Extension of Bid Deadline for South Perkasie Covered Bridge Design RFP

Perkasie Borough received numerous questions at the virtual and in-person pre-bid conferences about the foundation (abutments and substructure) design as part of the overall Engineering and Design Consultation Services project for the Rehabilitation of South Perkasie Borough Covered Timber Bridge.

In response to those questions, the RFP submission deadline will be extended until August 20, 2024, to include the substructure design in the RFP.

In the advertised design RFP, the design and construction of the substructure was considered a separate project. However, based on the above input and subsequent research, and consulting the FHA Covered Bridge Manual (2005) and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Covered Bridges (2019), Perkasie Borough will amend the RFP for several reasons:

1. The designs of the superstructure and substructure are connected and integral to the rehabilitation project. “An engineer preparing to rehabilitate a covered bridge …  must evaluate [all] various potential actions.” (FHA Manual, p. 83)
2. The coordination of the timber and foundation/substructure designs are needed to determine the EPA floodplain permitting requirements since the bridge will be elevated and its footprint expanded. 
3. Perkasie Borough will need professional recommendations for the foundation/substructure for any Scope of Work change with PEMA and FEMA. 

Perkasie Borough will issue a separate update in early August with details about the scope of work for the foundation/substructure plan, with a link to an optional virtual conference call.

The revised deadlines are:

1.          Optional Virtual Meeting about Substructure: August 5, 2024, 10 a.m. at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86967263076

2.          Deadline for questions:  August 9, 2024

3.          Proposals Due: August 20, 2024

4.          Contract awarded by Borough Council on September 3, 2024

On behalf of the Borough, we appreciate the valuable feedback from firms interested in this project and invite questions on the PennBID website at https://pennbid.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/143986.