RFB EL 9608 2026-01 Trent River Boring Project

Department of Public Utilities
REQUEST FOR BID (Informal)
Electric Distribution
RFB EL 9608 2026-01
P.O. Box 1129
New Bern, NC 28563
Trent River Boring Project 05/13/2026

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The City of New Bern is requesting bids for boring construction and the
installation of conduits across the Trent River. This work will facilitate the
conversion of the electric distribution circuit known as the 70 East feeder
from overhead to underground.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this Request for Bids (RFB) is to obtain competitive bids from
qualified contractors for the Trent River Boring Project.
This solicitation is conducted as an informal construction bidding process in
accordance with N.C.G.S. 143-131. Award shall be made to the lowest
responsive, responsible bidder.
This RFB is intended to describe the work to be performed and the conditions
under which the City of New Bern will contract with the successful bidder. All
applicable North Carolina General Statutes and, if applicable, federal
requirements shall be followed.
SCOPE OF WORK
The scope of contracted services should include the following:
Boring -
a. One (1) 20" OD HDPE pipe installed from the proposed entry/exit points
b. HDPE Pipe (See Exhibit C)
c. All setup and cleanup required at entry & exit point locations
d. All expendable material, i.e., drilling fluid, lubricant, etc.
The scope of boring construction should NOT include the following:
Boring -
a. Entry/Exit location Quazite boxes (provided by the City of New Bern utility)
Regulatory Compliance
The Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining all permits, approvals, and
inspections required for the performance of the work and shall comply with all
applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.
The Contractor shall perform all work in accordance with the requirements of
applicable regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over the project. Any fines,
penalties, or corrective actions resulting from the Contractor's failure to comply
with such requirements shall be the responsibility of the Contractor.
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The Contractor shall complete all work required under this contract within ninety
(90) calendar days from the date of the Notice to Proceed.
RFB SCHEDULE
May 13, 2026 Advertisement Date
May 27, 2026 (5:00 PM) Deadline for Questions
June 2, 2026 (5:00 PM) Responses Issued by Addendum
June 8, 2026 (4:00 PM) Bid Submission Due
June 11, 2026 Bid Opening and Tabulation
June 12, 2026 Notice of Award
INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS
Bidders shall submit a complete bid package in accordance with the requirements
of this Request for Bids.
Bidders shall provide sufficient information to demonstrate their ability to
perform the work, including relevant experience on similar construction projects.
Such information will be used solely to determine bidder responsibility.
Bidders shall base their bid on completion of the work within ninety (90) calendar days
from the date of the Notice to Proceed.
Failure to provide required information may result in the bid being deemed non-
responsive.
HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES (HUB)
The City of New Bern encourages participation by historically underutilized
businesses (HUBs), including minority-owned and women-owned businesses, in
accordance with the State of North Carolina's policy to promote economic
inclusion.
Bidders are encouraged to make reasonable efforts to solicit and utilize HUB
firms as subcontractors or suppliers where feasible. However, this project is not
subject to the formal HUB participation requirements of N.C.G.S. 143-128, and
no minimum participation goals or good faith effort documentation are required.
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SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Bidders shall submit a complete bid package including the following:
1. Completed Bid Form, signed by an authorized representative
2. Total Bid Price as indicated on the Bid Form
3. Addenda Acknowledgment (Bid Form)
4. Bid Bond (5%), submitted with the bid
Bid shall be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked:
"RFB EL 9608 2026-01 - Trent River Boring Project"
Bids must be received no later than 4:00 PM (local time) on June 8, 2026.
Bids may be mailed or delivered to:
Jenna Lanfor, Purchasing Manager
City of New Bern
606 Fort Totten 2nd Floor
New Bern, NC 28560
(252)-639-2800
BONDING REQUIREMENTS
Each bid shall be accompanied by a bid bond in the amount of five percent (5%)
of the total bid price, issued by a surety authorized to do business in the State of
North Carolina. The bid bond shall be submitted with the bid as a guarantee that
the bidder will enter into a contract and furnish required bonds and insurance if
awarded. Failure to provide the required bid bond at the time of bid submission
shall result in the bid being deemed non-responsive.
The successful bidder shall furnish the following prior to execution of the
contract:
1. Performance Bond in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the
contract price.
2. Payment Bond in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract
price.
Bonds shall be executed by a surety authorized to do business in the State of
North Carolina.
Failure to provide required bonds shall be grounds for award cancellation.
