U. S Highway 27 Utility (Sewer/Water) Turnpike Relocation Project

The City of Leesburg, Florida is seeking a qualified Florida-licensed Certified General Contractor (CGC) to complete the U.S. Highway 27 Utility Relocation Project in Lake County. The procurement involves replacing approximately 1,000 linear feet of existing utility infrastructure, specifically a 12-inch water line and 8-inch sewer line, with 14-inch HDPE water and sewer lines using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) under the Florida Turnpike. Key deliverables include pipe installation, directional boring, valve and fitting installations, erosion control, trench safety, and site restoration with Bahia sod. The project requires comprehensive coordination with utility companies, compliance with FDOT and AWWA standards, and adherence to Florida Trench Safety Act requirements. A mandatory pre-bid conference was held on October 15, 2025, with written questions accepted until October 21, 2025, and addenda issued by October 24, 2025. Sealed bids are due by 11:00 a.m. on November 5, 2025, with a public bid opening via Zoom, and an anticipated intent to award recommendation by November 14, 2025. The contract completion date is set for February 12, 2026, with liquidated damages of $1,685 per day for delays beyond the substantial completion date.

The solicitation does not specify specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged business enterprises. Bidders must be Florida-licensed Certified Underground Utility and Excavation Contractors with a minimum of five years in business and three client references from similar projects completed within the past five years. Contractors are required to provide comprehensive insurance, including $1,000,000 in general liability and automobile liability coverage, and workers' compensation insurance. The project is partially funded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), which requires compliance with federal procurement standards. The combined Engineer's Estimate of Probable Construction Costs is $1,326,000, broken down as $503,000 for Potable Water and $500,000 for Sanitary Sewer, with an additional $323,000 for a separate Natural Gas component not included in this solicitation. Successful bidders must submit a bid bond of 5% of the total bid price, a performance and payment bond of 100% of the contract amount, and a maintenance bond of 10% of the contract amount. The City will retain 5% of invoiced amounts until final completion, with payment on a net 30-day basis.