Intent to Single Source Pivoted Turnbuckle Steel Expandable Manhole Risers

The City of Tampa's Mobility Department is pursuing a single-source procurement for pivoted turnbuckle steel expandable manhole risers from American Highway Products Ltd. located in Hillsborough County, Florida. The procurement is designed to standardize manhole infrastructure by acquiring specialized riser equipment that provides full circumferential engagement of manhole covers, thereby reducing hazardous cover displacements and ensuring equipment continuity. The specific risers will be 23 1/2" in diameter, with rise heights ranging from 3/4" to 2", and include 1 3/8" lids, with pricing between $113.00 and $126.00 per unit. Vendor qualifications require authorized manufacturer distributors capable of providing warranty service, maintenance, and repairs. The procurement documents specify comprehensive insurance requirements, including $1 million per occurrence Commercial General Liability insurance, $500,000 Automobile Liability insurance, and Worker's Compensation insurance as mandated by Florida law. The procurement is scheduled with a due date of January 2, 2026, with contract pricing effective from November 13, 2025, through November 12, 2026.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises were identified in the procurement documents. American Highway Products Ltd. is positioned as the sole authorized dealer and manufacturer for these specialized manhole risers, with no competitive bidding anticipated. The estimated annual expenditure for this single-source procurement is $75,000.00, to be funded from the Local Options Gas Tax account. The company manufactures its products in Ohio using domestic steel, ensuring compliance with the Made in America Act, and has been specializing in manhole riser manufacturing since 1978. The risers are designed with a proprietary turnbuckle linkage that can apply 5,600 pounds of circumferential force through a simple 60-pound screwdriver mechanism, enabling installation on worn or out-of-round manhole frames. The procurement supports the City of Tampa's infrastructure maintenance operations by ensuring standardized, high-performance manhole riser equipment that can be installed consistently across municipal infrastructure projects.