RSW Skyplex - Arthrex Shovel Ready Project

The Lee County Port Authority has issued Request for Bids (RFB 26-0048RG) for construction improvements at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in the Skyplex Development area, seeking a qualified general contractor to prepare approximately 44.71 acres of undeveloped land as a "shovel-ready" site for lessee Arthrex. The procurement encompasses comprehensive site preparation and infrastructure development including clearing and grubbing of 108.95 acres, lake excavation of approximately 504,656 cubic yards, embankment placement of 401,461 cubic yards, roadway construction with approximately 13,447 square yards of asphalt paving, drainage system installation with storm sewer ranging from 15-inch to 48-inch pipe totaling 2,385 linear feet, water utility installation of 1,991 linear feet of 12-inch PVC water main with associated fire hydrants and gate valves, wastewater infrastructure including approximately 1,813 linear feet of force main with a lift station, landscape restoration encompassing 30,000 square yards of seed and mulch plus 42,189 square yards of performance sod with 12-month guarantees, underground irrigation system installation with one-year warranty, roadway lighting, and public utility conduit installation. Prospective bidders must hold a Florida Certified General Contractor license maintained for a minimum of five years, demonstrate prior successful experience on similar projects completed within the past five years, and maintain active Florida corporate registration. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for March 18, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Lee County Port Authority offices, with a deadline for questions and clarifications on March 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Electronic bid submissions through OpenGov are due April 13, 2026, before 2:00 p.m. local time, with project substantial completion required by July 30, 2027, final certification by August 17, 2027, and final completion by September 17, 2027. Liquidated damages of $1,500 per calendar day apply for delays beyond the final completion date, and award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder serving the best interests of the Authority.

The procurement requires compliance with Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grant conditions, including Buy American preferences, Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation requirements, with specific DBE participation targets to be identified in the project documents. Bidders must submit a bid bond equal to five percent of the total bid amount, with the successful contractor required to provide performance and payment bonds of 100 percent of the contract value and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, workers' compensation at Florida statutory limits, commercial auto liability, and pollution and professional liability insurance with limits of $2,000,000 per occurrence. All bid prices must be fixed, firm net pricing inclusive of all labor, materials, equipment, and ancillary costs. The contractor must comply with Lee County Utilities approved materials lists for potable water and wastewater infrastructure, FDOT Standard Specifications for Fiscal Year 2025-26, and Lee County Utilities technical specifications for utility work, with the Engineer of Record designated as Bowman Consulting Group, Ltd. The project is subject to South Florida Water Management District Environmental Resource Permit No. 36-101711-P and requires AOA (Airport Operations Area) security clearance compliance including personnel badging and TSA regulation adherence, with violations subject to fines up to $10,000 per occurrence. While the specific contract award value is not stated in the RFB documents provided, the project scope and quantities suggest a substantial construction contract likely exceeding several million dollars, with payment structured as unit pricing for measured quantities and lump-sum compensation for general conditions, subject to field quantity adjustments by the Authority.