IFB 06-26 Biochar Facility Construction

The Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) of Virginia is soliciting sealed bids under IFB 06-26 for construction of a 40,872 square-foot biochar processing facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, with a mandatory pre-bid conference on November 2, 2026 and bids due November 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. The facility will house AMP ONE sorting equipment and convert organic materials recovered from the municipal solid waste stream through thermal conversion. It supports SPSA's SORT System partnership with AMP (formerly Commonwealth Sortation LLC).

Bidders must hold a Virginia contractor license, Class A for projects of this value exceeding $120,000, before bid submission, and must place the license number on the bid envelope and within the signed bid. Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds equal to 50 percent of the contract amount are required, with SPSA named as obligee, and the surety must be approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Commercial general liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in aggregate, automobile liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, and statutory workers' compensation are required, with SPSA as additional insured.

Scope covers site preparation, foundations, underground utilities, mechanical and electrical completion, operating testing, final acceptance, and commissioning of equipment. Work begins seven calendar days after receipt of the purchase order and must finish within 305 calendar days. Payment follows four milestones: 10 percent at execution, bonds, insurance, and approved submittals; 30 percent at completion of site preparation, foundations, and underground utilities; 50 percent at mechanical and electrical completion and operating testing; and 10 percent at final acceptance and document delivery. Liquidated damages of $7,500 per calendar day apply to delays beyond the milestone schedule, excluding delays caused by SPSA or events beyond the contractor's control. A one-year warranty covering labor, parts, travel, and associated costs is required, or the manufacturer's standard commercial warranty if longer.

The award goes to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Bidders submit one original, four complete copies on the furnished bid form, and an electronic copy on a flash drive to the SPSA Purchasing Department at 723 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake, Virginia 23320. The pre-bid conference is held at 2 Victory Boulevard, Portsmouth, Virginia 23702. A separate 37MB construction drawings file accompanies the IFB.