ITB - Intersection Improvement at Prairie Drive and Windfern Road for Harris County Precinct 1

Harris County Precinct 1 issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for intersection improvement work at Prairie Drive and Windfern Road (UPIN 24101MF3MD01), with bids due by June 8, 2026, and a voluntary pre-bid conference scheduled for May 26, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. CST via Microsoft Teams. The project scope encompasses comprehensive intersection improvements including installation of 5' x 5' reinforced concrete boxes to replace deep roadside ditches at the northeast and northwest corners, asphalt milling and overlay, installation of 48" reinforced concrete pipes, new traffic signs, pavement markings, and full traffic control implementation in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The contract duration is 90 calendar days, and bidders must perform a minimum of 25% of the work with their own forces. Qualified contractors must demonstrate compliance with extensive requirements including OSHA Severe Violator Enforcement Program non-listing within three years, absence of serious OSHA violations with high gravity findings within 24 months, no willful or repeated violations within three years, no criminal convictions related to workplace fatalities or serious injuries within ten years, and OSHA 10 certification for all manual workers and OSHA 30 certification for all managers prior to jobsite entry. Contractors must submit certified weekly payrolls, comply with Texas Government Code Section 2258 prevailing wage requirements or Harris County's minimum wage of $21.65 per hour (whichever is higher), comply with heat protection and comprehensive safety requirements documented in project-specific plans, maintain performance and payment bonds, and submit Form 1295 (Certificate of Interested Parties) and tax residence certifications prior to bid submission. All bidders must submit a 5% bid guaranty as either a bid bond or cashier's check, written questions through the Bonfire platform, a completed M/WBE Utilization Plan, and a comprehensive bid acknowledging all project requirements and specifications.

Harris County has established a Minority/Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) participation goal for this project, requiring bidders to either meet the specified M/WBE goal percentage or demonstrate documented good faith efforts, with accepted certifications from the City of Houston, Texas Unified Certification Program, U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) program, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, National Minority Supplier Development Council, Women's Business Enterprise National Council, or Women's Business Enterprise Alliance. M/WBE firms without local business presence in Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, or Galveston counties must demonstrate significant local presence through at least three prior contracts within the market area in the past three years. The project does not contain any explicit set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises beyond standard M/WBE participation goals, though bidders unable to meet M/WBE goals must provide detailed evidence of good faith solicitation efforts including direct contact with M/WBE firms at least 15 calendar days before bid submission. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation documents, though successful contractors must integrate with Harris County's e-Builder Construction Program Management Software for administrative and technical control, with the county providing system login accounts and training at no cost. Harris County requires performance and payment bonds equal to the full contract amount for public works projects exceeding $100,000 and $25,000 respectively, issued by sureties authorized to conduct business in Texas. While the solicitation documents do not specify an explicit contract award value or budget range, the project specifications reference a maximum 25% increase to original contract prices and establish liquidated damages schedules ranging from $300 daily for projects under $100,000 to higher amounts for larger projects, suggesting this is a substantial infrastructure investment subject to standard Harris County construction contracting terms and conditions.