Hillsborough County opens pre-bid for curb and gutter services; 10% MBE goal, Bonfire submissions required

Hillsborough County Procurement Department held a recorded pre-bid conference for Invitation for Bid (IFB) 25-00236 on curb and gutter miscellaneous services, outlining project scope, minority participation requirements and submission procedures for prospective contractors.

The conference, led by Lisa Demena, chief buyer with the procurement department, emphasized procedural rules: "Only a written addendum may change the bid documents," Demena said, and reminded bidders that "the cone of silence is in effect." She directed all technical questions and bids to the Bonfire portal and gave the scheduled close date for online bids as 2 p.m. Eastern on 07/18/2025.

The county’s economic development office set a 10% DMDWBE participation goal for the solicitation and described the required documentation. "There is a 10% MBE goal set on this project at the time of bid submittal," Diana Walker said. Bidders must submit an MBE-1 form (subcontractor, material and supplier list) with current certifications for listed firms and provide letters of intent or signed agreements for each DMDWBE firm named. Walker said firms certified by other state or local agencies in Florida may be used unless they are on a county list of denied, graduated, or previously reciprocal firms.

William Hand, an engineer with the Engineering and Operations Department, summarized the work and service-area structure. "Hillsborough County Engineering and Operations is seeking competitive bids from qualified contractors for curb, gutter, and concrete construction and repair services," Hand said. He described work that ranges from small-scale replacements (example: 10 linear feet) to larger projects using standard unit pricing, and said the county will typically batch small repairs geographically to improve efficiency. The county divides work into three service units — East, South and West — and reserves the right to adjust those areas.

Hand said the county may provide vicinity maps, plan sheets or sketches and that contractors must restore affected infrastructure to operable condition. Up to three qualified contractors may be selected for the contract, with preference for at least two awardees. Hand noted contractors may handle simultaneous work orders and may be asked to work outside an awarded region if necessary.

Demena reiterated submission mechanics and deadlines: questions must be submitted in writing through the Bonfire portal (the solicitation refers bidders to section 4.7 for the question deadline), and online bids must be received through Bonfire by 2 p.m. Eastern on 07/18/2025. She also reminded bidders that only written addenda can alter bid documents and posted contact limitations under the cone-of-silence clause.

Less critical details distributed during the conference included that additional minor concrete work (sidewalks, driveways) may be part of some work orders, insurance and professional services firms can be used to meet the DMDWBE goal, and the county may supply external plan sheets at the project manager’s discretion.

Prospective bidders were asked to review the solicitation documents carefully, confirm DMDWBE certification status via the county’s directory or the economic development office, and submit required forms — including the MBE-1 and letters of intent — with their bids to avoid potential rejection.