LVD Plaza Parking Lot Construction

The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Watersmeet, Michigan, is seeking qualified contractors through a Request for Proposal to reconstruct the LVD Plaza parking lot, a shared facility serving multiple businesses including a full-service grocery store with Citgo gas station and car wash, a bar and grill, laundromat, United States Postal Service office, and Michigan Department of Transportation Ride Share area. The project scope encompasses removal and pulverization of existing asphalt pavement, elimination of drainage issues, preparation of subgrade conditions, installation of aggregate base material, replacement of concrete sidewalks, and bituminous surfacing in accordance with Wickwire P.C. engineering plans. Key deliverables include crushing and shaping 9,100 square yards of asphalt pavement, removing 2,925 square yards of concrete pavement and 1,755 square yards of concrete sidewalk, installing 1,910 tons of bituminous pavement (MDOT 13A), placing 4,040 square feet of reinforced concrete pavement, constructing 1,200 square feet of concrete sidewalks, and installing 42 bollards with associated ADA pavement markings and signage. Contractors must be licensed to conduct business in Michigan, maintain construction schedules accommodating multiple active businesses with varying hours of operation, maintain safe access from both US 2 and US 45, and coordinate with a separate contractor performing fuel storage tank removal and replacement at the gas station. Proposals will be evaluated based on contractor experience (25 points), pricing (20 points), quality of the Business Safety & Operations Accommodation Plan addressing coordination of phasing and maintenance of business operations (50 points), and professional references (10 points). An optional site visit is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, 2026, and proposals are due by 3:00 p.m. CST on Monday, June 1, 2026, with proposal review scheduled for Friday, June 5, 2026, and contractor selection to be determined by Tribal Council at a later date.

The Tribe provides preference to qualified Indian-owned economic enterprises with at least 51 percent Indian ownership, operation, and control; however, non-Indian contractors are eligible to bid. A bid bond equal to 5 percent of the gross bid amount is required, payable to the Lac Vieux Desert Band, and contractors must submit certificates of insurance naming the Tribe and WMG as additional insureds prior to contract execution. The Tribe is exempt from Michigan sales tax, so materials purchased within Michigan will not be subject to sales tax, providing a potential cost advantage for bidding contractors. No specific budget range or award value has been published in the available documentation; however, the 23 line items in the bid schedule provide estimated quantities from which contractors can calculate their proposals based on submitted unit prices. No incumbent vendors or current contractors have been identified in the procurement documents. The successful contractor must demonstrate capability to manage phased construction while maintaining safe, accessible parking and operational access for multiple commercial tenants during the reconstruction process.