FY 2027 Ditch Re-establishment (DRE) Work Order Contract #1

The City of Houston is soliciting bids for the FY 2027 Ditch Re-establishment (DRE) Work Order Contract #1 (Solicitation CB-2026-0070), a citywide, work-order-based project focused on restoring roadside drainage. The scope of work includes re-establishing and re-grading existing ditches, repairing or replacing culverts and driveways, vegetation management, and the removal of debris to mitigate flooding risks. The contract has an estimated construction budget and maximum value of 10,000,000.00 dollars. The City intends to award the contract based on the overall low net bid from a responsive and responsible bidder who can demonstrate a track record of at least three similar prime contracts. The contract is estimated to begin in February 2027, following a projected Council Agenda date in January 2027. Key requirements include the submission of a security deposit equal to 10 percent of the total bid, as well as performance, payment, and one-year maintenance bonds. Contractors must adhere to strict compliance standards, including the City's W/SBE Program with good faith efforts to award 5 percent to WBEs and 18 percent to SBEs, prevailing wage rates, and ADA and Texas Architectural Barriers Act standards. Legal obligations include a one-year defect correction period and a four-year indemnification period following contract termination. Additionally, the contractor must provide insurance with a two-year extended discovery period for claims-made coverage and comply with a zero-tolerance policy regarding human trafficking.