RE-bid specifications for the new g feeder distribution construction installation project

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative Association, Inc. (FKEC) is seeking bids for a comprehensive infrastructure project involving the installation of a new 7.3-mile, 25 kilovolt (kV) three-phase overhead distribution feeder, designated as the G Feeder, running from Tavernier to Key Largo substations. The project will replace the existing T Feeder and involves setting 36 new distribution poles, installing 2 capacitor banks and 3 reclosers, and transferring existing loads, primarily underbuilt on existing 138kV transmission line poles. The bid evaluation will be based on a comprehensive scoring system: qualifications of the firm and staff (20 points), relevant past performance (20 points), cost proposal (50 points), and schedule (10 points). Bidders must submit a detailed proposal including a work plan, project schedule, references, personnel information, and required forms such as a bid guarantee bond, debarment and lobbying certifications, a drug-free workplace statement, and a sworn statement on public entity crimes. The bid is due on May 23, 2025, with an anticipated intent to award on June 2, 2025, and a project completion date of June 19, 2026. FKEC will provide project management, onsite representation, and documentation like GIS overlays and construction manuals.

The contract will be awarded as a firm fixed-price agreement, with FKEC reserving the right to select a bidder other than the lowest-priced offer, focusing on the proposal that best meets the solicitation requirements. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, the bidding process appears open to qualified electrical infrastructure contractors with demonstrated experience in distribution line construction. The project involves significant technical complexity, requiring bidders to have expertise in overhead transmission line installation, pole setting, and electrical distribution system construction. The Bill of Material indicates multiple potential vendors including Gresco, Irby, and manufacturers like Ermco, Hubbell, McWane, and Hughes Brothers, suggesting a competitive and technically sophisticated procurement process. Insurance requirements are extensive, mandating professional liability, commercial general liability, and commercial automobile liability coverage with specific coverage limits ranging from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 per occurrence. Though an exact project budget is not specified, the comprehensive nature of the infrastructure upgrade and the detailed technical specifications suggest a significant capital investment in electrical distribution infrastructure for the Florida Keys region.