Replacement of Sussex County Bridge X-03

Sussex County, New Jersey, through its Board of County Commissioners, is soliciting sealed bids for the replacement of Sussex County Bridge X-03, located on Ross's Corner Sussex Road (CR 565) over Papakating Creek Tributary in Wantage Township. The project encompasses comprehensive bridge replacement and roadway improvement work, including demolition of the existing 70-linear-foot corrugated metal plate arch culvert, construction of a new 71-linear-foot corrugated metal pipe arch with reinforced cast-in-place concrete walls and moment slabs, full-depth bituminous pavement replacement and mill-and-pave operations across approximately 1,100 linear feet, installation of MASH-compliant guide rail with end treatments and crash cushion barriers, utility relocation, stream flow maintenance, retaining wall construction, and site restoration including topsoil spreading, seeding, mulching, and tree plantings. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder based on total extended price derived from 46 itemized line items with estimated quantities, including 850 cubic yards of excavation, 910 square yards of HMA milling, 198 tons of asphalt course materials, corrugated metal pipe arch installation, and professional herpetologist services with reimbursable environmental compliance costs. Qualified bidders must be registered with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, maintain comprehensive insurance coverage (Workers' Compensation with $500,000 limits, General Liability with $1,000,000 per occurrence/$3,000,000 aggregate, Automobile Liability with $3,000,000 combined single limit, and Umbrella Liability as required), comply with prevailing wage determinations, provide performance and payment bonds equal to 100% of contract value and bid security at 10% of bid amount (not exceeding $20,000), and employ a Professional Herpetologist from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's "Recognized Qualified Bog Turtle Surveyors" list for environmental compliance. Sealed proposals must be submitted to the Sussex County Administrative Center Commissioner's Meeting Room, 1st Floor, One Spring Street, Newton, New Jersey 07860, with technical questions submitted through the Sussex County Bonfire portal at sussex.bonfirehub.com. Key deadlines include May 12, 2026 for RFI responses, May 18, 2026 by 3:00 PM for bidder questions, and June 2, 2026 for sealed bid submission with anticipated contract award by June 2, 2026 by 11:00 AM. The contract period extends from award date through completion with a scheduled 21-consecutive-day closure period commencing August 10, 2026, and substantial completion required by August 30, 2026, with liquidated damages of $14,500 per day for delays and incentive payments of $5,000 per day (maximum $30,000) for early completion. No site visit has been scheduled; evaluation criteria include compliance with New Jersey Local Public Contracts Law requirements, insurance provisions, labor law compliance, and American goods preference where available.

This procurement contains no designated set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, minority-owned businesses, or other protected classifications, and is open to all responsive and responsible bidders meeting the stated qualifications and compliance requirements. No incumbent contractors or existing infrastructure integration requirements are identified in the solicitation documents. All respondents must comply with New Jersey prevailing wage rate determinations established by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, effective as of the contract award date, with mandatory contributions for fringe benefits and overtime compensation as specified, and must maintain certified payroll records submitted to the New Jersey Wage Hub within ten days of each pay period. The project requires compliance with Buy America requirements under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, use of American goods and products wherever available, and adherence to the 2019 NJDOT Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction as amended, with all work performed in accordance with AASHTO LRFD specifications and the 2016 NJDOT Design Manual for Bridge and Structures. Contract continuation beyond the fiscal year is contingent upon appropriation of funds, and Sussex County reserves the right to award in whole or in part, to terminate for convenience with 60 days' written notice, and to cancel the contract at the end of any fiscal year if funds are not appropriated. Although no specific contract award value or budget range is explicitly stated in the solicitation documents, the estimated project scope and itemized line items provide the basis for competitive bidding, with all proposal prices required to be firm and not subject to increases during the contract period except for petroleum heating products subject to standard tank wagon price adjustments.