Milham Well #4 Project

The City of Portage, located in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, is soliciting sealed bids for the Milham Well #4 Project, a comprehensive water infrastructure development initiative. The procurement seeks a qualified contractor to perform a range of well construction and testing services, including drilling an initial pilot borehole, collecting and analyzing soil samples, constructing a 16-inch diameter production well, and a 5-inch diameter observation well. Key deliverables include performance testing, digital video recording, plumbness and alignment testing, and comprehensive technical assessments. Contractor qualifications are stringent, requiring a minimum of 10 years of experience in high-capacity test pumping and well drilling, with a field superintendent possessing at least 5 years of drilling experience. Bidders must also submit a list of three municipal well owners for whom equivalent municipal wells have been drilled. The bid is scheduled to be opened on July 10, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. via Zoom, with bid submissions required through the MITN Purchasing Group website. The initial contract term spans from the signing date through December 31, 2025, with potential extensions up to four additional one-year increments, not exceeding December 31, 2029.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The pricing schedule includes 11 line items covering the full scope of work, with detailed quantities for sample collection boring, observation well construction, production well borehole, casing, grouting, screening, gravel packing, well development, and test pump operation. While the current pricing schedule shows $0.00 for all unit prices, suggesting it is a preliminary template, the project appears to be a significant municipal infrastructure investment. The City of Portage reserves the right to reject any or all bids and will award the contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, subject to City Council budget approval. The city may also conduct a pre-award survey to assess the lowest bidder's qualifications. No incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure integration requirements are explicitly mentioned in the provided documents. The comprehensive nature of the project and the detailed technical specifications indicate a substantial municipal water resource development initiative with potential significant investment.