Rice Soccer Field Improvements

The City of New Haven, Connecticut is seeking bids for the Rice Soccer Field Improvements project located in New Haven County through a competitive solicitation (Invitation for Bid #2025-IFB-287). The project involves comprehensive turf improvements for a soccer field measuring 305 feet by 180 feet, including nine specific line items: relocating corner markers, filling low areas, aerating 27,000 square feet, rolling, hydroseeding 92,800 square feet, cutting and removing sod, rough grading, spreading sand, and tilling 65,800 square feet. Contractors are required to perform work using specific techniques, including mowing existing turf to one inch, filling low areas with sandy loam, aerating with a Verti-Drain 7316, and hydroseeding with a precise seed mixture. The solicitation requires a mandatory site visit, with questions and clarifications due by November 24, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., and electronic bids due through the City's eProcurement Portal by December 3, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. The City intends to award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder within 120 days of the solicitation opening, with a contract term of one year.

The project has significant set-aside and participation requirements for minority and women-owned businesses, establishing a 25 percent participation goal for MBE/WBE enterprises. Contractors must complete a detailed MBE/WBE Utilization Form documenting subcontractor diversity, with failure to meet requirements potentially resulting in bid rejection. The project is funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, with contracts under $100,000 subject to specific ARPA agreement terms. Contractors must comply with living wage ordinances ($21.38-$22.38 per hour), prevailing wage requirements, and equal employment opportunity standards. Insurance requirements include $1,000,000 general liability per occurrence, workers' compensation, and auto liability coverage. Local businesses may receive preference considerations if their bids do not exceed 15 percent of the lowest bid. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the comprehensive requirements and extensive site improvements suggest a significant project investment, with potential contract values that would necessitate performance and labor-material bonds equal to 100 percent of the contract sum.