Hopkins Park Service Area Septic to Sewer – a HUD Funded Construction Project

The Tohopekaliga Water Authority (Toho), an independent special district in Polk County, Florida, is issuing an Invitation for Bids (IFB-26-010) for qualified construction firms to execute the Hopkins Park Service Area Septic to Sewer project, a HUD-funded construction initiative. The project scope includes construction of approximately 965 linear feet of 4-inch PVC force main (C900/DR-18), 1,175 linear feet of 8-inch PVC gravity main (SDR 35), 51 linear feet of 8-inch HDPE gravity main (DR 32.5), six sanitary sewer manholes, a duplex submersible lift station with electrical and instrumentation systems, an odor control system, asphalt roadway open cuts and repairs with mill and resurfacing, concrete curb and residential connections, and decommissioning of septic tanks on private property serving approximately 20 residential lots. The successful contractor must demonstrate experience in similar utility infrastructure projects and shall provide all labor, materials, equipment, permits, fees, licenses, insurance, bonds, and mobilization costs, including obtaining NPDES stormwater permits, utility locates, pre-construction and as-built surveys, and maintenance of traffic plans. The contractor must furnish a qualified field engineer and Florida Registered Land Surveyor, maintain monthly Critical Path Method schedule updates with detailed project documentation, and achieve substantial completion within 240 days after the Notice to Proceed, with an additional 30 days permitted for final completion. Liquidated damages are assessed at $500 per calendar day for failure to achieve substantial completion within contract time. The question deadline is March 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM, with bids due electronically through the Bonfire portal on March 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM. A 5 percent bid security is required, and the contract will be awarded on a lump-sum basis with unit price work as specified in the bid form.

This HUD-funded construction project, administered through the City of St. Cloud under FY2023 Community Project Funding Grant Award ID # B-23-CP-FL-0430, is subject to federal compliance requirements including Section 3 employment opportunities for low- and very low-income persons, Davis-Bacon prevailing wage standards, and Executive Order 11246 equal employment opportunity provisions. Contractors must document solicitation efforts for Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) subcontractors and suppliers, complete Form SC-52 Section 3 Participation Reports, and maintain E-Verify enrollment for employment eligibility verification. All subcontracts exceeding $10,000 must incorporate equal opportunity clauses and nondiscrimination provisions, with minority and female workforce participation goals varying by county location. Additionally, bidders must execute multiple federal and state compliance certifications including non-collusion affidavits, scrutinized companies certifications, foreign countries of concern certifications, federal suspension and debarment certifications under 2 CFR Part 180, Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment compliance, and drug-free workplace certifications. The total project cost is estimated at $1,721,602, with the CPF grant providing $1,051,360 and non-CPF funding of $670,242 from Toho's capital improvement program. The successful contractor will be required to furnish performance and payment bonds equal to the contract price and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including general liability, automobile liability, and workers' compensation.