Stone Entry Portal, Lake Darling State Park, Washington County

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is requesting competitive quotations for removal and replacement of the entrance portal at Lake Darling State Park in Washington County, with bids due August 27, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.

The scope includes demolition of the existing entrance sign, construction of a stone entry portal conforming to the Iowa DNR Design Guide, earthen grading, concrete footings and structural concrete, stonework, timber sign support with steel brackets, electrical and lighting, and site restoration. Structural concrete must comply with the Iowa Department of Transportation Standard Specification for Highway and Bridge Construction (Series 2015) and achieve minimum compressive strength of 3,500 psi at 27 days. All disturbed areas shall be finished graded, fertilized, seeded with Type 1 seed mixture, and hydraulically mulched. The bid package specifies five line items (mobilization, demolition, stone portal and associated items, electrical and lighting, site restoration) to be priced on a lump-sum or unit-price basis. Bids must be submitted electronically to constructionbids@dnr.iowa.gov.

Contractors must perform a mandatory pre-bid site visit to assess current conditions and verify all dimensions and site conditions. Contractors must contact Iowa One Call (811) before any digging and obtain a NPDES Stormwater Discharge Permit if land-disturbing activity exceeds one acre; all other legally required permits must be secured before work commences. A performance bond equal to 100 percent of the contract price is required if the contract price meets or exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars. Contractors must maintain liability insurance with minimum coverage of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence. Liquidated damages of $1,000 per calendar day apply for completion delays beyond the December 11, 2026 deadline. Payment is made within 30 days of receipt of an approved payment request; the Department reserves the right to withhold up to 3 percent of payments. Award goes to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. Darin Galbraith (Procurement Specialist) handles the quotation process; Michael Dufoe (P.E.) and Bruce Flippin (Project Engineer, 515-689-8009, Bruce.Flippin@dnr.iowa.gov) address technical questions.