Water Main Interconnection

The Town of Berlin, Connecticut, through the Berlin Water Control Commission, is soliciting sealed bids for a water main interconnection construction project (RFP #2026-17) involving the installation of approximately 2,300 linear feet of new 12-inch ductile iron water main and associated pressure reducing/meter vault infrastructure along Berlin Turnpike and Old Colony Road in Berlin. The project will interconnect the water systems of Berlin and Meriden municipalities and includes comprehensive construction services encompassing mobilization, sedimentation and erosion control, traffic management, excavation work, water distribution system installation, fire hydrant assemblies, paving restoration, and site restoration. Bidders must submit sealed proposals electronically through the Town's OpenGov Procurement portal by 10:00 a.m. on April 15, 2026, with a non-mandatory pre-bid conference scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 31, 2026, at Berlin Town Hall, Town Council Chambers, 240 Kensington Road, Berlin, Connecticut 06037. Written questions must be submitted by 10:00 a.m. on April 8, 2026. Bids shall be submitted on a lump sum and unit price basis with additive alternate bid items covering mobilization, sedimentation and erosion control, traffic maintenance, meter/PRV vault installation, excavation, fill materials, paving, water main components, hydrants, valves, and site restoration. Qualified contractors must demonstrate a minimum of three years of relevant experience performing similar water infrastructure projects for Connecticut municipalities, maintain proper Connecticut licensure, provide current prequalification certificates from the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) for projects with estimated costs exceeding $1,000,000, and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including workers' compensation at statutory limits, general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, auto liability of $1,000,000, professional liability of $1,000,000, umbrella/excess liability of $5,000,000, and pollution liability of $5,000,000, with the Town named as additional insured on a primary, non-contributory basis. The Town will award the contract to the lowest qualified responsible bidder based on responsiveness to RFP requirements, proposer experience with similar Connecticut municipal projects, quality of references and prior contract administration, and competitiveness of proposed fees.

The contract is expected to be funded in part by a loan from the State of Connecticut Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and is subject to prevailing wage requirements, with Connecticut state prevailing wage rates applying to projects exceeding $100,000 in estimated costs and federal Davis-Bacon Act requirements applying to projects with total costs exceeding $2,000. The project is subject to the Use of American Iron and Steel (AIS) and Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act requirements mandating that iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials be produced in the United States unless a waiver is approved, with de minimis waivers available for incidental non-domestically produced components not exceeding 1 percent of total material costs individually or 5 percent cumulatively. Minority and Women's Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) goals apply, with any subcontract exceeding $500,000 requiring DAS prequalification and MBE/WBE participation verification. The solicitation incorporates federal compliance requirements including debarment and suspension certifications (Executive Order 12549), non-discrimination provisions (Executive Order 14173), compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 federal uniform guidance, and Section 889 restrictions on covered telecommunications equipment. Contractors must furnish performance, labor, and material payment bonds each equal to 100 percent of the contract sum, along with a bid bond, and must comply with Connecticut procurement regulations including competitive bidding standards, non-collusion affidavits, and audit provisions. No specific budget range or award value is detailed in the available documentation; however, the contract is structured as a fixed-price lump sum and unit price agreement with maximum retainage of 5 percent from progress payments and payment processing within 30 days of approved invoices.