Water Treatment Plant Residuals Dewatering Services

August 26, 2026
Town of Ipswich
Massachusetts
INVITATION FOR BIDS
Water Treatment Plant Residuals Dewatering Services
The Town of Ipswich, the Awarding Authority, submits this Invitation for Bids for the Water Treatment
Plant Residuals Dewatering Services for the Town of Ipswich, Massachusetts in accordance with the
specifications prepared by the Town of Ipswich Water Department.
The Project consists of dewatering approximately 250,000 gallons of approximately 1-4 percent alum-
based sludge from lagoons at the Drinking Water Treatment Facility, located at 274 High Street.
There is a required pre-bid site inspection for vendors to become familiar with the present conditions.
Vendors who do not comply with required pre-bid site inspection will be considered disqualified from
bidding on this project.
Electronic Bid documents will be available online at https://www.ipswichma.gov/Bids beginning
August 26, 2026.
All Bids should be sent to the Town of Ipswich Water Department located at 272 High Street, Ipswich,
MA 01938 by 2 PM September 10, 2026 at which time all bids will publicly opened and read aloud.
The Town will be accepting only hard paper copy sealed bids. A total of 3 Hard paper copy sealed bids
are required for submission (1) one original and two (2) copies.
The Awarding Authority reserves the right to accept any Bid, waive any informalities or minor defects,
or reject any or all Bids, if in its sole judgment it is in the best interest of the Town of Ipswich to do so.
There is a required pre-bid site inspection for vendors to become familiar with the present
conditions. Please contact Joe Ciccotelli, Water Treatment Plant Superintendent, to schedule a site
visit. (978-356-6639). Vendors who do not comply with required pre-bid site inspection will be
considered disqualified from bidding on this project.
All bid questions pertaining to this project must be submitted in writing by email format and directed
to Vicki Halmen, Vhalmen@ipswichutilities.org. Official answers are in writing only.

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TOWN OF IPSWICH
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. All contracts and purchases made by or under the supervision of the Town
Manager for which competitive bids are required shall be awarded to the lowest
responsible bidder, taking into consideration conformity with the specifications,
terms of delivery, and other conditions imposed in the request for bids.
Competitive bids shall be solicited for all 30B goods and services projects over
the bid limit.
2. The Town reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to waive any
informality and award the contract to one or more bidders as may be in the best
interest of the Town. Any contract/s made will be subject to grants and
appropriations to meet payments there under. An EEO/AA Employer;
MBE/WBE firms are encouraged to submit bids.
3. All prices will be in effect for approximately one year, or until another contract
is awarded, with the Town having the option to renew this contract at the end of
the contractual year for an additional period of time, if agreeable to both parties.
The contract may be extended for not more than four (4) additional twelve (12)
month periods, under the same terms, conditions, and prices at the sole
discretion of the Town.
4. Specifications are not intended to limit competition to certain manufacturers or
bar any bid, but merely to indicate to the bidders the general type of supplies
work, and services required by the Town. The Town invites bids on
comparable supplies and/or services. The Town may request more information
at the time of award.
5. In the event a vendor is of the opinion there are inconsistencies between
portions of the specifications which cause confusion as to the precise intention
or objective of the Town in its invitation for bids, it shall be the obligation of
the vendor to notify the Town, in writing, at least two (2) calendar days prior to
the opening of the bid, stating in detail the section or sections which the vendor
is of the opinion are inconsistent, together with an explanation why the vendor
is of the opinion said sections are inconsistent.
6. In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 62C, 49A, the
awarded bidder must certify under the penalties of perjury that he/she has filed
all state tax returns and paid all state taxes required under law. (Said
certification will be included in the Contract.)
7. In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 7, 22; Chapter 30,
39M; Chapter 40, 4B12 and Chapter 43, 28A, any person submitting a
proposal or bid to the Town of Ipswich for the sale, lease or provisions of
supplies, equipment, materials, services or other property (whether or not for

