Palestine Hatchery New Facilities

The West Virginia Department of Administration Purchasing Division, on behalf of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, issued a Centralized Request for Quote (CRFQ 0310 DNR2300000002) for the construction of a new hatchery building and mussel rearing facility at Palestine State Fish Hatchery in Elizabeth, Wirt County, West Virginia. The procurement seeks a single general contractor to construct a 9,350 square foot, single-story building designed for fish and mussel production, including distinct areas for administration, laboratories, production spaces, quarantine rooms, pump rooms, mechanical rooms, and support facilities with a total occupant load of 39 persons. The project deliverables encompass complete architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and aquatics system installations; site development including pond grading with 45 mil EPDM geomembrane, drainage systems, and utility coordination with Mountaineer Gas, Town of Elizabeth Water Department, Frontier Communications, and Mon Power; specialized infrastructure for aquatic operations including fiberglass-reinforced plastic production areas, tank racking systems, heat exchangers, and aquaponics piping networks with Schedule 40 PVC piping and specified Pentair pumps; and an integrated security and access control system compatible with the state's existing Lenel Onguard system. The contractor must comply with the 2018 International Building Code, 2018 International Plumbing Code, 2018 International Mechanical Code, 2021 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, and 2020 National Electric Code, classified as Construction Type II (000) Unprotected Non-Combustible. A mandatory pre-bid meeting was held on September 1, 2022, at Palestine State Fish Hatchery; the original bid submission deadline of September 15, 2022, was extended to October 18, 2022, at 1:30 p.m., with subsequent addenda issued addressing vendor questions and providing technical clarifications through October 12, 2022. The contract is structured as a 365-day fixed-period performance contract requiring substantial completion within 335 days and final completion within 365 days of notice to proceed.

The solicitation imposes significant qualification and bonding requirements on all potential bidders, including submission of a 5% bid bond with proposals and furnishing of performance and labor/material payment bonds equal to 100% of the contract value prior to award, along with commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 and automobile liability insurance of $500,000. The project is subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rate requirements and local labor market hiring provisions mandating that at least 75% of employees be from the local labor market, and all contractors must possess a valid West Virginia contractor's license and submit a signed drug-free workplace affidavit. Bidders must submit a subcontractor list for any subcontractors performing work exceeding $25,000 within one business day of bid opening. The project documents do not explicitly reference set-aside provisions for disadvantaged enterprises, though federal funding implications suggest potential compliance with applicable federal small business or disadvantaged business enterprise programs. Liquidated damages of $500 per day apply for each calendar day beyond the contract period, with 10% retainage withheld from monthly progress payments. The specific total contract award value or budget range is not disclosed in the publicly available solicitation documents; however, the project scope, 9,350 square foot building, specialized aquatic systems, and comprehensive infrastructure development indicate a substantial public works procurement typical of state fish hatchery facility construction projects.