Town of Benson -RFQ 05-2026 – LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORY COMPLETION

The Town of Benson, North Carolina, is requesting proposals to complete lead service line inventory through soft-dig vacuum excavation or mechanical potholing on approximately 253 unknown water service lines, with proposals due November 20, 2026, and questions due November 10, 2026. Mandatory Davis-Bacon prevailing wage compliance, Build America Buy America (BABA), American Iron and Steel (AIS) provisions, and Title VI Civil Rights Act compliance apply — all work is federally funded through the North Carolina Drinking Water StateEvolving Fund (DWSRF) and monitored by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ).

Contractors must be qualified, licensed utility and underground construction contractors eligible under North Carolina contractor licensing requirements. The Town of Benson has completed historical record reviews and visual identification for approximately 87% of its 2,000 total water service connections; this RFQ covers the remaining known-unknown lines requiring field verification to determine pipe material composition across the town's water service area.

Contractors must submit pricing in a dual-structure format: a fixed-price lump-sum base bid for 200 unknown service lines and a Time and Materials rate sheet for authorized extra work, including hourly labor rates, equipment rates, and expendable costs. Insurance requirements include Commercial General Liability of $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate, Automobile Liability of $1 million Combined Single Limit, statutory Workers' Compensation, and $1 million Employers' Liability, with the Town of Benson named as Additional Insured. Bid, performance, and payment bonds are not required. The town will withhold 5% retainage from progress payments until 50% of project scope is completed and approved. Invoices are due by the 25th of each month with Net 30 payment terms. Bid opening is scheduled November 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Benson Town Hall. The last addendum will be issued November 16, 2026.