On October 6, 2023, a subsequent ITB was issued. The Procurement Department issued bid notices to 32,362 companies through the City's e-procurement system, with 54 prospective bidders accessing the advertised solicitation. A voluntary site visit and pre-bid conference were held to provide information to bidders submitting a response on October 24, 2023. Three (3) addenda were issued. ITB responses were due and received on December 8, 2023. The City received five (5) bids from the following firms:
Amici Engineering Contractors LLC
David Mancini & Sons, Inc.
DBE Management, Inc.
Metro Equipment Service, Inc.
Ric-man International, Inc.
Ric-man International submitted the lowest bid at a cost of $4,717,505.00 (see Attachment A for tabulation of bids received). As in the prior ITB that was rejected because the bids were significantly higher than the budget stated in the ITB, the bid submitted by Ric-Man International for this ITB also exceeds the stated budget. However, while the lowest responsive bid in the prior ITB was for a cost of $5,472,063, the bid submitted by Ric-man International under this ITB is for a cost of $4,717,505.00, which is $754,558 less than the lowest responsive bid in the prior ITB. The budget stated in the most recent ITB was $3,437,996.58. The additional funds necessary for the difference have been identified as part of Capital Project No. 28520 Water and Wastewater Mains and Rehabilitation, as presented in the 2019 Water and Sewer Master Plan and Five-Year Critical Needs Projects.
The ITB stated that the lowest responsive and responsible Bidder meeting all ITB terms, conditions, and specifications would be recommended for award. The Procurement Department and the Public Works Department found that the bid submitted by Ric-man International, Inc. meets the requirements of the ITB, including:
1. Licensing Requirements. The ITB required that bidders be a State of Florida Certified General Contractor, with Florida Certified Underground Utility and Excavation Subcontractor, or Miami Dade County Licensed General Contractor to be considered for the award, with Florida Certified Underground Utility and Excavation Subcontractor, or State of Florida Certified Utility and Excavation Contractor.
Ric-man International, Inc. is State certified as a General Contractor. The state license number is CGC1526106, expiring on August 31, 2024. The firm also holds an Under Utility and Excavation license. The state license number is CUC056824, expiring on August 31, 2024.
2. Previous Experience of Bidder (Firm or principal). The ITB required that the bidder or its principal must have been awarded a minimum of three (3) projects of similar scope and budget within the last five (5) years, two (2) of which must be successfully completed and the third may be ongoing. A project of similar scope shall be defined as construction and repair of Force Main with a construction cost of at least $2.5 million. Projects must illustrate familiarity with all the following aspects: experience in permitting and construction of open cut installation and horizontal directional drill (provide at least one example).
Ric-man International, Inc. provided three (3) project references documenting compliance with the minimum experience requirement.
3. Previous Experience of Bidder (Firm) Project Manager. Bidder's Lead Project Manager must have completed at least two (2) projects with similar scope and budget. A project of similar scope shall be defined as construction with a hard construction cost of at least $2.5 million.
Ric-man International, Inc. submitted proof of the required experience for its personnel.
4. Previous Experience of Bidder (Firm) Superintendent. Bidder's Superintendent must have completed at least two (2) projects with similar scope and budget. A project of similar scope shall be defined as construction with a hard construction cost of at least $2.5 million.
Ric-man International, Inc. submitted proof of the required experience for its personnel.
Accordingly, Ric-man International, Inc. has been deemed the lowest responsive and responsible Bidder, meeting all ITB terms, conditions, and specifications.
Below is a brief bio of the lowest responsive and responsible bidder based on information provided by the firm.
Ric-man International, Inc.
Ric-man International, Inc., has performed engineering design/build, heavy construction, land development, trenchless technologies, emergency repair, hurricane clean up, marine construction, and bridge construction services since 1965. A few areas of specialty include directional drilling, micro tunneling, water and sewer sanitary pump stations, and storm sewer pumps and wells. Previous work includes services for the Florida Department of Transportation, the Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department, the City of West Palm Beach, the City of Cape Coral, the City of Coral Gables, and the City of Miami Beach. Ric-man International Inc. has worked with the City’s CIP Department on central Bayshore right-of-way infrastructure improvement projects and provided design-build services for Sunset Island. Since 2021, the firm has provided routine and emergency repair services for the City’s water and sewer systems. To date, the City is satisfied with the services being provided.