With an email around 10:20am this morning, Mike Smeltzer broke the news to the electronic world that the first of three "Advertisements for bids" for UC2B backbone construction has been released. The Advertisement, signed by Urbana Public Works director Bill Gray, indicates that bids are due on June 21st, by 2pm, at the UIUC Facilities and Services building, 1501 S Oak St, Champaign, IL.

The announcement also appeared in Monday's News-Gazette Classifieds (section 599), but has not yet appeared on the Urbana website urbanaillinois.us.

One thing this announcement makes clear is that, UIUC Prequalification procedures will apply.  This differs from information that has been on the UC2B.net site for months, which states under Vendors: "Bidders on University construction projects are required to prequalify with the Illinois Capital Construction Board."  Another source of confusion is that the bid documents, which should be available for viewing at 706 S Glover Ave in Urbana, will apparently only be received at that location some time Wednesday.

Official announcement below.  Stay tuned for more UC2B news!

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

City of Urbana
Department of Public Works
706 South Glover Avenue
Urbana, Illinois 61802

Sealed BIDS will be received until 2:00 P.M. prevailing time on JUNE 21, 2011 and opened and read aloud publicly at 2:00 P.M. prevailing time on JUNE 21, 2011 at the office of the UIUC Facilities and Services 1501 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820 for the furnishing of all materials, equipment and labor necessary for the URBANA SECTION - UC2B INFRASTRUCTURE INSTALLATION.  The project includes construction of a new fiber optic backbone network and Fiber-To-The-Premise (FTTP) distribution network in various parts of the City of Urbana, Somer Township and Urbana Township.  The conduit for the fiber optic cable shall be installed by horizontal directional drilling methods with limited open cut allowed for handholes, splices, and limited plowing in cultivated areas.

Each BID must be accompanied by a BID BOND payable to the City of Urbana in the amount of five percent of the total amount of the BID.  The BID BOND of the three lowest bidders for the CONTRACT will be held until receipt of a signed CONTRACT and CONTRACT BOND.  All other BID BONDS will be returned after comparison of the BIDS.
A CONTRACT BOND in the total amount of the contract price with a corporate surety approved by the City will be required for the faithful performance of the CONTRACT.

The BID forms and plans may be examined at the following locations:

   •    Office of the City Engineer, 706 South Glover Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61802.
   •    Offices of Shive-Hattery Inc
          o 2103 Eastland Drive, Bloomington, IL 61704
          o 3025 Highland Parkway, Suite 140, Downers Grove, IL 60515

 The Bid forms and plans may be purchased from Shive-Hattery 3025 Highland Parkway, Suite 140, Downers Grove, IL 60515, (888) 849-6872.  There is a $30 nonrefundable charge for digital copies of the plans on DVD, there is a $725.00 nonrefundable charge for printed copies of the documents.

Each bidder is required to be prequalified with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Facilities and Services, 1501 S. Oak Street, Champaign, Illinois 61820 in accordance with the INFORMATION FOR BIDDERS section of the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS for this project.  The award for the CONTRACT will be made to the responsive qualified bidder.

This project has goals for participation by minority and female owned businesses as subcontractors or suppliers in accordance with the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females and Persons with Disabilities Act.  The goals for participation by MBE/FBE firms shall be in accordance with the INFORMATION FOR BIDDERS section of the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS for this project. Only MBE/FBE firms certified with the Illinois Department of Central Management Services are acceptable, and a copy of their IL CMS MBE/FBE certificate or the IL CMS MBE/FBE Recognition Certification Approval Letter is to be submitted with the bid.

PRE-BID CONFERENCE: A MANDATORY pre-bid conference for all parties interested in bidding the project will be held at  1:00-3:00 P.M. prevailing time on, JUNE 2, 2011  at the office of the UIUC Facilities and Services 1501 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Representatives of the City of Urbana and the Professional Services Consultant will be present to answer questions regarding the project and bidding procedures.  All prospective bidders are REQUIRED to attend.

                                                    DATED this 20th day of May 2011

William R. Gray, P.E.
Public Works Director

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

City of Urbana 
Department of Public Works
706 South Glover Avenue
Urbana, Illinois 61802

Sealed BIDS will be received until 2:00 P.M. prevailing time on JUNE 21, 2011 and opened and read aloud publicly at 2:00 P.M. prevailing time on JUNE 21, 2011 at the office of the UIUC Facilities and Services 1501 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820 for the furnishing of all materials, equipment and labor necessary for the URBANA SECTION - UC2B INFRASTRUCTURE INSTALLATION.  The project includes construction of a new fiber optic backbone network and Fiber-To-The-Premise (FTTP) distribution network in various parts of the City of Urbana, Somer Township and Urbana Township.  The conduit for the fiber optic cable shall be installed by horizontal directional drilling methods with limited open cut allowed for handholes, splices, and limited plowing in cultivated areas.  

Each BID must be accompanied by a BID BOND payable to the City of Urbana in the amount of five percent of the total amount of the BID.  The BID BOND of the three lowest bidders for the CONTRACT will be held until receipt of a signed CONTRACT and CONTRACT BOND.  All other BID BONDS will be returned after comparison of the BIDS.
A CONTRACT BOND in the total amount of the contract price with a corporate surety approved by the City will be required for the faithful performance of the CONTRACT.
The BID forms and plans may be examined at the following locations:
•	Office of the City Engineer, 706 South Glover Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61802.
•	Offices of Shive-Hattery Inc
o	2103 Eastland Drive, Bloomington, IL 61704 
o	3025 Highland Parkway, Suite 140, Downers Grove, IL 60515
The Bid forms and plans may be purchased from Shive-Hattery 3025 Highland Parkway, Suite 140, Downers Grove, IL 60515, (888) 849-6872.  There is a $30 nonrefundable charge for digital copies of the plans on DVD, there is a $725.00 nonrefundable charge for printed copies of the documents.

Each bidder is required to be prequalified with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Facilities and Services, 1501 S. Oak Street, Champaign, Illinois 61820 in accordance with the INFORMATION FOR BIDDERS section of the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS for this project.  The award for the CONTRACT will be made to the responsive qualified bidder.

This project has goals for participation by minority and female owned businesses as subcontractors or suppliers in accordance with the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females and Persons with Disabilities Act.  The goals for participation by MBE/FBE firms shall be in accordance with the INFORMATION FOR BIDDERS section of the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS for this project. Only MBE/FBE firms certified with the Illinois Department of Central Management Services are acceptable, and a copy of their IL CMS MBE/FBE certificate or the IL CMS MBE/FBE Recognition Certification Approval Letter is to be submitted with the bid.

PRE-BID CONFERENCE: A MANDATORY pre-bid conference for all parties interested in bidding the project will be held at  1:00-3:00 P.M. prevailing time on, JUNE 2, 2011  at the office of the UIUC Facilities and Services 1501 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Representatives of the City of Urbana and the Professional Services Consultant will be present to answer questions regarding the project and bidding procedures.  All prospective bidders are REQUIRED to attend.  

                                                    DATED this 20th day of May 2011


William R. Gray, P.E.
Public Works Director