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repairs or construction work) shall certify on the Official Bid Form and on the
Contract, under the penalties of perjury, that his/her bid is in all respects bona
fide, fair and made without collusion or fraud with any other person. (As used
in this paragraph, the word "person" shall mean any natural person, joint
venture, partnership, corporation, or other business of legal entity.)
In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 93, 11, as
appearing in 1 of Chapter 459 of the Acts of 1978. ... If a final judgment or
decree is rendered in any civil or criminal proceeding brought by the attorney
general under these Chapters to the effect that a defendant (Contractor) has
violated any section, the Town of Ipswich may void, rescind or cancel any
contract to which the violation pertains or relates, and which was entered into
with said defendant (Contractor).
8. A bid containing an alteration or an erasure of any price contained in the bid,
which is used in determining the lowest responsible bid, shall be rejected unless
the alteration or erasure is corrected as herein provided. An alteration or
erasure may be crossed out, and the correction thereof printed in ink or
typewritten adjacent thereto, and initialed in ink by the person signing the bid.
9. In the case of identical low bids from two or more bidders, the Town Manager
may at his discretion negotiate procurement methods with the tied low bidders
for that particular transaction, so long as the price paid does not exceed the low
tied bid price. A record shall be kept of all bids, with the names of bidders and
the amounts of bids and with the successful bid indicated thereon. All such
records shall be open to public inspection.
10. In any case where competitive bids are required, and where all bids are rejected,
no bids will be called, as in the first instance, unless otherwise expressly pro-
vided by law. Bids shall be submitted as directed in the invitation to bid. Bids
shall be submitted in the format specified, and all appropriate blank spaces shall
be filled.
11. Bids shall be submitted prior to the time fixed in the invitation for bids, and
upon receipt of same the Town of Ipswich Purchasing Office employee
receiving same, shall date stamp the bid, mark the time of receipt and place
his/her initials upon the bid. Bids received after the time so indicated in the
notice to bidders shall be returned unopened.
12. Upon written request by the bidder, bids may be withdrawn at any time prior to
the expiration of the time for submitting bids. Negligence on the part of the
bidder in preparing his bid shall not constitute a right to withdraw his bid sub-
sequent to the bid opening. No proposal may be withdrawn without the consent
of the Town of Ipswich for a period of thirty (30) days after the time of opening
bids has passed. All bids shall be opened at the time and place specified in the
invitation for bids before the Town Manager or his designee at an open public

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meeting. Final approval on all bids and the award of the contract shall be made
by the Town Manager.
13. Before filing a bid, the bidder shall examine carefully the proposal, plans,
specifications, special provisions, and the form of contract to be entered into for
the work contemplated. Each bidder shall examine the site of work to satisfy
themselves as to the conditions which will be encountered relating to the
character, quality and quantity of work to be performed and the materials to be
furnished. The bidder shall provide evidence that these requirements have been
completed by the bidder.
14. In accordance with Section 504 of the (Federal) Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and
31 Code of Federal Regulations Part 51, each vendor awarded a contract
pursuant to these General Requirements must certify to the Town of Ipswich
that said vendor does not discriminate in its employment, procurement and
marketing activities on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex,
handicap, age or any other legally protected status.
15. In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 149, 44B (2) and
Chapter 30, Section 39M as amended, a Bid Deposit, in the form of a Certified
Check or Bid Bond, in the amount of 5% of the total value of the proposed
work and/or materials must be submitted with each bid. The Town reserves the
right to reject bids failing to comply with this requirement. The deposit of all
bidders will be returned as soon as the successful bidder has entered into a
contract or furnished bond, if required, or all bids have been rejected. The
deposit will be forfeited as liquidated damages resulting if the person to whom
the contract is awarded fails to accept it.
16. The complete instructions for filing a bid are included in this bid document.
The bidding and award shall be in full compliance with Sections 39M inclusive
of Chapter 30 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as
last revised.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACTORS EITHER
PERFORMING A SERVICE OR DOING CONSTRUCTION WORK
FOR THE TOWN OF IPSWICH
As well as the General Requirements for All Contractors Doing Business With The
Town of Ipswich indicated on the preceding pages, the following General
Requirements for the Performance of a Service for the Town or doing Construction
Work for the Town are a part, item by item, of the contract:
1. The Contractor shall commence work upon notification after delivery of an
executed copy of the contract to them.
2. Each public construction bid shall be accompanied by a certified check, or bid
bond, in the amount of 5% of the total amount of the bid, in a form acceptable to
the Town; payable to the Town of Ipswich as evidence of good faith by the
bidder. The deposit of all bidders will be returned as soon as the successful
bidder has entered into a contract and furnished bond, or all bids have been

