On-call bridge repairs

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has issued a solicitation for on-call bridge repair services throughout the state, seeking a single contractor to provide comprehensive bridge maintenance and repair solutions. The procurement, numbered 5400023579, covers an extensive range of repair services including bridge deck repairs, reinforced and prestressed concrete beam repairs, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) concrete member repairs, deck joint repairs, concrete slab replacements, crutch bents, tee beam saddles, steel and timber pile repairs, geotechnical borings, heat straightening, and structural welding. Contractors must submit unit prices for each repair item through the state procurement portal at http://www.procurement.sc.gov, with pricing to remain fixed for the contract duration. The solicitation originally scheduled a pre-bid conference for August 16, 2022, with questions due by August 18, 2022, and initial offer submissions set for September 1, 2022. However, multiple amendments extended the deadlines, with the final submission deadline set for December 15, 2022, at 2:30 PM, and anticipated award posting on January 3, 2023. Contractors must be registered South Carolina vendors and provide comprehensive documentation including financial statements, references, and evidence of responsibility.

The solicitation does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged businesses, though it does include provisions for minority business participation. Contractors are required to maintain robust insurance coverage, including Commercial General Liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, Auto Liability of $1,000,000 per accident, and Worker's Compensation with statutory limits. While no specific contract value is definitively stated, the solicitation indicates the contract will span an initial term of one to two years, with potential for ongoing renewal or additional vendors being added to the contract every six months. The state does not guarantee minimum purchase quantities, suggesting the contract will operate on an as-needed basis with individual task orders determining specific repair requirements. Interestingly, the solicitation includes a unique feature where an Engineer of Record will identify specific bridge repair locations and project requirements during the contract term, providing flexibility for SCDOT to address bridge maintenance needs across Richland County and potentially statewide. Ultimately, the solicitation was canceled, as indicated by the final attached document, which means no award was made under this specific procurement.