The City of Lowell is seeking a qualified contractor for the Centralville Habitat Restoration Project, which involves constructing a two-part mini forest and pollinator meadow. The scope includes material and plant purchase, site preparation, construction, cleanup, and meetings. Sealed bids are due on May 6, 2026, and will be opened at City Hall. The project is expected to start no later than May 11, 2026, and end by June 30, 2026. Requests for clarification must be submitted in writing at least five business days before the due date. Bidders must acknowledge all addenda. A certified check of $5 is required with the bid, and a performance bond of 100% and a payment bond of 50% of the total award are required before contract execution. Bids must be submitted in sealed envelopes clearly marked. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder. The contractor guarantees all equipment, materials, and workmanship for one year after final acceptance. The city reserves the right to reject any or all bids. The contractor is responsible for unloading, assembling, installing, and cleaning up the site. Liability insurance, including workers' compensation and public liability, is required. The contractor must comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Samples may be required before or after award. The city is exempt from federal excise taxes and Massachusetts sales tax. Payment terms are generally on the twentieth of the month, with discounts to be taken advantage of. The contract can be modified only by written agreement. Change orders may be issued by the city, not exceeding 25% of the total price. Force majeure events may extend the schedule. The contractor must certify compliance with conflict of interest laws and non-collusion. Environmentally preferable products are encouraged.
The project is expected to end by June 30, 2026.
The bid notice states that bills should be submitted before the first day of the month in which payment is to be made to ensure payment on the twentieth day of the month, with provisions for discounts.
The bidder to whom a contract is awarded guarantees to the city of Lowell all equipment, materials and/or workmanship for a period of one (1) year after final inspection and acceptance and shall replace promptly any defective equipment, materials and/or workmanship required without additional cost to the city.
The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder complying with the provision of the invitation provided the bid price is reasonable and it is to the interest of the city to accept it.
In determining responsibility, the purchasing agent will consider the ability, capacity, and skill of the bidder to perform the service required within the specified time, the character, integrity, reputation, judgment, experience, and efficiency of the bidder, the quality of performance of previous contracts or services, previous and existing compliance by the bidder with laws and ordinances, the sufficiency of the financial resources and ability of the bidder to perform the contract, the quality, availability, and adaptability of the supplies, or contractual services to the particular use required, the ability of the bidder to provide future maintenance and service, whether the bidder is in arrears to the city, and such other information as may be secured by the purchasing agent.
If at any time the contractor is unable to furnish material or services as ordered by the city, the city may order such material or services from such places as are available, and the contractor shall pay to the city all expense incurred above the contract price.
The purchasing agent may require the submission of samples either before or after the award of a contract, at no charge to the city. If it is specifically stated elsewhere in the bid documents that samples are required, full size samples must be submitted not later than the official bid opening. Failure to submit said samples may be regarded as a basis for rejecting a bid.
Any request for clarification to, or relief from, the specifications, must be submitted in writing to the attention of the assigned buyer at the purchasing departments office no later than five (5) business days prior to the due date.
