Natural Gas Line Relocation, Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility (AVCF)

The Colorado Department of Corrections is seeking a general contractor for the Natural Gas Line Relocation project at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility (AVCF) in Custer County, with Project No. EMP25-009. The procurement involves comprehensive utility infrastructure services, including utility locates, hydro-vac potholing, earthwork, plumbing, welding, testing, landscaping, concrete work, storm water pollution prevention, and CDOC project coordination to create a complete and operational bypass gas service. Bidders must demonstrate experience providing general contracting services for at least two projects over $350,000 in the last three years, using expertise from their Colorado office. The mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for February 27, 2025, at 11:00 AM MDT/MST at the AVCF Visitor Center, with electronic sealed bids due via BidNet Direct on March 12, 2025, by 10:00 AM MDT/MST. Evaluation criteria include lowest responsible bidder status, with preference given to Colorado resident bidders and Colorado labor. The project involves extending a gas line from the north of Living Unit four to the Warehouse/Maintenance Support building, with a critical requirement of maintaining 24/7 operational gas service throughout the project.

The contract opportunity includes several set-aside and preference provisions, notably requiring contractors to employ at least 80% Colorado labor for projects over $500,000 and providing preference to service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. Bidders must submit a bid bond of at least 5% of the total bid value, with potential for additional apprenticeship utilization requirements for projects estimated at $1 million or more. The estimated construction cost is $355,000, with contractors required to demonstrate bonding capability up to that amount. No incumbent vendor is specified in the documentation. Contractors must comply with extensive insurance requirements, including Commercial General Liability with $2,000,000 aggregate limits and $1,000,000 per occurrence, and provide performance and payment bonds. The project also includes unique environmental considerations, such as reporting embodied carbon emissions and Environmental Product Declarations with maximum acceptable Global Warming Potential (GWP) limits. The potential contract timeline indicates possible contract negotiation on March 19, 2025, and projected contract approval on March 28, 2025, with specific design and construction start dates to be determined.