Stratton Capers 2 Water Line Upgrade - Phase 2

Dorchester County invites qualified firms to submit bids for the Stratton Capers 2 Water Line Upgrade - Phase 2 project (CDBG #4-CI-25-004). This Invitation for Bids (IFB) document provides background and general information for Respondents and should be used in the development of bids.

"EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY"

This project is being funded in whole or in part by the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG).  All federal CDBG requirements will apply to the contract. All contractors are required to be registered in the federal System for Award Management (SAM). Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the President’s Executive Order No. 11246 & Order No. 11375 which prohibits discrimination in employment regarding race, creed, color, sex, or national origin.  Bidders must comply with Title VI if the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Davis-Bacon Act, the Anti-Kickback Act, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, and 40 CFR 33.240, and Build America, Buy America Act (BAP), imposed by the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA), enacted under Division G, Title IX of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, Pub. L. No. 117-58) signed into law on November 15, 2021. The CDBG application, including the cost estimate, is available for review by contacting (Name/Phone # of person to contact).

Bidders must also make positive efforts to use small and minority-owned business and to offer employment, training and contracting opportunities in accordance with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968.  Attention of bidders is particularly called to the requirements as to conditions of employment to be observed and minimum wage rates to be paid under the contract.  

The owner reserves the right to waive any irregularities, or to reject any or all bids. 

No bidder may withdraw his bid within 90 days after the actual date of the opening thereof.

Note for CDBG ineligible expenses and new water/sewer service connections only:  This contract is required to be bid out and billed in separate divisions.  It shall be constructed under one contract.  All federal regulations apply to the entire contract.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-57 (CDBG #4-CI-25-004)
• Department: Water & Sewer
• Department Head: Larry Harper (Director of Water & Sewer)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-06-10T21:00:00.000Z

Evaluation Criteria

• General Liability —
  1. Coverage shall be as broad as: Comprehensive General Liability endorsed to include Broad Form, Commercial General Liability form including Products/Completed Operations.
     Minimum Limits - General Liability:
     $1,000,000 General Aggregate Limit
     $1,000,000 Products & Completed Operations
     $1,000,000 Personal and Advertising Injury
     $1,000,000 Each Occurrence Limit
     $50,000 Fire Damage Limit
     $5,000 Medical Expense Limit
• Bid Security —

  Any bid over $25,000 must be accompanied by a bid bond acceptable to the County. Bid bonds must be issued by a corporate surety registered and authorized to do business in the State of South Carolina. Bid bonds shall be payable to the County, shall be for at least five (5%) percent of the total amount of the bid, and shall serve as a guarantee deposit that the bid will be carried out to the complete satisfaction of the County.

  Bid bond form is included in Section 5.

• Automobile Liability —
  1. Coverage sufficient to cover all vehicles owned, used, or hired by the bidder, his agents, representatives, employees or subcontractors.
     Minimum Limits - Automobile Liability:
     $1,000,000 Combined Single Limit
     $1,000,000 Each Occurrence Limit
     $5,000 Medical Expense Limit
• Forfeiture of Bid Security —

  Nonperformance by the successful Bidder, or its failure to execute the Contract and meet performance and payment bond requirements and insurance requirements within Five (5) Business Days after issuance of Notice of Award, shall result in its bid security being forfeited as liquidated damages, and the Notice of Award and Contract will be rescinded and awarded to another Bidder.  Withdrawal of a bid after the opening date and time but prior to final award after the opening date, may also result in forfeiture of bid security.

• Return of Bid Security —

  Bid security will be returned to all bidders after the successful Bidder has executed the Contract and delivered all required bonds and insurance certificates and endorsements. Bidders will not be entitled to any interest earnings on returned funds, and in the case of bid security by check, such will be returned to bidder.

• Workers' Compensation —
  1. Limits as required by the Workers' Compensation Act of SC. Employers Liability: $1,000,000.
• Payment and Performance Security —

  The successful Bidder shall provide performance and payment bonds, in a form satisfactory to the County, in the following amounts:

  Payment Bond:	100% of the total amount of the Contract.
  Performance Bond:	100% of the total amount of the Contract.

  The aforesaid payment and performance bonds must be issued by a corporate surety company appearing on the U.S. Treasury Department's latest approved list, or Best's Key Rating Guide, which must show a financial strength rating of a least five times the contract price. The surety must be registered and authorized to do business in South Carolina, and must be counter-signed by a licensed, authorized South Carolina agent.

  Attorneys-in-fact who sign bid bonds or performance bonds must file with each bond a certified and effective, dated copy of their power of attorney.

