Geological Exploration Drilling

The California Department of Water Resources is soliciting bids for geological exploration and well drilling services to support groundwater resource exploration and vegetation enhancement projects within the Salton Sea watershed in Southern California. This as-needed contract involves performing services at between two and six drilling sites, with work orders ranging from a few days to several months. The scope includes mud-rotary rig mobilization, obtaining well permits, installing conductor casing, and borehole destruction. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, with specific calculation preferences available for certified Small Businesses and Non-Small Businesses that commit to subcontracting at least 25 percent of their bid price to California certified Small Businesses. Qualified contractors must hold a C-57 Water Well Drilling License and provide a crew consisting of one driller with at least five years of experience and two helpers with at least six months of experience. Personnel must also complete mandatory training in defensive driving, first aid/CPR, and sexual harassment prevention. Bidders are required to provide performance and payment bonds equal to 100 percent of the contract amount and must comply with a minimum 3.0 percent Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise participation commitment. Bids must be submitted in both hardcopy and electronic formats on a USB drive by the December 10, 2026, deadline. Payment is processed monthly in arrears, with a 10 percent retainage held until 30 days after the satisfactory completion of work.