Material Compaction Testing, Soils Investigations, Drilling and Well Construction, Asphalt Pavement Testing & Concrete Testing

The City of Madison Engineering Department issued Request for Proposals (RFP) 11101-0-2022-BG seeking qualified vendors to provide comprehensive materials testing and investigation services across two primary service schedules. Schedule A covers material compaction testing, soils investigations, drilling, well construction, and sediment core analysis, while Schedule B encompasses asphalt pavement testing, concrete testing, and equipment inspections. The RFP requires on-site qualified personnel capable of performing testing and inspections within eighteen hours of notice, conducting soil borings and groundwater monitoring well installations per Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 141, and providing laboratory testing services. Key evaluation criteria include cost (30%), company capability (15%), approach (20%), experience (20%), project team (10%), and local vendor preference (5%). The solicitation was posted on November 15, 2022, with questions due by November 22, 2022, answers posted November 30, 2022, and proposals due December 13, 2022, at 2:00 PM CST. The contract term spans multiple years with potential extensions through Calendar Year 2027, subject to annual price adjustment submissions.

Contractors must comply with the City's Affirmative Action Ordinance if employing fifteen or more employees with $50,000 or more in annual aggregate City business. Proposers may submit bids for portions of the contract services rather than all services, as the City has historically worked with multiple consultants possessing specialized expertise. Mandatory insurance requirements include $1,000,000 Commercial General Liability, Business Automobile Liability, Workers' Compensation, and Professional Liability. Three proposals were received from CGC Inc., GESTRA Engineering, and Soils & Engineering Services Inc., with CGC Inc. ultimately selected as the final award recipient due to achieving the highest technical evaluation score and offering the lowest total cost for frequently used services. While specific contract values were not explicitly stated, the evaluation panel noted significant potential cost savings, particularly through CGC's pricing structure, such as offering Check Point tests at $55 compared to 3 Point Proctor tests at $165. The local purchasing ordinance did not impact the bid evaluation outcome.