Open end - guardrail upgrades, new castle county, FY27-FY29

The Delaware Department of Transportation is soliciting bids on an open-end guardrail upgrades contract for New Castle County covering fiscal years 2027–2029, with bids due October 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and anticipated notice to proceed on December 21, 2026. This is a unit-price contract issued through individual work orders, not a lump-sum or design-bid-build procurement.

All bidders must be registered with DelDOT, submit a surety bond equal to at least 10 percent of the bid amount, and comply with Delaware's Contractor Registration Act and mandatory drug-testing requirements. The contract is subject to prevailing wage standards as determined by the Delaware Department of Labor, with flaggers compensated at rates ranging from the laborer minimum to three times the laborer wage, and overtime flaggers at 1.45 to 4.35 times the laborer wage.

The scope encompasses repair, replacement, and new installation of guardrail systems, components, end treatments, permanent impact attenuators, and crash cushions throughout New Castle County on interstates, freeways, and local roads. Quantities include 25,720 linear feet of straight steel rail, 1,275 linear feet of curved steel rail, 1,188 galvanized steel posts, 1,762 offset blocks, and over 60 distinct line items. Work is tasked through individual work orders with sites determined during contract execution; the contractor must maintain a minimum of two working crews with qualified superintendents and manage up to six active work orders simultaneously. Emergency repair work requires mobilization within 24 hours of notification. The contractor must comply with Delaware Department of Transportation Standard Specifications (January 2026), the Delaware Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. An ATSSA-certified Traffic Control Supervisor is required throughout the contract term.

The contract duration is three years (1,095 calendar days) from notice to proceed. Payment is made on a unit-price basis for completed work as accepted, contingent on state funding authorization. The contract does not expire upon reaching an award amount but upon exhaustion of allotted calendar days, with potential value increases depending on fund availability. A performance-based rating system applies; bidders scoring below 85 percent must execute an Agreement to Accept Retainage. Bids are submitted via DelDOT Bid Express or paper delivery to the DelDOT Administration Building in Dover. No pre-bid meeting is scheduled.