South American Exhibit

The City of Bloomington, Illinois, located in McLean County, is soliciting sealed bids for Bid #2022-15, a comprehensive South American Exhibit project at Miller Park Zoo. The procurement involves constructing a new 1,072 square foot animal holding building to house tortoise, anteater, and bush dog exhibits, which includes multiple animal holding areas, a keeper aisle, and specialized infrastructure. The project encompasses base bid work and six alternate bid options, including demolition of existing exhibit enclosures, installation of a 16' gazebo, concrete path replacement, roofing modifications, landscaping, and pedestrian barrier installation. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting and site visit was scheduled for April 27, 2022, at 10:00 am at Miller Park Zoo, with sealed electronic proposals due on May 10, 2022, at 10:00 am CST via the city's e-Procurement Portal. Bidders must provide a 10% bid guarantee and comply with prevailing wage rates, equal opportunity guidelines, and various state and local regulations, including the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act.

The solicitation does not explicitly indicate specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though standard equal opportunity guidelines are referenced. Contractors must meet substantial insurance requirements, including $2,000,000 in general liability, $2,000,000 in products and completed coverage, $1,000,000 in worker's compensation, $2,000,000 in automobile liability, and $5,000,000 in umbrella/excess liability. The project includes a $5,000 contingency allowance for potential soil replacement, with the total project budget estimated through various supporting documents like the Farnsworth Group proposal, which allocated $33,700 for construction phase services. Funding appears to be sourced through municipal budgets and potentially an Illinois Public Museum grant. The comprehensive project documentation, including architectural drawings, site plans, and technical specifications, suggests a sophisticated procurement process with detailed requirements for constructing a specialized zoo exhibit environment that meets stringent technical and animal welfare standards.