Kent Memorial Library Expansion

The Kent Library Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in Litchfield County, Connecticut, is soliciting sealed bids from licensed and qualified General Contractors for comprehensive renovations and additions to the Kent Memorial Library located at 32 North Main Street, Kent, Connecticut. The project encompasses structural repairs, mechanical and electrical system replacement, exterior envelope improvements including new roofing and siding, interior renovations with updated finishes and layouts, accessibility upgrades including elevator installation, site work including grading and utilities, and hazardous materials abatement for the 1922 original library building, 1958 and 1994 additions, and integration of an adjacent firehouse facility into a unified complex totaling approximately 11,320 square feet across basement, first floor, and second floor levels. Key deliverables include construction completion in conformance with 2022 Connecticut State Building Code standards, compliance with prevailing wage requirements under Connecticut General Statutes Section 31-53, adherence to Connecticut Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Roads, Bridges, Facilities and Incidental Construction, and satisfaction of indoor air quality testing standards requiring maximum 1.0 air changes per hour at 50 Pascal verified through three mandatory blower door tests. Qualified bidders must obtain DAS (Department of Administrative Services) Contractor Prequalification Certification in the General Building Construction category, demonstrate a minimum of three previous similar projects, comply with prevailing fair wage provisions, provide performance and payment bonds equal to 100 percent of contract value, and maintain minimum insurance coverage including $500,000 Workers' Compensation, $1,000,000 Commercial General Liability per occurrence, and $1,000,000 Automobile Liability. A mandatory pre-bid conference was held on November 4, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the library; the final deadline for bidder questions is November 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.; and sealed bids are due December 9, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Work is scheduled to commence February 2, 2026, with substantial completion targeted for February 5, 2027, and final completion by April 30, 2027. Five addenda have been issued through December 2, 2025, addressing hazardous materials assessments, clarifications on scope items, drawing revisions, and bid deadline extensions.

The project includes mandatory subcontractor participation set-asides requiring non-SBE (Small Business Enterprise) bidders to allocate 25 percent to SBE participation and 6.25 percent to MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) participation, with the Kent Library Association encouraging Minority and Women's Business Enterprises to apply. All work must comply with Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) contract compliance regulations and state nondiscrimination guidelines. Pre-renovation environmental surveys conducted by Reliance Environmental, LLC identified asbestos-containing materials including vermiculite insulation in the firehouse attic (approximately 2,000 square feet), window glazing (35 windows), floor tile mastic (approximately 1,500 square feet), and 9" x 9" floor tiles on library stairs (approximately 100 square feet), as well as lead paint at toxic levels in the library reading room and existing loft, with all abatement work designated as the General Contractor's responsibility and incorporated within the bid scope. The project is partially funded by the Connecticut State Library with $2,000,000 in state bond funds allocated, with additional financing confirmed in place; however, the specific total project budget and award value have not been disclosed in the solicitation documents. Liquidated damages will apply due to state involvement, with daily rates to be determined by mutual agreement prior to contract execution, and bid validity extends for 120 days following the December 9, 2025 due date.