Progressive Design-Build Services for the Brandy Branch to Normandy 230kV Transmission Line

Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) is soliciting progressive design-build services to engineer, permit, and construct a new overhead 230kV transmission circuit (Circuit 979) from the existing Brandy Branch Substation (15701 Beaver Street West, Jacksonville, FL 32234) to the existing Normandy Substation (9801 Crystal Springs Road, Jacksonville, FL 32221) in Duval County, Florida, with proposals due September 15, 2026.

Minimum qualifications are strict: respondents must have successfully completed or be currently completing three Engineering, Procurement, and Construction projects within the past ten years involving overhead transmission lines at 115kV or higher in NESC Light or Medium Loading Districts. All firms—the engineering firm, prime contractor, and major subcontractors—must maintain an Experience Modification Rating (EMR) of 1.0 or less for the past three years. Respondents must not appear on the State of Florida Convicted Vendor List, Suspended Vendor List, or City of Jacksonville's Disqualified Vendor List, and must not have active JEA debarment status or contract terminations for default with JEA within two years.

The scope encompasses all engineering, permitting, surveying, design, structure and material procurement, and construction services. The contract uses a two-phase Guaranteed Maximum Price structure: Phase I involves planning and design deliverables at 10%, 30%, 60%, and final design stages; Phase II includes final design documents (90% and 100%), permitting, and full construction. The project must reach in-service by September 29, 2028, with design phase milestones including 10% design completion by February 26, 2027, 30% design by April 9, 2027, and final design by September 30, 2027. Liquidated damages are $1,000 per calendar day for design phase milestone delays, with additional daily damages for overall project completion delays; total liquidated damages are capped at ten percent of total contract price.

Evaluation allocates 100 points: Professional Staff Experience (15 points), Similar Project Experience with three reference projects (30 points), Project Schedule (20 points), Design Approach (15 points), Construction Approach and Resource Availability (15 points), and Jacksonville Small Emerging Business (JSEB) participation (5 points). Full JSEB points are awarded if the bidder itself qualifies as a JSEB or if JSEB participation reaches a specified threshold in Phase I design scope work. Respondents must submit four key team member resumes, three reference projects with detailed contact information, and conflict-of-interest disclosures. Bidders must provide a Master Project Schedule upon award and establish a Guaranteed Completion Date in a GMP Amendment prior to Phase II commencement. Performance bonding (100% Performance Bond and 100% Labor and Material Payment Bonds) and a designated Customer Service Representative are required. Supporting appendices include route study, conductor study analysis, interconnect drawings, and proposed easement documents for multiple parcels.