Ipswich Drinking Water Residuals Dewatering Bid 2026
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rejected. The deposit will be forfeited as liquidated damages resulting if the
person to whom the contract is awarded fails to accept it. No bidder may
withdraw his bid for a period of thirty (30) calendar days after the actual date of
the opening thereof.
3. Every bid bond, every performance bond and every payment bond issued for any
construction work in the Commonwealth shall be the bond of a surety company organized
pursuant to Section 105 of Chapter 175 or of a surety company authorized to do business in
the Commonwealth under the provisions of Section 106 of said Chapter 175 and be
approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury and acceptable as sureties and reinsurers on
federal bonds under Title 31 of the United States Code, sections 9304 to 9308.
4. Insurance
a. Indemnity Clause: An indemnity clause, or alternatively liability
insurance, will be required of the successful bidder, in which the successful
bidder will be required to hold harmless and indemnify the Town from all
claims, legal or equitable, including court costs and reasonable attorney's
fees, arising out of the bidder's operations.
b. Workman's Compensation Insurance: As required by the Massachusetts
General Laws, the bidder shall take out and maintain during the life of this
contract, Workman's Compensation Insurance for all his employees
employed in the course of performing services under this contract awarded
pursuant to these specifications; and in case any work is sublet, the bidder
shall require the Sub-Contractor similarly to provide Workmen's
Compensation Insurance for all the latter's employees unless such
employees are covered by the protection afforded by the bidder. Copies of
all insurance certificates required under this section shall be provided by
the bidder to the Town prior to the commencement of work on such a
contract awarded pursuant to these specifications.
c. Miscellaneous Insurance: The bidder shall carry and maintain, until final
written acceptance of the work by the Town Manager, insurance as
specified below and in such form as shall protect his performing work
covered by this contract, or the Town of Ipswich and its employees, agents
and officials, from all claims and liability for damages for bodily injury,
including accidental death, and for property damage, which may arise from
operations under this contract. The bidder covenants and agrees to hold the
Town and its employees, agents and officials harmless from loss or damage
due to claims for personal injury and/or property damage arising from, or in
connection with, operations under this contract. Except as otherwise stated,
the amounts of insurance shall be for each policy not less than:
(1) For liability for bodily injury, including accidental death,
$1,000,000 for any one person and $1,000,000 on account of one
(1) occurrence and
$1,000,000 Aggregate Limit.
(2) For liability for property damage $1,000,000 on account of any
one (1) occurrence and $1,000,000 Aggregate Limit.
(3) Bodily Injury Premise-Operations, Contractor's Protective and
Completed Operations Public Liability Insurance, in the amounts

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required in (1) above.
(4) Property Damage Premise-Operations, Contractors Protective and
Completed Operations Public Liability Insurance, in the amounts
required in (2) above.
(5) Bodily Injury Liability Insurance covering the Operation of all
Motor Vehicles owned by the contractor and vehicles not owned by
the contractor, while such vehicles are being operated in connection
with the prosecution of the work under this contract, in the amount
of $500,000 per person; $1,000,000 per occurrence.
(6) Property Damage Liability Insurance covering the operation of all
motor vehicles owned by the contractor and vehicles not owned by
contractor, while such vehicles are being operated in connection with
the prosecution of the work under this contract, in the amount of
$1,000,000 per occurrence; $1,000,000 aggregate.
(7) Contractual Liability Insurance covering the liability assumed
by the contractor in the amounts required under (1) and (2)
above.
d. All policies shall be so written that the Town Purchasing Office, will be
notified of cancellation or restrictive amendment at least thirty (30) days
prior to the effective date of such cancellation or amendment. A certificate
from the bidder's insurance carrier showing at least the coverage and limits
of liability specified above and expiration date shall be filed with the Town
Manager in the Purchasing Office before operations are begun. Such
certificate shall not merely name the types of policy provided, but shall
specifically refer to these specifications and shall state that such insurance
is as required by these specifications.
CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE
PURCHASING OFFICE BEFORE A CONTRACT IS SIGNED. THE
CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE MUST INCLUDE ALL COVERAGE AS
STATED ABOVE.
5. The Town Manager and his agents will keep close watch over the progress of the work.
They shall have access to the work and be allowed to inspect it.
6. The Contractor shall be responsible for protecting all nearby abutting properties or Town
property from damage resulting from his performance of the service contract. He shall pay
particular attention to trees shrubs, lawns, steps, walks, structures or buildings etc.,
abutting the work and shall save them from damage and harm. If, through negligence or
carelessness, the contractor damages such trees, shrubs, structures etc., an amount equal to
the damage done shall be deducted from his payment. Such reduction shall be determined
by the Town Manager or his project manager designee and shall be final and binding.
7. The Contractor shall obtain all required permits, licenses, certificates and inspections, both
permanent and temporary, and shall make all necessary arrangements with Utility
Companies to properly prosecute the work, and shall send all notices to Utilities as
required by the General Laws.
8. The Town, without invalidating the contract, may order extra work or make changes by

