Hodge WPA Wetland Restoration, Great Lakes Wildlife Unit, Dickinson County

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is requesting bids for wetland restoration work at the Hodge Wildlife Protection Area in Dickinson County, with electronic proposals due June 11, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. This is a federally funded project subject to Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) compliance, requiring all iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials to be produced in the United States with fabricator certification letters.

The scope encompasses restoration of four wetland pool areas through dike construction (approximately 7,095 cubic yards of embankment), emergency spillway and borrow excavation, tile investigation and breaks (1,600 linear feet searched; 5 breaks repaired), water control structure installation with associated piping, erosion control measures including straw wattle (540 linear feet), and NPDES permitting and monitoring. The four dikes are located at designated North, Southwest, Middle, and East positions with specific elevation requirements (1470.0 to 1485.0 feet at tops), 5:1 side slopes, 12-foot top widths, and emergency spillways. The contractor is responsible for locating and avoiding interference with existing drainage district tile infrastructure; the IDNR will supply certain water control structures and tiles, with the contractor providing 1-inch clean stone and other specified materials.

The contract is unit-price-based with an estimated completion date of November 27, 2026; work shall not commence until after the 2026 row crop harvest and NPDES permit acquisition. A performance bond equal to at least 100% of the contract price is required for contracts exceeding $25,000. Public liability and property damage insurance with minimum coverage of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence must be maintained. Liquidated damages of $500 per calendar day apply for work not completed by the deadline. Bidders must complete MBE/WBE utilization worksheets and required EPA forms including Certifications Regarding Debarment, Nonsegregated Facilities, and Lobbying. Site visits prior to bidding are strongly encouraged. Payment is made within 30 days of approved invoices, with the IDNR retaining up to 3% pending final inspection. Proposals remain valid for 45 days from submission.