Underground Utility Locating Services

The City of Plant City, Florida is requesting bids on underground utility locating services under IFB 26-052UM, with proposals due August 13, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and questions due August 10 at 5:00 p.m.

The scope includes physically locating underground utilities, verifying locations, managing Sunshine 811-Call tickets, maintaining database storage, and providing line location services for the City's water, wastewater, and reclaimed water systems in compliance with Chapter 556, Florida Statutes and Sunshine 811 requirements. Work encompasses standard locating requests, emergency and after-hours emergency locates, digital photography and GPS documentation using APWA color standards, utility damage investigation, and optional additional services such as site surveillance, utility verification, vacuum excavation coordination, GIS field verification, utility mapping support, and as-built verification. Estimated annual quantities include 5,000 standard Sunshine 811 locate tickets, 100 emergency locates, 10 after-hours emergency locates, and 100 no-conflict verifications. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of seven years' experience in underground utility locating services and provide references for at least three similar projects.

The contract term is three years initial with two optional one-year renewals, commencing within 30 days of Notice to Proceed. The City does not guarantee a minimum quantity of work. Local preference of up to 1 percent of the lowest bid applies to vendors with a current business tax payment, state licensure, and a staffed physical office within Plant City maintained for at least six months prior to bid submission, provided the cost differential does not exceed $2,500.

Pricing must remain firm for 12 months with maximum annual adjustments of 5 percent supported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost Index data. Contractors must carry Workers' Compensation, Commercial General Liability with $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate, and Commercial Automobile Liability with $500,000 combined single limit, naming the City as additional insured. Invoices are paid within 30 days of City inspection and acceptance.