Estimate: $692,000.00 (plus contingencies) Project Location: Near 1 April Sound Boulevard Montgomery, Texas 77356 The deadline to ask questions is 8/12/2024 10:00 AM CST Bidders desiring additional information, explanation, or clarification or interpretation of Contract Documents must request it in writing delivered at the earliest practicable date to the Project Manager prior to bid opening Contact Address Ward, Getz, and Associates, PLLC 2500 Tanglewilde Houston, Texas 77063 CONDITIONS OF WORK: Each bidder must fully inform itself about the Project and the conditions under which the Work will be performed. Bidders must inspect the Project Location(s) and thoroughly familiarize themselves with the Contract Documents. Failure to do so will not relieve a successful bidder of the obligation to perform in accordance with the Contract Documents. The accuracy or completeness of any information provided by the Owner cannot be guaranteed, unless otherwise stated in writing. In any event, the interpretation of all such information must be made by the bidder. Each bidder shall provide complete and correct information regarding its qualifications, as specified in the Official Bid Form or these Instructions to Bidders. Each bidder shall promptly provide additional information requested by the Project Manager or Engineer which bears upon the bidder's qualifications. Special qualification criteria (if any) for the Project are stated in the Official Bid Form. The Owner reserves the rights to determine which bidders are qualified for the Project and to waive any failure to meet special qualification criteria (if any). All requests for additional information shall be directed to the Project Manager.) Unless all bids are rejected, the Owner reserves the right to award the contract at any time during the Firm Bid Period (which is the 90-day period following the bid opening, unless otherwise stated in the Official Bid Form). If no award is made within such Firm Bid Period, a bidder may withdraw its bid, without prejudice, by submitting a written request for its withdrawal to the person who holds the bid. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive bid irregularities as the interest of the Owner may require. The Owner may award on any base bid, any alternate or any combination thereof. The basis of award shall be as specified by state law for the type of contract and type of awarding entity; see, e.g. Section 49.273, Texas Water Code (multiple factors). When alternate bids are allowed, consideration and selection will be based on the needs of the Owner BID SECURITY; BONDS; SURETIES: (a) Each bid must be accompanied by the bid security (if any) specified in the Official Bid Form. (b) Performance, payment and maintenance bonds, each in the amount of 100% of the Contract Price and written on the OWNER's official forms (BID-501, BID-502 and BID-503) are all required to be provided by the successful bidder after contract award, unless otherwise specified in the Official Bid Form. (c) Each surety on each bond (including bid bonds) must be licensed and authorized to transact surety business in Texas and must meet at least one of the following criteria: (1) the surety must have an underwriting limitation of at least 150% of the bidder's greatest amount bid (GAB), according to the most recently-published list of sureties acceptable on federal projects (e.g, Treasury Department, Circular No. 570); (2) the surety must have an underwriting limitation of at least 100% of the bidder's greatest amount bid (GAB), according to the most recentlypublished list of sureties acceptable on federal projects (e.g, Treasury Department, Circular No. 570) and must either have a current Best's rating of at least "B," or if the surety does not have any such rating due to the length of time it has been a surety company, the surety must demonstrate eligibility to participate in the surety bond guarantee program of the Small Business Administration; or (3) the surety must either have capital and surplus equal to at least 10 times the bidder's GAB, as provided in Chapter 3503 of the Texas Insurance Code, or have submitted, together with its bid, written certification of reinsurance up to the full level as contemplated by said Chapter 3503. Each surety on each bond must also comply with applicable requirements of state law, including said Chapter 3503, and (as applicable under this section) must meet the criteria contained in the rules and regulations promulgated by the United States Department of Treasury with respect to performance and payment bonds for federal jobs, including specifically the rules related to the underwriting limitation. (d) Certified or cashier's checks submitted as bid security, except those for the lowest three responsive and responsible bidders, shall be returned within three days of the bid opening.