NCC Fowler Luthier Expansion

Northampton Community College is procuring general construction services for the Fowler Luthier Expansion project located at 511 E 3rd Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania through a single prime contract structure via sealed bid submission through the PennBid Program. The scope of work encompasses approximately 10,363 square feet of renovation across basement and first floor levels, including selective demolition of interior walls, doors, finishes, ceilings, light fixtures, and associated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components, followed by new construction of walls, flooring, paint, ceilings, casework, specialized finishes, and new MEP systems designed for luthier fabrication and guitar repair instruction spaces including spray booths, buffing rooms, sanding stations, and audio labs. The project must comply with the 2021 International Building Code, Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, and applicable fire and mechanical codes, with construction classified as Use Group B (Business) and Type 2A construction requiring fire-rated systems and full sprinkler coverage. Electronic sealed bids must be submitted no later than 10:00 AM prevailing time on May 21, 2026, with public bid opening immediately following; a mandatory pre-bid meeting and site walk-through is scheduled for May 6, 2026 at 10:00 AM at the project location, and the last day for requesting clarifications and RFIs is May 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM. Substantial completion is required by August 21, 2026 for first floor work and November 20, 2026 for basement work, with a project commencement date on or after June 8, 2026, and liquidated damages assessed at $1,000 per calendar day for failure to meet substantial completion dates and $500 per day for failure to correct punch list items beyond 30 days after certification of substantial completion.

Bidders must meet prevailing wage requirements under the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act and Davis-Bacon Act and furnish performance and payment bonds each equal to 100 percent of the contract amount from a surety company appearing on the Treasury Department's Circular 570 list and authorized to conduct business in Pennsylvania; additionally, each bid must include 10 percent bid security in the form of a certified check or bid bond. Bonds must be delivered within seven days of notification of consideration of bid, and retainage may be withheld at 10 percent until substantial completion, then reduced to 5 percent with Architect approval. Contractors must verify all existing conditions and dimensions on-site prior to submission and assume responsibility for any discrepancies between drawings and field conditions. Project documents and bidding materials are available at no cost through www.PennBid.net as of April 30, 2026, and all utility shutdowns and noisy activities require Owner approval as the building will remain occupied during construction. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are identified in the procurement documents, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed; the contract award value is not specified in the available solicitation materials.