Road Reconstruction On Zerker Road Bridge Abutment

The project involves the reconstruction of the Zerker Road Bridge Abutment in Bakersfield, California, with work encompassing roadway and riverbed excavation, slurry cement backfill, placement of Class 2 aggregate base and hot mix asphalt Type A for repaving the bridge transition, and installation of rock slope protection with RSP fabric. Additional scope includes developing a water supply, implementing temporary traffic control, preparing a water pollution control program, relocating and reconstructing fences, installing a Midwest Guardrail System, painting traffic stripes, and protecting existing utility lines. Mobilization is required, and all work must comply with ASTM standards for materials such as rails, bolts, washers, and nuts, as well as the 2025 Caltrans Standard Specifications, particularly Section 90 for concrete in bollard foundations. The contractor must submit a plan for quality control and inspection, with acceptance determined by the County through sampling at the plant, windrow, or behind the paver, following California Test 125 and AASHTO M 247 for asphalt and glass beads, and California Test 205 for aggregate characteristics. The contract is a firm fixed-price construction bid with a 90-working-day completion window from the commencement date, which begins 13 calendar days after contract execution, and work must start within 15 calendar days of that date. Liquidated damages of $2,000 per calendar day apply for delays, and time is of the essence. The bidder must be licensed under California Class A or C-12, register all subcontractors per Labor Code §1725.5, and comply with prevailing wage laws, apprenticeship requirements, and workers’ compensation statutes. Insurance minimums include $2 million general liability, $1 million auto liability, and $1 million employer’s liability, with the County named as an additional insured. A non-collusion affidavit is mandatory, and bidders must certify compliance with U.S. economic sanctions. A pre-bid site investigation is required, and contractors assume full risk for all conditions reasonably discoverable prior to bidding—no cost or time adjustments are permitted for such conditions. Proposals must be submitted as a sealed Bid Book with original signatures by 11:00 a.m. on August 26, 2026, to the County of Kern Public Works Department in Bakersfield, with no electronic submissions accepted. Although the bid schedule is provided with line items such as mobilization, water