Locate Private Detectable Underground Utilities

The Commonwealth of Kentucky's Division of Waste Management issued Request for Bid (RFB) 758 2100000305 on December 17, 2020, to establish a Master Agreement for locating private detectable underground utilities at multiple sites throughout the state, including remote areas. The procurement seeks contractors capable of performing horizontal detection and location of private underground utilities using Electromagnetic (EM) and Real-Time Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) methods to support the Division's passive soil gas sampler installation work, which requires drilling operations up to 3 feet below ground surface. Deliverables include locating utilities within approximately 6 feet of building footprints and 3 feet in depth, marking all findings according to APWA standards using environmentally safe paint and flags, and providing photographic documentation and GPR data upon request. The estimated scope comprises 60 hours of regular service, with contractors required to provide statewide coverage and coordinate with the Division on site logistics and access. Bidders must meet a minimum requirement of 10 years of experience in utility locating services and carry liability insurance of at least $15,000. The evaluation will utilize a best value approach allocating 90 points to price and 10 points to experience. The solicitation required written vendor questions by December 23, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. ET, with bid closing on January 7, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. ET through mandatory electronic submission via the Kentucky eProcurement system. The initial contract period is one year from award, with four optional one-year renewal periods available.

Kentucky resident bidders receive reciprocal preference equal to preferences given by nonresident bidders' home states, and qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries, Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and qualified nonprofit agencies serving individuals with severe disabilities receive preferences equal to fifteen to twenty percent of maximum points awarded. Proposed pricing must remain quoted on an F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed basis, exclusive of federal excise taxes and Kentucky sales or use taxes, and shall remain valid for a minimum of sixty calendar days after the bid due date. All bidders must complete and submit an Annual Affidavit certifying compliance with Kentucky's campaign finance laws, tax obligations, and statutory requirements, along with required documentation including Revenue Form 10A100 and EEO forms where applicable. Price increases are not permitted during the first twelve months of the contract; subsequent increases require written justification based on industry-wide price changes and approval from the Office of Procurement Services. The solicitation does not identify a specific budget range or award value, as the contract is designed to serve statewide needs on an as-needed basis. Vendors with poor performance records in the previous twelve months may be deemed non-responsible, and the Commonwealth reserves the right to cancel the RFB if responses exceed available funding.