepted via email through October 2, 2026. The project has more than $150,000 in state funding. Bid prices must be exclusive of sales, excise, and federal taxes.