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altering, adding to, or deducting from the work; and the contract sum shall be adjusted
accordingly. All such work shall be executed under conditions of the original contract
except that any claim for extension of time caused thereby shall be adjusted at the time of
ordering such change.
9. In giving instructions, the Town Manager or his project director shall have authority to
make minor changes in the work not involving extra cost and consistent with the purposes
of the work; but otherwise no extra work or change shall be made unless in pursuance of
written order signed by the Town Manager and no claim for an addition to the contract sum
shall be valid unless so ordered.
10. Neither the final certificate, nor payments, nor any provision in the contract shall relieve
the Contractor of responsibility for faulty materials or workman- ship, any defects,
omission or mistake of the Contractor or his employees, and he shall remedy any defects
due thereto, and pay for any damage to any work resulting there from which shall appear
within a period of one (1) year from the date of successful completion.
11. If the Contractor shall be adjudged a bankrupt, or if he should make a general assignment
for the benefit of his creditors, or if a receiver should be appointed on account of his
insolvency, or if he should persistently or repeatedly refuse, or should fail, except in cases for
which extension of time is provided, to supply enough properly skilled workmen or proper
materials or equipment, or if he should fail to make prompt payments to sub-contractors, or for
material or labor or persistently disregard laws, ordinances or the instructions of the Town Man-
ager or otherwise be guilty of a substantial violation of any provision of the contract, then the Town
without prejudice to any other right or remedy and after giving the contractor seven (7) days' notice
may terminate the employment of the Contractor, or may terminate the authority of the Contractor
to continue work and may take possession of the premises, and all of the materials, tools,
equipment and appliances thereon, and finish the work by whatever method the Town deems
expedient, and shall not deprive the Town of any other remedy at law or inequity.
12. The Contractor shall at all times keep the adjacent properties free from an accumulation of
waste material or rubbish caused by his employees or work. At the completion of the work
the contractor shall remove all rubbish, tools, equipment and materials from the adjacent
properties and highways and shall leave all work broom clean.
13. The Contractor shall designate an employee to act as Resident Engineer at the site of the
work. The Resident Engineer shall have charge of the work in behalf of the Contractor and
shall be authorized to act for the Contractor in all respects.
14. The Contractor shall not assign the contract or any part thereof or sublet it, or any part
thereof or assign any moneys due or to become due to him there under without previous
written consent of the Town.
15. The contract will be awarded only to a responsible bidder who is capable of performing
and experienced at the type of work entailed. Only reputable established companies will be
accepted as responsible bidders. The low bidder will be required to show proof that he has
sufficient equipment, equipment operators and a sufficient number of qualified and
experienced employees to properly and efficiently accomplish the proposed work. He shall
also furnish proof of his financial ability to start, operate and complete the work.
16. In all cases, figured dimensions shall take preference over scaled dimensions.

