Lake Ferns Road Improvements

The City of Umatilla, Florida is soliciting bids for the Lake Ferns Road Industrial Park infrastructure improvement project, located in Lake County. The project involves comprehensive infrastructure development spanning approximately 19.835 acres, including construction of new water lines, sewer lines, roadways, site grading, and a stormwater management system. Specific deliverables include installing 10-inch PVC water mains, 4-inch force mains, roadway construction with ribbon curbs, drainage systems, and utility infrastructure across three proposed industrial lots. The bid number is ITB-25-PW-001, with a mandatory pre-bid conference held on January 16, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in the City of Umatilla Council Chambers. Sealed bids are due by 2:00 p.m. on February 13, 2025, with the City Council expected to award the contract on March 4, 2025, and approve the final contract on March 18, 2025. The project anticipates a Notice to Proceed prior to March 31, 2025, and requires bidders to submit two physical copies and one digital copy of their proposal.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the procurement documents. The project has secured $4.8 million in grant funding, with original project estimates around $2.7 million. Bidders must provide a bid bond, corporate resolution, non-collusion affidavit, and trench safety affidavit, along with proof of adequate insurance and current licensing. The contract includes liquidated damages of $500 per calendar day for failure to complete the project within the specified timeframe. The site is currently zoned as Planned Unit Development (PUD) with adjacent zones including Planned Development Future (PDF) and Limited Manufacturing (LM). Bidders will need to navigate environmental considerations, including a 0.205-acre wetland area with a proposed 25-foot buffer zone. The project involves careful site preparation, including soil management across multiple soil types such as Sparr, Immokalee, Pompano, and Wauchula.