Rice Mill Drive & 1st Bend Road Drainage Improvements (SC RIA #S-25-1409)

Dorchester County is seeking qualified firms to submit bids for the Rice Mill Drive & 1st Bend Road Drainage Improvements Project, funded by the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (SC RIA #S-25-1409). The project is divided into two separate divisions involving comprehensive drainage infrastructure improvements, including installation of reinforced concrete pipe culverts, box culverts, headwall structures, utility relocations, and site restoration. Division I focuses on Rice Mill Drive and includes approximately 90 linear feet of 12'x6' precast reinforced concrete box culvert, 120 linear feet of 42" RCP, water main installation, concrete curb and gutter, and asphalt pavement work. Division II concentrates on 1st Bend Road and involves approximately 100 linear feet of 60" RCP, 59-foot 54" RCP culvert, water and sewer main installations, and associated infrastructure improvements. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for October 30, 2025, at 10:00 AM, with written questions accepted until November 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM. Bids are due November 21, 2025, at 2:00 PM, with a single contract to be awarded covering both divisions based on the total base bid amount.

The project requires compliance with several federal and state regulations, including President's Executive Order Nos. 11246 and 11375, Davis-Bacon wage requirements, and small and minority-owned business utilization guidelines. Bidders must submit bid security of at least 5% of the total bid amount via bid bond, certified check, or cashier's check. Performance and payment bonds equal to 100% of the contract amount will be required following award. The contractor must achieve Substantial Completion within 120 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed and Final Completion within 180 calendar days, with liquidated damages of $1,000 per day for delays. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly mentioned, the project emphasizes compliance with small and minority-owned business utilization requirements. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with the Notice of Award to be issued within 90 days of bid opening. Payment to the contractor will be due within thirty days of approved invoices, with retainage permitted up to 5% of periodic payments for public construction contracts exceeding $100,000.