Materials Testing and Special Inspections Horace Mann Elementary

The Fargo Public School District is requesting proposals from qualified materials testing and special inspection agencies to provide third-party testing and inspection services for the Horace Mann Elementary School construction project located in Cass County, North Dakota. The scope of services encompasses earthwork and soils testing, concrete sampling and testing, masonry inspection and testing, structural steel and welding inspection, precast concrete panel connection inspection, structural framing inspection, roofing systems observation, fire-resistive assembly verification, and other special inspections as required by applicable permits, all in accordance with International Building Code Chapter 17 requirements. The project involves constructing a new approximately 70,000 square-foot elementary school featuring a three-story academic wing, gymnasium, and cafeteria/kitchen with precast concrete panel exterior walls, brick masonry pilasters, and limited concrete masonry unit infill, utilizing a Construction Manager at Risk delivery method with demolition beginning Summer 2026 and substantial completion targeted for February 2028. Minimum qualifications require current International Code Council, American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, or equivalent laboratory accreditation; a minimum of five years of experience in materials testing and special inspection services with relevant K-12 or institutional facility experience; current Special Inspector certifications for key personnel; all necessary North Dakota operating licenses; demonstrated availability of local technical support; and current professional liability and general liability insurance with a minimum of $2,000,000 professional liability coverage extending three years after substantial completion. Evaluation criteria include firm qualifications and accreditations (15%), relevant K-12 experience (20%), staff and key individual experience (20%), technical approach and response time (15%), workload and availability (10%), and proposed fee (20%). The deadline for questions is February 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM CST, proposals are due March 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM CST through the online Euna Procurement (Bonfire) Portal, board approval is scheduled for March 24, 2026, and all submissions are limited to 30 pages excluding covers, insurance, and pricing templates.

The procurement documents do not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting the types of organizations that may respond, nor do they identify disadvantaged enterprise requirements or incumbent vendors. No existing contractors are listed for continuation. Pricing shall be submitted as a lump-sum project fee with detailed breakdowns by testing and inspection category, unit rates for each testing type, and identification of any reimbursable expenses, with all prices excluding sales tax and federal excise tax and all delivery charges included in the bid price. The award will be made to the lowest responsible proposal meeting all specifications. Respondents must affirm no conflicts of interest with the Construction Manager at Risk, design team, or trade contractors, and the contract term will coincide with the construction schedule for the Horace Mann Elementary School project. Submissions must be made exclusively through the Euna Procurement (Bonfire) online portal at https://fargok12.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities, with no alternative submission methods accepted. No specific budget or award value range is provided in the procurement documents.