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17. The Town Manager or his agent will furnish basic information pertaining to layouts, bench
marks, etc., sufficient for controlling the location and grades of the work. The Contractor
shall, at his own expense, furnish all necessary equipment, personnel, stakes, etc., and shall
lay out the work in detail, as required, including lines and grades as necessary in each
instance. All reference marks shall be verified by an instrument at frequent intervals, and
the Contractor shall be responsible for the accuracy of all lines and grades relative to the
project.
18. The Contractor shall pay to the Town for each and every calendar day that he shall be in
default in completing the work as herein provided, the sum of One Thousand Dollars
($1000.00) per day which sum is hereby agreed upon, not as a penalty but as damages
which the Town will suffer daily by reason of such default.
19. The Contractor shall at all times and at his own expense provide, place and erect all
necessary barricades and warning signs and furnish and keep lighted all lights necessary to
protect the work from traffic, pedestrians and animals. He shall also furnish at his own
expense a sufficient number of watchmen at all times to protect the work. The Contractor
shall be held responsible for all dam- age to the work due to any failure of signs.
20. The Contractor shall indemnify and save harmless the Town of Ipswich and all of its
officers, agents and employees against all suites, claims or liability of every name and
nature, for or on account of any injuries to persons or damage to property arising out of or
in consequence of the acts of the Contractor in the performance of the work covered by the
contract and for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of said contract, whether
by himself or his employees or subcontractors, but only in respect of such injuries or
damages sustained during the performance and prior to the completion and acceptance of
the work covered by the contract.
21. The Contractor agrees to hold the Surety and the Town harmless from all and any claims,
liens, demands or bills for labor and/or materials furnished or delivered in the performance
of this contract, and agrees to indemnify the Surety and the Town against all loss, damage
or costs, legal or otherwise, ensuing from the same.
22. No official of the Town of Ipswich or its agents or employees shall be held personally
responsible for any liability arising under the contract.
23. The Town Manager may appoint such assistants and representatives as he deems
necessary; and they shall be authorized to inspect work and materials, to give directions
pertaining to the work or to the safety and convenience of the public, to approve or reject
materials, services and workmanship, to make measurements of quantities and to perform
such other duties as may be designated by the Town Manager.
24. In case of any dispute arising between the Contractor and the Town Manager's assistants as
to materials or services furnished or the manner of performing the work, the said
Manager's assistants shall have the authority to reject the materials or services or suspend
the work until the question at issue can be referred to and decided by the Town Manager.
Assistants and agents of the Town Manager are not authorized to revoke, alter, enlarge,
relax or release any requirements of the contract and specifications, or to issue any
instructions contrary to the plans and specifications. They shall, in no case, act as foreman
for or perform other duties for the Contractor.
25. The Contractor shall give his personal attention constantly to the faithful prosecution of the

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work, shall keep the same under his personal control, and shall not assign by power of
attorney or otherwise, or sublet the work or any part thereof, without the previous written
consent of the Town Manager and shall not, either legally or equitably, assign any of the
monies payable under this agreement, or his claim thereto, unless by and with the written
consent of the Town Manager. He shall be responsible for the acts and omissions of his
subcontractors, if any, and all persons directly or indirectly employed by him or them in
connection with the work.
26. The Contractor shall notify the Town Manager as soon as practicable after the execution of
the contract, the name and address of each subcontractor he intends to employ, the portion
of the work which the subcontractor is to do, and such other information the Town
Manager may require in order to ascertain whether the subcontractor is reliable and able to
perform the work. The Town Manager or his agent(s) will make a periodic pay estimate for
the Contractor only regardless of the fact that the Contractor employs one or more
subcontractors. It shall be the Contractor's responsibility to determine the amount of work
that is payable to his subcontractors and the Town frees itself of all such responsibility.
The Contractor shall direct the attention of his subcontractors to the requirements regarding
insurances.
27. The Town Manager or his/her assistant(s) shall have the authority to suspend the work
wholly or any part thereof, for such period as he may deem necessary, because of
unsuitable weather conditions, or for such other causes as are considered unfavorable for
the satisfactory completion of the work, or for such time as he may deem necessary due to
the failure of the Contractor to carry out orders given or to perform any provision of the
contracts. The work shall be resumed when conditions so warrant or deficiencies have been
corrected and the conditions of the contract satisfied as ordered or approved by the Town
Manager.
28. The quantities of the various items of work performed shall be determined by the Town
Manager or his assistant(s). Upon the completion of the work and before final payment is
made, the Town Manager or his assistant(s) will make a final measurement to determine
the quantities of the various items of work performed, as the basis of final settlement. All
measurements shall be made according to the United States Standard Units of
Measurements.
29. The Contractor shall work the regular eight (8) hour day, five (5) day work week,
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays excluded. If the Contractor wishes to work more than an
eight (8) hour day, five (5) day work week and/or on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, he
shall first receive permission in writing from the Town Manager or his/her designee.
30. In accordance with Massachusetts General Law C149, 27B, a true and accurate record
must be kept of all persons employed on the public works construction project for which
the rates have been provided. A Payroll Form is provided and includes all information
required to be kept by law. Every contractor or subcontractor is required to keep these
records and preserve them for a period of three years from the date of completion of the
contract.
31. Every contractor and subcontractor is required to submit a copy of their weekly payroll
records to the awarding authority for construction projects. This is required to be done on a
weekly basis. Once collected, the awarding authority is required to preserve those records
for three years.

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32. In the event of any discrepancy or error on the bid form, written words shall take
precedence over any written numbers.
Rule for award
1. Refer to Section IX. Pricing Structure and Rule for Award in the Site-Specific Information for
Ipswich WTP.