Sealed bids for birding pavilion construction due by March 24, 2026.

SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SOMERSET LAKE TRAIL - BIRDING PAVILION
SOMERSET TOWNSHIP

The Somerset County Board of Commissioners will receive sealed bids for construction of a birding pavilion as part of the Somerset Lake Trail development located in Somerset Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. All bids must be sealed and marked “Somerset Lake Trail - Birding Pavilion” and received by the Chief Clerk in the Office of the Commissioners, 300 North Center Avenue, Suite 500, Somerset, PA 15501 on or before Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM. Bids will be opened at that time. If a contract is awarded, in whole or in part, it is anticipated to occur at the Commissioners meeting held on April 7, 2026.

The project scope of work includes construction of the birding pavilion including earthwork, foundations, and the pavilion structure. Work also includes installation and maintenance of erosion and sediment control structures and restoration of disturbed areas after construction is complete. 

A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the offices of Apex Companies, LLC at 165 E. Union St. Somerset, PA 15501. The meeting will be followed by a tour of the project site which is located in the North Lot of Somerset Lake. Parking is available at the North Lot.

Contract documents, including drawings and technical specifications for bidding purposes may be obtained at the office of Apex Companies, LLC at 165 East Union Street, Suite 100, Somerset, PA 15501, 814-374-5453 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, weekdays, for a non-refundable fee of $150.00. Addenda, and/or clarifications if any, will be issued to only those contractors whose name and address are on record as having obtained the contract documents and were in attendance at the mandatory pre-bid meeting.

A certified check or bank draft, payable to the order of the Somerset County Board of Commissioners, or negotiable U.S. Government Bond (at par value), or a satisfactory Bid Bond executed by the Bidder and an acceptable Surety, in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the total of the Bid shall be submitted with each Bid.

Attention is called to the fact that no less than the minimum salaries and wages as set forth in the Contract Documents must be paid on this project; that the Contractor must ensure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, age, color, religion, sex, national origin or handicap; that a mandatory ratio of apprentices and trainees to journeymen is required in each craft and the Contractor (and any subcontractors) is obliged to make a “diligent effort” to achieve these ratios; and that to the greatest extent feasible, opportunities for training and employment be given lower income of the project area and must to the greatest extent feasible utilize project area businesses located in or owned in substantial part by project area residents.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids, in whole or in part, or to waive any informality in the bidding. Bids may be held by the Owner for a period not to exceed 90 days from the date of opening of bids for the purpose of reviewing the bids and investigating the qualifications of Bidders, prior to awarding the Contract.

SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Brian Fochtman
Irvin Kimmel, Jr. 
Pamala Tokar-Ickes
Shari Ziegler, Office Coordinator