Intersection Improvements - Winchester Blvd. & South River Road

Sarasota County, Florida has issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for construction services to improve the intersection of Winchester Boulevard and South River Road, with bids due on May 27, 2026. The procurement seeks a single general contractor to execute intersection improvements including widening Winchester Boulevard from a two-lane roadway to a divided two-lane roadway over approximately 1,400 linear feet, along with drainage pipe installation, excavation and embankment placement, asphalt paving, sidewalk installation, curb and gutter installation, sodding, drainage system modifications, lighting, signing, and pavement marking. Bidders must submit responses through the OpenGov Procurement portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/scgov, with bid opening scheduled at the location and time posted on the County's Calendar of Events. To qualify, bidders must be licensed general contractors authorized to conduct business in Sarasota County with documented FDOT work class certifications or equivalent experience in four categories: drainage installation, grading, hot plant-mixed bituminous asphalt placement, and sidewalk installation; additionally, contractors must demonstrate at least one project reference of $500,000 or more completed within the last seven years and provide a Letter of Bondability showing minimum bonding capacity of $1,000,000. The contract duration is not more than 195 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed or within 45 calendar days of award, whichever comes first, with pre-bid meetings and site visits scheduled as indicated in the OpenGov platform. Award will be made to the responsive and responsible bidder submitting the lowest total bid price, provided the bid is reasonable and in the County's best interest.

The project is funded by grant sources through U.S. Department of Transportation Highway Planning and Construction Funding administered by the Florida Department of Transportation under Local Agency Program Agreement FM454945-1-58-01, which means local and American business preferences do not apply to this award; however, all contractors must comply with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program requirements, including submission of an affirmative action plan within three business days of bid. All contracts exceeding $10,000 are subject to federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage standards as determined by General Decision Number FL20260269 dated January 2, 2026, and contractors must maintain detailed payroll records for three years and submit weekly certified payrolls for compliance verification. Insurance requirements mandate workers' compensation coverage, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, business automobile liability of $1,000,000, and umbrella/excess liability of $5,000,000, with performance and payment bonds equal to 100 percent of the contract amount required for contracts of $200,000 or more. Additional mandatory federal compliance includes adherence to 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Guidance, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, Equal Employment Opportunity requirements, Build America Buy America Act domestic preference provisions, E-Verify employment verification, and certification requirements regarding federal debarment, suspension, non-collusion, foreign country of concern status, and Florida human trafficking attestations. The specific contract award value is not stated in the solicitation documents; however, the project scope, bonding requirements, and prevailing wage obligations suggest a substantial construction contract likely exceeding $500,000.