QAEXCA29SB Excavating in Queen Anne's County

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is issuing an Invitation for Bids (IFB) solicitation number QAEXCA29SB for excavation services in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. The procurement seeks labor hours for excavator equipment operation with one operator, requiring equipment meeting specific minimum specifications: 18-ton minimum weight, 18-foot minimum reach, and 24-inch-wide scoop bucket. The scope of work includes excavating gutters, ditch lines, pipe culverts, deep patching, grade work, embankment construction, and backfill for sediment and erosion control at various locations throughout Queen Anne's County as directed by the Engineer. All operators must possess a valid Commercial Driver's License with no more than six points on their driving record and a minimum of five years' equipment operation experience. Bidders must demonstrate three years of prior experience providing comparable excavation services and may be required to provide photographs of branded work trucks, equipment specifications, commercial references, and Google Maps reviews. The contract is structured as a fixed-price competitive sealed bid with award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Questions are due by May 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM, with bids due by May 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM via the eMMA electronic procurement system, with public bid opening occurring simultaneously via Microsoft Teams. The contract term is three calendar years from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029 with no renewal options.

This is a Small Business Reserve procurement limited exclusively to certified small business vendors as defined by Maryland State Finance and Procurement Article 14-501-14-505, with no subcontracting permitted and no equipment rental allowed; bidders must own the excavator and perform all work with their own employees and equipment. Contractor operations are restricted to 6:30 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays, with contractors required to respond to routine scheduled work notifications within five working days. Insurance requirements include Commercial General Liability coverage of $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence and $3,000,000 annual aggregate, plus Worker's Compensation insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence. The solicitation includes zero percent Minority Business Enterprise, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, and Veteran Small Business Enterprise subcontracting goals. No federal funding is involved in this procurement. Payment will be made based on one-time pricing for completed work items submitted in the month following state acceptance, with compensation reflecting a single labor-hour rate that encompasses all costs including labor, profit, overhead, and general operating expenses. The bid form indicates an estimated quantity of 320 labor hours; however, exact annual hour allocations are not guaranteed and will be contingent upon actual maintenance needs throughout Queen Anne's County during the contract period.