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Hardee County awards Center Hill bridge contract and increases FEMA bridge repair scope
Summary
The board awarded the Center Hill bridge construction contract to the lowest qualified bidder (E.O. Cook Construction) at about $1.467 million and approved an increase to a separate FEMA‑related bridge repair contract to include bid alternatives, raising that contract to $550,493.11 with FEMA reimbursement sought for $113,280.28.
At its Aug. 21 meeting, the Hardee County Board of County Commissioners authorized two construction actions related to bridges.
Assistant County Manager Christopher Sempron presented bid results for ITB #2513 (Center Hill Bridge). Five bids were received; E.O. Cook Construction was the lowest qualified and responsive bidder with an estimated contract amount of approximately $1,467,320.80. Sempron recommended awarding the construction agreement to E.O. Cook; Commissioner Wells moved to approve Resolution 2025‑68 to award the contract and authorize the county manager or chair to execute the agreement. The board voted unanimously to award the contract.
Sempron also updated the board on ITB 25‑008 for repairs to eight bridges damaged by Hurricane Ian. After the initial award to Cub Site Development (base bid $437,212.83), engineers determined that certain alternative bid items must be included for constructability. The county proposed adding those alternatives, increasing the construction agreement to $550,493.11. Sempron said the county will seek FEMA reimbursement for the additional $113,280.28 alternative amount under the FEMA public assistance process and is coordinating with FEMA to confirm eligibility. Commissioner Chancey moved to approve Resolution 2025‑70 to increase the construction agreement amount; the motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners asked about start dates and bonding requirements; Sempron said the contractor must submit performance and payment bonds before a notice to proceed and estimated a roughly one‑month period for contract execution and preconstruction steps. Funding for the Center Hill project includes an $1.8 million FDOT Community Infrastructure Grant award, Sempron said.
