Highway 79 - North (Overlay) (S)

The Arkansas Department of Transportation is requesting bids for a highway overlay construction project on Bethlehem Road (Highway 79 - North) in Marion County under State Job No. SA4840, with bids due May 20, 2026. Prospective bidders must register with Bid Express and obtain authorization from ARDOT's Program Management Division at (501) 569-2261 or pmd@ardot.gov by 4:30 p.m. the day prior to the scheduled letting to become eligible bidders.

The project scope covers approximately 3.10 miles of roadway overlay including Aggregate Base Course, Asphalt Concrete Hot Mix (ACHM) Surface Course, ACHM patching of existing roadway, maintenance of traffic, pavement marking, and miscellaneous items. All asphalt concrete hot mix work must meet rigorous quality control standards including mix design verification, in-place density testing, and compliance with air void and VMA specifications. Bids must include unit prices for each pay item, and minimum and maximum unit bid price restrictions apply to Asphalt Binder, Relocating Precast Concrete Barrier, Water, and Mobilization (capped at five percent of subtotal).

All bidders must acknowledge all addenda and provide a proposal guaranty in the form of a bank draft, certified check, cashier's check, or approved surety company bid bond prior to bid download. Proposals shall be submitted electronically through Bid Express only. The contract requires mandatory electronic execution through Doc Express, a paperless contracting system, with successful bidders having 10 business days after notice of award to submit electronically signed contracts along with required bonds and proof of liability insurance. The project incorporates price adjustment provisions for fluctuations in asphalt binder and diesel fuel costs, calculated using monthly market indices. Liquidated damages are assessed on a working day basis at rates ranging from $140 to $3,500 depending on the original contract amount. All work is subject to ARDOT's Standard Specifications for Highway Construction (Edition 2014) as supplemented and amended by special and supplemental provisions in the proposal documents. The project is funded through state and federal aid sources and requires federal-aid compliance certification.