San Antonio Water System

 INVITATION TO BIDDERS 

Solicitation No. CO-00528 

Sealed bids are requested by the San Antonio Water System for the construction of approximately 10,340 linear feet of new water mains ranging from 8 to 20 inches by open cut, and directional bore construction for the Highway 90 & General McMullen Pressure Zone Integration Project, SAWS Job No.18-7002.

To view additional project information, as well as obtain the plans and specifications for this project, visit our website located at www.saws.org and click on the Business Center. Then select Bidder, Consultant, and Vendor Registration, which is located on the left-hand side of the screen. Select the Register Now button and proceed with registration. 

For difficulties downloading plans and specifications, contact the Contracting Department at 210-233-3341.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 10:00 AM (CST) on January 10, 2023, via WebEx.

WebEx Link: https://saws.webex.com/saws/j.php?MTID=m94a5e5d9010c5c6b076048663276fd9a

Meeting Number: 2498 251 4145

Meeting Password: GXw34gJJsD6

To Join By Phone: +1-469-210-7159 US Toll (Dallas)

                 +1-408-418-9388 US Toll

                       210-233-2090 (Local Number)

For questions regarding this solicitation, technical questions or additional information, please contact Roxanne Lockhart, Contract Administrator, in writing via email to: roxanne.lockhart@saws.org or by fax to (210) 233-4438 until 4:00 PM (CSDT) on January 13, 2023. Answers to the questions will be posted to the web site by 4:00 PM (CST) on January 19, 2023, as a separate document or included as part of an addendum. Please be advised that Bidders are prohibited from communicating with any other SAWS staff, the Consultant, the Developer, or City of San Antonio officials regarding this IFB up until the contract is awarded as outlined in the Instructions to Bidders.

Due to the COVID-19 emergency and to protect the health of the public, SAWS is implementing new procedures for the submission of bids. Bids will be received either Electronically or through Sealed bids, until 2:00 PM (CST), January 26, 2023. Electronic bids will be received via the secure SAWS FTP site. Sealed bids will be received by Contract Administration, 2800 U.S. Hwy 281 North, Tower II, Customer Center Building, via a drop box located on the left wall when walking through the first set of double glass doors of the main Tower II entry on the north side of the building, San Antonio, Texas 78212. See the Electronic Bid Opening Instructions attachment for additional information regarding an electronic bid submittal. Electronic bids shall be accompanied by a bid bond in an amount not less than five percent of the total bid price. (Or, if providing SAWS with a cashier's check or certified check in an amount not less than five percent of the total bid price, SAWS will request this within 24 hours from the apparent low bidder. Sealed bids must be accompanied by a cashier's check, certified check, or bid bond in an amount not less than five percent of the total bid price. Bids will then be publicly opened and read aloud by Contract Administration via WebEx. 

WebEx Link: https://saws.webex.com/saws/j.php?MTID=m8a64ad6ce07aae8c97aa1d371f02b73b

Meeting Number: 2494 216 9731

Meeting Password: aWTWcmTW472

To Join By Phone: +1-469-210-7159 US Toll (Dallas)

                 +1-408-418-9388 US Toll

                       210-233-2090 (Local Number)

If Bidders intend to submit bids electronically, Bidders will need to submit a request by 2:00 PM (CST), January 25, 2023, to receive access to the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site via email to roxanne.lockhart@saws.org. Bidder’s email requesting access to the FTP site shall provide the legal name of Bidder’s company and the intended recipient’s email address and phone number. No requests for FTP site access will be accepted after 2:00 PM (CST), January 25, 2023.

This contract is contingent upon release of funds from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Any contract(s) awarded under this Invitation for Bids (IFB) is/are expected to be funded in part by a loan or loan with principal forgiveness from the TWDB and a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. EPA. Neither the State of Texas, the U.S. EPA, nor any of its departments, agencies, or employees, are or will be a party to this Invitation for Bids or any resulting contract.

As outlined in the General Conditions, the Bond Requirements are as follows:·  

      Payment Bond - In accordance with Chapter 2253 of the Texas Government Code as amended, the security furnished by the Contractor through the Surety in the full amount of the Contract Sum for the protection of all persons supplying labor and material in the prosecution of the Work who properly follow statutory requirements for perfecting claims against such security. If the Contract amount does not exceed $25,000, a Payment Bond may not be required.

·     Performance Bond - In accordance with Chapter 2253 of the Texas Government Code as amended, the security furnished by the Contractor through the Surety in the full amount of the Contract Sum as a guaranty that the Work will be faithfully performed and completed and that the Owner will be saved harmless from all costs and damages which the Owner may suffer by reason of the Contractor's default or failure to perform the Work. If the Contract amount does not exceed $25,000, a Performance Bond may not be required.

All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors on projects funded directly by or assisted in whole or in part by and through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on projects of a character similar in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code. Wages to be paid on this project will be governed by the Department of Labor Wage General Decision or Decisions included in the bid documents for this project.

Equal Opportunity in Employment – All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the Department of Labor regulations at 41 CFR Part 60-4, relating to Construction Contractors -- Affirmative Action Requirements, which include the President's Executive Order No. 11246, as amended by Executive Order 11375 and Executive Order No. 13672, in the award and administration of contracts awarded under TWDB financial assistance agreements. Failure by the Contractor to carry out these requirements is a material breach, which may result in the termination of the awarded financial assistance.

The San Antonio Water System has the right to reject any and all bids.

This contract is subject to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “fair share policy”, which includes EPA-approved “fair share goals” for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) firms in the Construction, Supplies, Equipment and Services procurement categories. EPA’s policy requires that applicants and prime contractors make a good faith effort to award a fair share of contracts, subcontracts, and procurements to MBE and WBE firms. Although EPA’s policy does not mandate that the fair share goals be achieved, it does require applicants and prime contractors to demonstrate use of the six affirmative steps. 

For more details of the DBE Program and the current, applicable fair share goals, please visit www.twdb.texas.gov/dbe.

Comply with all record keeping and reporting requirements under the Clean Water Act/Safe Drinking Water Act, including any reports required by a Federal agency or the Finance Authority such as performance indicators of program deliverables, information on costs and project progress. The Participant understands that (i) each contract and subcontract related to the Project is subject to audit by appropriate federal and state entities and (ii) failure to comply with the Clean Water Act/Safe Drinking Water Act and this Agreement may be a default hereunder that results in a repayment of the Loan in advance of the maturity of the Bonds and/or other remedial actions.

The Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements apply to Contractors and Subcontractors performing on federally funded or assisted contracts in excess of $2,000 for the construction, alteration or repair (including painting) of a treatment works project under the CWSRF or a construction project under the DWSRF.

For prime contracts in excess of $100,000, Contractors and Subcontractors must also, under the provisions of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, as amended, pay laborers and mechanics, including guards and watchmen, at least one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. The Fair Labor Standards Act may also apply to Davis-Bacon covered contracts.

Any contracts or subcontracts in excess of $2,000 must include the provisions of the Davis-Bacon Wage Rate Requirements found in TWDB Guidance No. DB-0156.

Any contract(s) awarded under this Invitation for Bids is/are subject to the American Iron and Steel (AIS) requirements of federal law, including federal appropriation acts.

Any contract(s) awarded under this Invitation for Bids is/are subject to the United States Iron and Steel (US I&S) requirements of Texas Water Code § 17.183 and/or Texas Government Code, Chapter 2252, Subchapter F, as amended by SB 1289, 85th Legislative Session, as applicable.