NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received by the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North for the project more fully described herein and in the Bidding Documents.  The estimate of probable construction cost exceeds the contract limit as set forth in La R.S. 38:2212, therefore this is an “advertised-for bid “project and those provisions contained herein, and as may be set forth elsewhere in the Bidding Documents, as required by La R.S. 38:2212 apply.  As such, Bidding Documents may be obtained at the office of the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North or may be obtained electronically from www.centralbidding.com.  Further, sealed bids will be received electronically at www.centralbidding.com or in the office of the Lafayette Parish waterworks District North, 307 Rue Scholastique, Lafayette, Louisiana 70507 until _ten o’clock a.m._(10:00 am.) on the 31st day of January 2024, for the following:
 
 
LAFAYETTE PARISH WATERWORKS DISTRICT NORTH
LANDRY ROAD WATERLINE EXTENSION PROJECT
FACILE ROAD TO TABB ROAD
 
and will, shortly thereafter, be opened and read aloud at a location to be designated by the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North. Bids received after the above-specified time for opening shall not be considered and shall be returned unopened to the sender.
 
The work shall consist of, furnishing and installation of water lines, fittings, valves, etc. as more fully described in the Bidding documents.       
 
Hard copies of bidding documents (consisting of Notice to Bidders, Information for Bidders, General Conditions, Special Conditions, Technical Specifications, bond requirements, other required bidding documents and forms and Construction Plans and any addenda) are available at the office of the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North, 307 Rue Scholastique, Lafayette, LA  70507 (337) 896-8683 upon payment of __thirty dollars & 00/100 ($ 30.00) per set.  NOTE: NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED.  ONLY CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS MADE PAYABLE TO THE LAFAYETTE PARISH WATERWORKS DISTRICT NORTH.  All payments are nonrefundable.  Bidding Documents shall be available during normal business hours until twenty-four hours before the bid opening date and time.    If this project has been advertised for bids, in accordance with RS 38:2212(E) vendors may submit their bid electronically at www.centralbidding.com.  Bidding documents are available by electronic means.  Prior to submitting an electronic bid with the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North, the vendor must register online with Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North through www.centralbidding.com.  Note that the website indicated above is available twenty-four (24) hours per day seven (7) days per week.  Vendors submitting bids electronically are required to provide the same documents as vendors submitting through the mail or by hand delivery.  These items include, but are not limited to, the Bid form and Bid Security.  Regardless of the bid results, the Bidder will have forty-eight (48) hours from opening of the bids to provide the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North the original documents.  If a certified check or cashier’s check is submitted as the bid security, electronic copies of both the front and back of the check shall be included with the electronic bid.  If a Bidder fails to provide the original hard copies of these documents within forty-eight (48) hour of the bid opening, their bid shall be considered nonresponsive.
 
There will be a mandatory pre-bid meeting for this project at the office of the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North, 307 Rue Scholastique, Lafayette, Louisiana  70507, on Thursday, the 18th of January, 2024 at ten o’clock a.m. (10:00 a.m.).  Contractors intending to bid on this project shall have a representative or representatives present at the mandatory pre-bid meeting.  Any bid received from a potential contractor that did not have a representative or representatives present at the mandatory pre-bid meeting shall not be opened.
 
Except as may be provided for in the Special Conditions, each bid shall be accompanied by a certified check, cashier's check, or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North, the amount of which shall be five percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive alternates. If a bid bond is used, it shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies which is published annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled insurance company with at least an A- Rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best's Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent of policyholders' surplus as shown in the A.M. Best's Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance company in good standing licensed to write bid bonds which is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana residents.  The bid bond shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana and countersigned by a person who is under contract with the surety company or bond issuer as a licensed agent in this state and residing in this state.  The certified check, cashier's check or bid bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall execute the contract, should it be awarded to him, in conformity with the bidding documents. All bid bonds are subject to the approval of the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North.
 
In addition, the Bidder selected for this project, shall be required to obtain, maintain during the life of the project and provide to the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North copies of the following bonds and policies, subject to the same requirements as stated above for Bid Bonds and subject to the approval of the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North:
 
PERFORMANCE BOND:  Except as may be provided for in the Special Conditions, a performance bond of not less than 100% of the contract price shall be executed to assure the Contractor’s faithful performance of the contract. 
PAYMENT BOND: A payment bond of not less than 100% of the contract price shall be executed to assure payment as required by law of all persons supplying labor and/or material in the performance of the work provided by the Contractor.Refer to the Bidding documents for additional information concerning Bid, Performance, and Payment Bonds.   
 
Except as provided in Article 14 of the Information for Bidders and Article 4A of the General Conditions, no bidder may withdraw his bid for at least FORTY-FIVE (45) days after the date and time scheduled for the opening of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided with the specifications.
 
Bids will be evaluated by the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North based on the lowest responsible bid submitted that is also in compliance with all aspects of the Bidding documents. The Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North reserves the right to reject any and all bids or any portions thereof, to waive informalities and to select the material which best suits its needs.
 
Only the bids of contractors licensed under Louisiana’s Contractor’s Licensing Law R.S. 37:2150-2163 will be considered for bids exceeding $50,000.00. Should the bids exceed $50,000.00, contractors desiring to bid shall submit evidence that they hold a valid license of proper classification (Municipal and Public Works Construction required) in full force and effect at the time drawings, specifications, or other bidding documents are requested from the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North and shall show their license number on the front of the sealed envelope in which their bid is enclosed.  Bids in the amount of $50,000 or more, not submitted in accordance with this requirement, shall be rejected and shall not be read. Additional information relative to licensing may be obtained from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
 
The Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North strongly encourages the participation of minority business enterprises in all contracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North for goods and services.  To that end, all contractors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize minority business enterprises in the purchase or sub-contracting of materials, supplies, and services in which minority-owned businesses are available.
Equal Opportunity in Employment.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard for race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the President’s Executive Order No. 11246, as amended.  The requirements for bidders and contractors under this order are explained in the specifications.
 
Funding for this project is from the American Rescue Plan Act Water Sector Program Implementation and there are certain federal and state requirements of all bidders/potential contractors and subcontractors as described in the contract documents. Bidders/potential contractors and subcontractors shall become familiar with all such requirements and further acknowledge that all such requirements shall be strictly adhered to during the bidding and contract award process and over the course of the project.
 
 
Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North