Pocahontas lift station replacement project

Okaloosa County, Florida is issuing an Invitation to Bid (ITB WS 52-26) for the Pocahontas Lift Station Replacement Project, a design-bid-build procurement for water and wastewater infrastructure construction. The scope of work encompasses site preparation, furnishing, and installation of a corrosion-proof polymer concrete precast wet well using the caisson method with tremie pour bottom seal, including clearing and grubbing, erosion and sedimentation controls, excavation, wet well assembly with watertight joints, buoyancy calculations, watertightness testing, and backfilling. Additionally, the project requires furnishing and installing two approximately 25 horsepower submersible, heavy-duty, explosion-proof, non-clog sewer pumps with base elbows, stainless steel discharge piping, guide rail systems, pump control panels, and all associated appurtenances. The wet well structure must comply with ASTM-D3753 standards with a minimum dynamic load rating of 16,000 ft-lbs, and all fasteners and internal piping must be 316 stainless steel. Approved pump manufacturers include WILO, FLYGT, GRUNDFOS, and KSB. The contractor must achieve Substantial Completion within 180 calendar days and final completion within 210 calendar days from contract commencement. A mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for May 12, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. at the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Field Offices, with the last day for questions on May 22, 2026, at 3:00 P.M. CST, and bids due May 27, 2026, at 3:00 P.M. CST. Bidders must submit a 5 percent bid security, evidence of Florida business certification, and state contractor licensing, with the contract awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder based on compliance with all specifications and requirements outlined in the bid documents and geotechnical report.

There are no specific set-aside designations mentioned for disadvantaged enterprises or other restricted categories in this procurement; however, all bidders must comply with Florida public entity crime statutes, drug-free workplace requirements, conflict of interest disclosures, and non-collusion certifications. Bidders must also verify employee eligibility through E-Verify in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act. The contractor is responsible for obtaining performance and payment bonds equal to the contract price and maintaining comprehensive insurance coverage including workers' compensation, commercial general liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence, automobile liability, umbrella coverage, and pollution liability insurance. Liquidated damages are assessed at $1,685 per calendar day for failure to achieve Substantial Completion or final completion. Payment shall be made at 95 percent of work completed with 5 percent retainage until final completion. The geotechnical report indicates site-specific subsurface conditions requiring dewatering using well points with at least two perimeter rings and over-excavation of 2 to 4 feet to reach medium dense sandy soils suitable for foundation support, with all recommendations subject to verification by the geotechnical engineer during construction. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the available procurement documents.