• Owners' & Contractors' Protective Liability —
  1. Policy will be in name of County. Minimum limits required are $1,000,000. Required if work is defined as a construction project where the bid total exceeds $1,000,000.
• Professional Liability —
  1. Minimum limits are $1,000,000 per occurrence.
• Coverage Provisions —
  1. All deductibles or self-insured retention shall appear on the certificate(s).
  2. The County of Dorchester, its' officers/ officials, employees, agents and volunteers shall be added as "additional insured" as their interests may appear. This provision does not apply to Professional Liability or Workers' Compensation/Employers' Liability.
  3. The offeror's insurance shall be primary over any applicable insurance or self-insurance maintained by the County.
  4. Shall provide 30 days written notice to the County before any cancellation, suspension, or void of coverage in whole or part, where such provision is reasonable.
  5. All coverage for subcontractors of the bidder shall be subject to all of the requirements stated herein.
  6. All deductibles or self-insured retention shall appear on the certificate(s) and shall be subject to approval by the County. At the option of the County, either; the insurer shall reduce or eliminate such deductible or self-insured retention; or the bidder shall be required to procure a bond guaranteeing payment of losses and related claims expenses.
  7. Failure to comply with any reporting provisions of the policy(s) shall not affect coverage provided the County, its officers/officials, agents, employees and volunteers.
  8. The insurer shall agree to waive all rights of subrogation against the County, its' officers/officials, agents, employees or volunteers for any act, omission or condition of premises which the parties may be held liable by reason of negligence.
  9. The bidder shall furnish the County certificates of insurance including endorsements affecting coverage. The certificates are to be signed by a person authorized by the insurance company(s) to bind coverage on its' behalf, if executed by a broker, notarized copy of authorization to bind, or certify coverage must be attached.
  10. All insurance shall be placed with insurers maintaining an A.M. Best rating of no less than an A:VII. If A.M. Best rating is less than A:VII, approval must be received from County’s Risk Manager.

Submission Requirements

• Access to Downloadable Forms (required) —

  By clicking below, Offeror acknowledges that downloadable forms must be accessed through this section on the website. They are not accessible from an exported document.

• Statement of Qualifications (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Subcontractor Data Form —

  If applicable, please download the below documents, complete, and upload. If subcontractors will not be used for this solicitation, please skip this question.

• Bidder's Build America, Buy America Act Certification (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Debarment Certification (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act Contractor Certification (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Section 3, Compliance and Provision of Training, Employment and Business Opportunities (required) —

  The work to be performed under this Contract is subject to the
  requirements of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, (12 USC § 1701u). Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Vendor Certifications and Representations (required) —

  By submitting a response to this solicitation, the Offeror certifies, represents, and affirms that:

  1. Non-Collusion

  The Offeror’s response is genuine and not collusive or sham; the Offeror has not colluded, conspired, or agreed with any other vendor, supplier, contractor, or person to fix prices, restrict competition, or otherwise undermine the competitive procurement process. The Offeror has not induced or solicited any other firm to submit a false or non-competitive response.

  2. Independent Pricing

  The prices, terms, and conditions contained in this response have been determined independently and without consultation, communication, or agreement with any other Offeror or competitor for the purpose of restricting competition.

  3. Authority to Bind

  The individual submitting this response certifies that they are authorized to bind the Offeror to the representations, certifications, and contractual obligations contained in this submission.

  4. Compliance with Laws

  The Offeror certifies compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations, including antitrust laws and procurement integrity requirements.

  5. No Conflict of Interest

  The Offeror certifies that no employee, officer, or agent of the County has a financial or other interest in the Offeror’s firm that would constitute a conflict of interest under applicable ethics laws or County policy.

  6. Debarment and Suspension

  The Offeror certifies that it is not debarred, suspended, or otherwise ineligible to participate in public procurement by any federal, state, or local governmental entity.

  7. Truthfulness of Submission

  The Offeror certifies that all information provided in its response is true, accurate, and complete to the best of its knowledge.

• Equal Employment Opportunity Certification (required) —

  Dorchester County requires compliance with State and Federal regulations governing Equal Employment Opportunity, External Equal Opportunities (EO), External On-the-Job Training (OJT), Title VI & VII, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) programs.

  Sub-recipients of federal-aid contracts must include notifications in all solicitations for bids of work or material and agreements subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other nondiscrimination authorities. Sub-recipients, contractors and subcontractors may not discriminate in their employment practices or in the selection and retention of any subcontractor.

  By submitting a response to this solicitation, the Contractor/Vendor hereby certifies its commitment to assure nondiscrimination in its programs and activities to the effect that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or income status be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination or retaliation under any federally or non-federally funded program or activity administered by the sub-recipient and/or its contractors. 

• Bid Bond/Security (required) —

  Please download the bid bond form, complete, and upload.

• Contact Person for Contract Correspondence (required) —

  Please include the following information:

  • Name
  • Mailing Address
  • Phone Number
  • Email Address
• How did you hear about this opportunity to do business with the county?
• Is the solicitation construction-related? (required)
• Project Location - Name (required) —

  Enter the name of the location of the project.

  Example: The Hills

• Project Location - Address (required) —

  Please enter the address of the location for your project.

  Example: 1 Meadowbrook Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

• Importance of Solicitation (required) —

  Insert information regarding the importance or significance of this solicitation to the County.

• Pricing (required) —
  • Choose Option 1 when you have set line items, for example:
    • This is a quote for goods or commodities.
    • This is a public works bid, with a pricing table that can be uploaded into OpenGov Procurement from an Excel spreadsheet.
    • Seeking services for hourly rate schedules.
  • Choose Option 2 when you need vendors to provide you with the line items.
• Is Security required for your project? (required)
• Type of Security Required for Project: (required)
• Types of Required Insurance (required) —

  Select the types of insurance required for your project.

Questions & Answers