Lower Wharf Improvement Project - 1085 Harbor Road

The Town of Fairfield, Connecticut, through its Engineering Department, is seeking competitive bids for the Lower Wharf Improvement Project located at 1085 Harbor Road in the Southport Historic District. The procurement involves a comprehensive repair and replacement of stone retaining walls and complete replacement of lower wharf fishing piers, which sustained significant damage from storms in December 2022. Key deliverables include demolition of 26 timber piles, removal of 105 linear feet of existing seawall, installation of 107 linear feet of new concrete seawall, construction of 217 linear feet of new concrete cap, and complete replacement of the timber wharf structure. A mandatory pre-bid site meeting is scheduled for Friday, December 19, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., with prospective bidders required to sign in. Request for Information (RFI) submissions are due by Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at 4:30 p.m., and final bids are due Friday, January 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Contractors must submit a bid bond equal to five percent of the total estimated bid and be prepared to furnish performance and labor and material bonds equal to 100 percent of the award within seven business days of notification.

The contract is subject to specific set-aside requirements mandating that a minimum of 25 percent of the state-funded portion of work be awarded to subcontractors holding current certification from the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services, with 6.25 percent designated for DAS-certified minority, women, and/or disabled-owned businesses. Contractors must demonstrate compliance with Connecticut General Statutes regarding nondiscrimination and Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) requirements. The project is funded through a State Urban Act grant with a project cost estimate of $750,000, and the contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible and qualified bidder, subject to approval by the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). Contractors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence, with a general aggregate coverage of $2 million and umbrella liability of $5 million per occurrence. The awarded contractor is expected to commence work in late January or early February 2026, with substantial completion required within 120 days, and will be subject to liquidated damages provisions for delays beyond the substantial completion date.