The Town of South Hadley invites sealed Bids for the River to Range Accessible Trail Project: Phase One. The project includes the creation of a handicapped accessible trail loop off Ferry Street. The trail will include at-grade and above-grade sections both comprised of compacted gravel on a geotextile fabric. Creation of a small compacted gravel viewing area with stone boulder edging and benches. Construction of a compensatory storage area. Construction of three trailside viewing areas with a bench. Installation of a trailhead kiosk and interpretive signage. Installation of a split rail wood fence and gate.

This project is being administered by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) and funded by a grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Recreational Trails Program through funding from the Federal Recreational Trails Program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. The estimated construction cost for this project is approximately $80,000.

Contract documents, including plans and specifications will be available electronically beginning October 25, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM through the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), 60 Congress Street, 1^st Floor, Springfield, MA 01104, phone: 413-781-6045. Electronic copies may be obtained by contacting Mary Mazik at mmazik@pvpc.org.

Bids shall be accompanied by a bid deposit in the amount of 5% of the greatest possible bid amount, considering all alternatives and made payable to Town of South Hadley.

All bids for this project are subject to the provisions and minimum wage rates as required by M.G.L. c.30, §39M as amended, and M.G.L. c.149, §§26 to 27H, inclusive. All applicable Federal minimum wage rates and applicable Federal labor standards shall also apply pursuant to the Davis-Bacon Act. When both State and Federal wage rates are applicable, the higher rate must be paid. 

Bids may be changed or withdrawn prior to the bid opening, but not within the sixty (60) days subsequent to the bid opening, by submission of such a change in writing in a sealed envelope, identifying the submitting party and indicating that it contains a correction of the bid for the River to Range Accessible Trail Project: Phase One. 

The lowest qualified responsible bidder shall be awarded the contract subject to availability of funds under the grant program. The Town of South Hadley may cancel this Invitation for Bid (IFB), in whole or in part, at any time that such an act is deemed in its best interest, reserves the right to waive any informality in the bidding or to reject any and all bids in total or in part as may be deemed to serve the best interest of the Town, and will not be responsible for any costs incurred by a bidder in preparing and submitting a bid in response to this IFB.

Questions regarding the bid specifications should be directed to Erica Johnson at the PVPC, 413-781-6045 or ejohnson@pvpc.org. Contract documents may be viewed at the PVPC, 60 Congress Street, 1^st Floor, Springfield, MA 01104 or South Hadley Town Hall, Planning & Conservation Department, 116 Main Street, Room 204, South Hadley, MA 01075.

A mandatory pre-bid meeting will take place on Monday November 6^th at 10:00 AM. In the event of rain, the pre-bid meeting will be moved to Wednesday November 8^th at 10:00 AM. The meeting will be held at the trail head, 240 Ferry Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. The location is near the Mount Holyoke College Boathouse.

Bids must be received at the office of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission no later than 2:00 PM on Friday, November 10, 2017.  Bids will be opened and read at that time.