Notice is hereby given that the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corporation (NOPB) is soliciting bids for Weed and Vegetation Herbicide Application, which consists of the performance of weed and vegetation herbicide application services on approximately three hundred twenty (320) acres of land owned or otherwise operated by the NOPB, which is occupied by main line, other-than-main lines, yard tracks and facilities, and signal and sidings as well as fifteen (15) additional acres of land along the Huey P. Long Bridge right of way. Official bid documents are available for download from Central Bidding at www.centralbidding.com and the Sebconnect App.
 
NOPB strongly encourages the acquisition of goods and services from and direct participation of eligible business entities (“EBEs”) as defined in the NOPB’s Small Business Opportunity Program. The Program is a race- and gender-neutral program intended to provide additional contracting and p r o c u r e m e n t opportunities for certified eligible businesses by encouraging contractors who receive state contracts to use good-faith efforts to utilize such certified entities in the performance of
those contracts.
 
NOPB desires to achieve, to the greatest extent possible, commercially meaningful and useful participation by EBEs. By providing equitable opportunities for EBEs, NOPB derives multiple benefits, including contributing to the economic vitality of our communities and ensuring a broader selection of competitively priced goods and services
 
Bidders should present a responsible plan that provides for participation of qualified EBEs. Bidders should clearly state EBE participation goals and their plan for implementation of the same in their bid. Bidders should also include information relative to the participation levels Bidder has managed on other prior projects.
 
Participation shall be counted toward meeting the contract goals only by business entities certified designated in the Program. The direct participation goal can be achieved through direct ownership, joint venture participation, owner/operator agreements, or sublease agreements for operations. Participation shall include work opportunities in planning, development, construction, and operation of the Project.
 
NOPB accepts the following certifications: (1) the SLDBE program run by the City of New Orleans, (2) the state of Louisiana’s Department of Economic Development’s SBE Hudson Initiative program, (3) The Louisiana Unified certification Program, or (4) the Federal Small business Enterprise Program. Bids shall include evidence of a current certification

BID SUBMISSION: NOPB will accept ELECTRONIC BIDS for this Project until 10:00 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 (the “Proposal Submission Deadline”). Any Proposal received after the Proposal Submission Deadline will not be considered.
 
Electronic bids must be submitted for this project at www.centralbidding.com For any questions relating to the electronic bidding process, please call Central Bidding at 225-810-4814. 
For any questions relating to the electronic bidding process, please call Central Bidding at 225-810- 4814. The bidder must attach a completed and signed digital copy of the Bid Form, Proof of Authority and any other documents required in the Bidding Documents. The NOPB shall not be responsible if a bidder cannot complete or submit an electronic bid. Bidders shall be responsible for receiving confirmation that the bid was successfully delivered prior to the Bid Submission Deadline.
 
 
Bid OPENING: Immediately following the Bid Submission Deadline, Bid will be opened at NOPB's office located at 4822 Tchoupitoulas St. NOLA 70115 in accordance with the bid documents.
 
NOPB CONTACT: Questions must be submitted by Respondents in writing to [email protected] by Friday, January 10, 2025 5:00pm CDT. As necessary, addenda to this RFP will be issued to all respondents receiving this RFQ. Questions and answers and all forms required will be posted on www.centrabidding.com and SEBConnect App.