QUESTIONS AND ADDENDA
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All questions shall be submitted in writing via email to PostonJ@newbernnc.gov
no later than May 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM (local time). The subject line shall read:
"RFB EL 9608 2026-01 - Trent River Boring Project."
Responses to all questions will be issued by addendum no later than June 2, 2026,
at 5:00 PM (local time).
No information, instruction, or advice provided orally or informally by any City
personnel shall be considered authoritative. Bidders shall rely only on written
addenda.
BIDDER RESPONSIBILITY EVALUATION
The information provided will be used solely to determine bidder responsibility,
rated Pass or Fail, and shall not be used for scoring, ranking, or comparative
evaluation
Bidders shall provide the following information to assist the City in determining
bidder responsibility:
General Management
a. Project Management
Description of how the bidder manages construction projects to ensure timely
completion.
b. Quality Control
General description of quality control practices.
c. Legal / Financial Standing
Disclosure of any material:
* Lawsuits
* Liens
* Claims
d. Experience
Provide examples of similar construction projects performed by the bidder and
any subcontractors, including:
* Project description
* Owner contact information
* Scope and size
e. Schedule and Capacity
Provide:
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* Current workload and available resources
* Estimated project schedule
The City reserves the right to request additional information from the apparent
low bidder to evaluate responsibility. Failure to provide requested information
within the specified time may result in the bidder being deemed non-responsible.
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BID FORM
Trent River Boring Project
RFB EL 9608-2026-01
The undersigned bidder hereby proposes to furnish all labor, equipment, and
materials (except as otherwise specified) and to perform all work required for the
Trent River Boring Project in accordance with the Request for Bids.
1. LUMP SUM BID
Total Bid Price for Completion of the Work:
$_____________________________
(The Bid Price shall include all labor, equipment, supervision, overhead, profit,
and incidentals necessary to complete the project as described.)
2. BID BOND
A Bid Bond in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total bid price is included
with this bid.
The Bid Bond shall be issued by a surety authorized to do business in the State of
North Carolina and shall guarantee that the bidder will enter a contract and
furnish required bonds and insurance if awarded.
Failure to include the required Bid Bond at the time of bid submission shall result
in the bid being deemed non-responsive.
3. ADDENDA ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The bidder acknowledges receipt of RFB EL 9608 2026-01 addenda.
4. CONTRACT TIME
The Bidder acknowledges that the project is to be completed within 90 days from
the date of the Notice to Proceed.
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5. BIDDER INFORMATION
Company Name
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone
Email
6. BIDDER CERTIFIES
The bidder certifies that:
1. This bid is made without collusion or fraud
2. The bidder has examined the RFB documents and site conditions
3. The bidder has the capability and resources to perform the work as specified
7. AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE
Authorized Representative
(Print Name)
Title
Signature
Date
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METHOD OF AWARD
Award shall be made to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder in accordance
with N.C.G.S. 143-131. The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids and
to waive informalities as permitted by law.
CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Contract Documents
The Contract shall consist of the Request for Bids (RFB), Bid Form, addenda, and
acceptance of Purchase Order. In the event of a conflict, the Contract Terms and
Conditions shall control, followed by the RFB and addenda, then the Bid Form,
and lastly the Purchase Order.
2. Scope of Work
The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, and materials necessary to
complete the work described in the RFB.
3. Contract Time
The Contractor shall complete the work within ninety (90) calendar days from the
date of the Notice to Proceed. Contract time shall commence on the date specified
in the Notice to Proceed issued by the City.
4. Payment and Retainage
Payment shall be made in accordance with the lump-sum bid. The City may
withhold retainage in accordance with North Carolina law.
5. Work Performance
All work shall be performed in a workmanlike manner and in accordance with
industry standards and City requirements. All work shall be subject to inspection
by the City. The City shall have the authority to reject any work that does not
conform to the requirements of the Contract Documents. The Contractor shall
promptly correct any rejected work at no additional cost to the City. Failure to
correct deficient work may result in the City performing or procuring corrective
work and deducting the cost from payments due to the Contractor.
6. Permits and Compliance
The Contractor shall obtain all permits and comply with all applicable North
Carolina laws and local ordinances.
7. Insurance
The Contractor shall maintain Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000),
Automobile Liability ($1,000,000), and Workers' Compensation as required by
NC law. The City shall be named as an additional insured.
8. Bonds
The Contractor shall provide Performance and Payment Bonds, each in the
amount of 100% of the contract price.
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