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Award of Construction Contract to Wharton-Smith, Inc., for Ridge Manor Water Reclamation Facility Expansion and Emergency Operations Structure Construction Projects for Utilities Department and Associated Budget Resolution (Contract No. 26-C01237/JG; Amount: $91,569,822.50)
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BRIEF OVERVIEW
The Procurement Department issued Invitation to Bid (ITB) No. 26-C01237/JG on December 10, 2025, at the request of the Hernando County Utilities Department, to obtain bids for upgrading the Ridge Manor Water Reclamation Facility's capacity and constructing an Emergency Operations Structure.
The Procurement Department placed the legal advertisement in the Hernando Sun on December 12, 2025, and the OpenGov website on December 10, 2025. The bid was sent to three thousand nine hundred thirty-one (3,931) matching vendor/contractors from the eProcurement portal. The bid document was downloaded by one hundred sixty-three (163) vendor/contractors, and three (3) submissions were received.
BIDs RECEIVED: Main Bid Tab With Additive Bid Alternate
Wharton-Smith, Inc. $85,826,822.50 $91,569,822.50
Poole & Kent Co., of Florida $89,487,000.00 $98,244,000.00
Archer Western Construction, LLC $100,267,000.00 $110,034,000.00
Bids were reviewed and evaluated by the Procurement Department to determine if bids were responsive and responsible. The bids were then reviewed and evaluated by the Hernando County Utilities Department staff for award recommendation based on price, conformance with specifications and the Bidder's ability to perform the contract in accordance with the terms, conditions and specifications required.
A Notice of Intent to Award the contract to Wharton-Smith, Inc., dated February 16, 2026, was posted to the OpenGov website. No challenges to the Notice of Intent to Award were received.
The Additive Bid Alternate requested vendor pricing to increase the treatment plant's capacity from two (2) million gallons per day to three (3) million gallons per day of ...
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