Pump Station 10 Force Main Replacement Project

Dorchester County, South Carolina is issuing an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the Pump Station 10 Force Main Replacement Project, a significant wastewater infrastructure construction initiative. The project requires qualified contractors to furnish all labor, tools, materials, equipment, and supervision necessary to install approximately 9,900 linear feet of 10-inch sewer force main to replace an existing 8-inch force main along Orangeburg Road in Summerville. The installation methodology combines approximately 1,900 linear feet of open-cut installation using PVC pipe and approximately 7,700 linear feet installed via horizontal directional drilling (HDD) using fusible polyvinyl chloride (FPVC) pipe, with 1,504 linear feet of HDD work crossing South Carolina Department of Transportation roads and encased in 16-inch FPVC casing. Deliverables include five 10-inch plug valves, two 6-inch plug valves, five air release valves, connections to existing force mains, ductile iron fittings, trench backfill, pavement repair, force main pressure testing at 150 psi or 1.5 times working pressure, dewatering operations, surface restoration, and comprehensive project closeout documentation. The contractor must achieve substantial completion within 150 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed, with final completion within 30 calendar days thereafter, and must submit detailed work plans, schedules, shop drawings, and operation and maintenance manuals for approval prior to commencing work. A mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Water & Sewer Headquarters in Summerville, South Carolina; the deadline for written questions is May 4, 2026, at 8:00 AM; and bids must be submitted electronically through the OpenGov Procurement Portal by May 15, 2026, at 2:00 PM. The successful bidder must provide 100 percent performance and payment bonds, maintain comprehensive general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000, automobile liability insurance with $1,000,000 combined single limit, workers' compensation insurance as required by South Carolina law, and owners' and contractors' protective liability insurance with $1,000,000 minimum limits.

The IFB documents do not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular categories of organizations such as disadvantaged enterprises, small businesses, or minority-owned firms. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documents. The project requires integration with existing infrastructure, specifically connections to two manifolding 6-inch force mains and an existing 10-inch force main along Rumphs Hill Creek, and coordination with multiple utility companies including Dominion Energy Gas, Charter Communications, AT&T, Berkeley Electric Cooperative, Dorchester County Water Authority, and SCDOT. All necessary permits have been obtained, including SCDES Wastewater Construction Permit No. WW046986, NPDES coverage, Dorchester County Encroachment Permit, and multiple SCDOT Encroachment Permits. Bids must include all applicable sales and state/local taxes and must be accompanied by bid security of at least five percent of the total bid amount in the form of a bond, certified check, or cashier's check for bids exceeding $25,000. The contract includes liquidated damages of $1,385.00 per calendar day for delays beyond the completion date, retainage of 10 percent until 75 percent completion with reduction to 5 percent thereafter, and payment to the contractor due within 30 days of approved invoices. The specific contract award value or budget range is not disclosed in the IFB documents.