ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
BIDS: November 24, 2026
PROJECT: FORREST CITY WATER UTILITY ON-CALL TWO-INCH WATERLINE REPLACEMENT – 24-5843
OWNER: Forrest City Water Utility
225 N. Washington Street
Forrest City, AR 72335
870-633-1315
The intent of this project is to provide the Owner, Forrest City Water Utility, with an On-Call Contractor for the replacement of 2-inch water mains and associated water utility services at locations designated by the Owner. The Work performed under this Contract shall be part of the Owner’s overall 2-inch water main and water utility service replacement and maintenance program.
The Owner anticipates that additional portions of the water distribution system may require replacement during the term of the Contract. Such Work may include water mains, associated appurtenances, water utility services, restoration, and other related Work as directed by the Owner.
Water line replacement Work consisting of one thousand (1,000) linear feet or more shall be performed and paid for based upon the applicable Contract unit prices established through the bidding process.
Water line replacement Work consisting of less than one thousand (1,000) linear feet shall be performed on a Time and Materials basis. The Contractor shall provide an hourly rate schedule for all anticipated labor classifications, equipment, and other applicable personnel or resources that may be required to perform such Work. The hourly rate schedule shall be submitted with the Bid and shall remain in effect for the duration of the Contract unless otherwise adjusted in accordance with the Contract Documents.
The initial term of the Contract shall be for three (3) years from the date of the fully executed contract. The Contract may be extended for additional one-year terms upon mutual agreement of the Owner and Contractor, subject to the terms and conditions of the Contract Documents. The Owner reserves the right to terminate the Contract in accordance with the Contract Documents.
The Owner reserves the right to award this Contract to multiple Bidders
The Owner may issue Work Orders to the Contractor on an as-needed basis for the replacement of individual water main segments, associated appurtenances, water utility services, or other Work included within the scope of this Contract. Work Orders may include one or more locations and may identify the order or priority in which the Work is to be performed.
Beginning one (1) year from the date of the fully executed Contract, and annually thereafter for the duration of the Contract, the Owner and Contractor may mutually agree to renegotiate the Contract unit prices. Any adjustment to the Contract unit prices shall be subject to review and approval by the Owner. The Contractor shall provide supporting documentation, including paid invoices for materials when requested by the Owner. Any adjustment to Unit Prices shall be subject to review and acceptance by the Owner
Unit prices for each Bid Item shall be based upon the requirements of the Measurement and Payment provisions of the Contract Documents and the Project Manual. The Contractor shall submit unit prices for the Bid Items included in the Bid Form. The unit prices established through the bidding process shall be used as the basis for payment for Work performed under this Contract. Payment to the Contractor shall be based upon the actual quantities of Work completed and accepted by the Owner and measured in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Contract Documents.
The bid form attached is representative of sample quantities and will be used for the purposes of competitive bidding. The unit prices in the bid form will be the prices used for subsequent work orders. The quantities in the bid form do not represent a contract amount to be awarded. All work to be performed and paid for will be established by subsequent work orders, which will be performed under the conditions of this contract.
The Owner does not guarantee a minimum amount of Work during the initial term of the Contract or during any subsequent extension of the Contract.
The Contractor shall begin Work within ten (10) days of an Owner-issued Work Order.
The Bidder’s attention is directed to the fact that portions of the Project may be located within residential areas and areas containing extensive vegetation. The Contractor shall be responsible for the replacement or restoration of all vegetation damaged as a result of the Contractor’s operations, including, but not limited to, sod, flowers, shrubs, bushes, and trees.
The Contractor shall also be responsible for the replacement or restoration of any fences, walls, drainage structures, or other improvements removed or damaged as a result of the Contractor’s operations. All such items shall be restored to their original condition or better. If the scope of work involves such restoration outside of items listed in the Bid Form, the Contractor must identify and make aware the Owner prior to commencing work, the additions of these pay items shall be work incorporated into the project via change order and the Contractor is to provide supporting documentation.
The Contractor shall be responsible for restoration of all paved surfaces disturbed by construction activities to their original condition or better.
Access easements required to move machinery and personnel to the existing water mains for prosecution of the Work shall be obtained by the Owner.
For Work performed on a Time and Materials basis, the Contractor shall maintain and submit detailed records of labor, equipment, materials, and other costs associated with the Work. Payment shall be based upon the approved hourly rates, actual material costs, equipment costs, and any other costs authorized by the Owner in accordance with the Contract Documents.
Standard working hours for Work performed under this Contract shall be between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, unless otherwise approved or directed by the Owner.
If the Contractor is requested or directed by the Owner to perform Work outside of the standard working hours, such Work shall be performed and paid for on a Time and Materials basis. Labor performed outside of the standard working hours shall be billed at the Contractor’s applicable overtime rates as submitted with the Contractor’s hourly rate schedule at the time of Bid.
Any Work performed outside of the standard working hours at the Contractor’s discretion shall require prior approval by the Owner. Such Work shall be performed on the applicable Contract unit price basis, with no additional compensation for overtime, premium time, or other additional costs resulting from the Contractor’s decision to perform the Work outside of the standard working hours.
All Work performed shall conform to the latest edition of the Owner’s Standard Specifications for Design and Construction of Water Lines, as applicable, and the requirements of the Contract Documents.
Bids shall be on a unit price basis.
Forrest City Water Utility will receive Bids until 2:00 p.m. local time on November 24, 2026, at City Hall, 225 N Washington Street, Forrest City, Arkansas 72335, addressed to Edward Gregory, Utility Director. Bids received after this time will not be accepted. Bids will be opened and publicly read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend.
Digital copies of the bid documents are available at http://www.mce.us.com for a fee of $22. These documents may be downloaded by selecting this project from the “Current Bids” link, and by entering Quest Project Number 10434915 on the “Browse Projects” page. For assistance and free membership registration, contact QuestCDN at (952) 233-1632 or info@questcdn.com. Addendums to the bid package will be issued through the online MCE Plan Holders List; therefore, all prime bidders shall be responsible for downloading the bid documents from the MCE online plan room in order to be included in the Plan Holders List and submit a bid. Bidders must enter the addenda numbers in the Proposal to verify receipt.
Bidders must be licensed Contractors qualified for doing business in the State of Arkansas.
Bidders must have their home office, crews and equipment located within 50 miles or the capability to be onsite within 1 hour of Forrest City, Arkansas to help ensure timeliness in the event of an emergency.
For information concerning the proposed work, contact Max Hicks P.E, at the Engineer’s office.
The Owner reserves the right to waive irregularities and to reject bids and to postpone the award of the Contract for a period of time which shall not exceed beyond 90 days from the bid opening date.
The publication was paid for by Forrest City Water Utility in the amount of $1,174.36, per Arkansas Code 14-55-208 and related statutes.
FORREST CITY WATER UTILITY
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