Standard Specifications for Road, Bridge, and Municipal Construction 2020 (M 41-10) - page 14

Page 1-10 

Bid Procedures and Conditions

1-02 

Bid Procedures and Conditions

1-02.1 

Prequalification of Bidders

The Contracting Agency will provide a Bid Proposal Form only after a prospective Bidder 
submits a “Standard Questionnaire and Financial Statement”. This questionnaire enables 
the Contracting Agency to decide whether or not the Bidder is qualified to perform 
Highway, road, or other public work. The questionnaire shall be sworn to before a person 
authorized to take oaths.

On the basis of this questionnaire, the Contracting Agency will either specify the type and 
amount of Work it considers the prospective Bidder prequalified to perform or advise the 
prospective Bidder of the reasons they failed to be prequalified. To remain prequalified, 
the Bidder must submit an updated questionnaire once a year and supplements whenever 
required by the Contracting Agency. 

A submittal deadline applies to any prospective Bidder not prequalified or from whom a 
supplemental questionnaire is due. To receive consideration for issuance of a Bid Proposal 
Form on a specific project, the questionnaire (or supplement) must be received by the 
Prequalification Engineer no less than 15 days prior to the scheduled Bid opening.

The Contracting Agency may withdraw a Bidder’s prequalification or reduce its amount if:
1.  The extent of other work the Bidder has under Contract (Contracting Agency or 

otherwise) justifies such action, or

2.  Past or present work on a Contracting Agency Contract has been less than 

satisfactory.

If a Bidder’s questionnaire does not contain sufficient information, the Contracting 
Agency may refuse to provide a Bid Proposal Form and disregard any Bid submitted. 
After opening Bids, the Contracting Agency may decide that a prequalified Bidder is 
not responsible and may refuse to accept the Bid on that basis. Such a refusal will be 
conclusive unless the Bidder appeals within five days to the Superior Court of Thurston 
County. Any appeal shall be heard within ten days after it is filed and shall provide at least 
five days’ notice to the Contracting Agency.

The Bidder shall ensure that the combination of the Bid amount and other Contract 
work with the Contracting Agency does not exceed the prequalification amount. If this 
combination does exceed the prequalification amount, the Contracting Agency may 
determine the Bidder to be not responsible and refuse to Award a Contract.

Two or more prospective Bidders may, in a joint venture, prequalify and Bid jointly on a 
single Contract. Each shall have filed a “Standard Questionnaire and Financial Statement”. 
Together they shall also file a standard form of “Individual Project Statement of Joint 
Venture” and a joint venture agreement in a form acceptable to the Contracting Agency.

Bid Procedures and Conditions 

1-02

To Bid jointly on a continuous joint venture on more than one Contract, two or more 
prospective Bidders shall submit:
1.  A “Standard Questionnaire and Financial Statement” compiled for the joint venture;
2.  A “Standard Questionnaire and Financial Statement” for each member (if the 

Contracting Agency has no copy on file); and

3.  A copy of the “Joint Venture Agreement” signed by each member of the joint 

venture and naming each person authorized to sign documents on its behalf. 
(If any member is a corporation, a corporate resolution shall accompany the 
agreement. This resolution shall authorize the joint venture agreement and name 
the officer(s) authorized to sign the joint venture agreement or Contract on behalf 
of the corporation.)

The Contracting Agency will treat the continuing joint venture as a new firm and decide 
its prequalification on that basis.

Any joint venture and each of its members is subject to 

Section 1-02.14

.

1-02.2 

Plans and Specifications

The Contracting Agency will place review copies of the Plans and Specifications on file 
in the offices of:
1.  All Regional Administrators of the Department;
2.  The County Engineer of the county in which the Work is located; and
3.  These plans service offices of the Associated General Contractors of America: 

Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma, Washington.

Prospective Bidders may purchase Plans and Specifications from the Department of 
Transportation in Olympia, Washington, for the fee given in the call for Bids. The fee shall 
accompany each request for Plans. Checks shall be payable to the State of Washington, 
Department of Transportation.

After Award of the Contract, the Plans and Specifications will be issued without charge 
on the following basis:

To Contractor

No. of 

Sets

Basis of Distribution

Reduced Plans (11″ by 17″) and Special 

Provision

10

Furnished automatically upon Award.

Additional reduced Plans (11″ by 17″) 

and Special Provision

10

Furnished only upon request for projects 

with more than 100 plan sheets.

Large Plans (22″ by 34″) and Special 

Provisions

1

Furnished automatically upon award.

Additional large Plans (22″ by 34″) and 

Special Provisions

1

Furnished only upon request for projects 

with more than 100 plan sheets.

Page 1-12 

Bid Procedures and Conditions

To Subcontractors and Suppliers

No. of 

Sets

Basis of Distribution

Reduced Plans (11″ by 17″) and 

accompanying Special Provisions

1

Furnished only upon request by the 

Contractor for an approved Subcontractor 

or material supplier.

Additional Plans may be purchased by payment of the current rates.

1-02.3 

Estimated Quantities

The quantities shown in the Proposal Form and the Contract Forms are estimates and 
are stated only for Bid comparison purposes. The Contracting Agency does not warrant 
expressly or by implication, that the actual quantities of Work will correspond with those 
estimates. Payment will be made on the basis of the actual quantities of each item of 
Work completed in accordance with the Contract requirements.

1-02.4 

Examination of Plans, Specifications, and Site of Work

1-02.4(1) General

The Bidder shall carefully examine the Bid Documents as defined in 

Section 1-01.3

. 

Submittal of a Bid shall be conclusive evidence that the Bidder has made these 
examinations and understands all requirements for the performance of the completed 
Work. The Bidder further warrants, agrees, and acknowledges by submitting a Bid that it:
1.  Has taken steps reasonably necessary to ascertain the nature and location of the 

Work;

2.  Has investigated and satisfied itself as to the general and local conditions which can 

affect the Work or its cost, including but not limited to:
a.  Conditions bearing upon acquisition, transportation, disposal, handling, and 

storage of materials;

b.  The availability of labor, materials, water, electric power, and roads;
c.  Uncertainties of weather, river stages, tides, or similar physical conditions at the 

site;

d.  The conformation and condition of the ground;
e.  The character of equipment and facilities needed preliminary to and during 

Work performance; and

f. 

The site biological hazards and associated physical hazards.

3.  Has satisfied itself as to the character, quality, and quantity of surface and 

subsurface materials or obstacles to be encountered insofar as this information is 
reasonably ascertainable from an inspection of the Work site (including material 
sites) as well as from the Bid Documents and other information made a part of this 
Contract; and

4.  Has satisfied itself as to the adequacy of time allowed for the completion of the 

physical Work on the Contract.

Bid Procedures and Conditions 

1-02

Any failure of the Bidder to take the actions described and acknowledged in this clause 
shall not relieve the Bidder from responsibility for estimating properly the difficulty and 
cost of successfully performing the Work, or from proceeding to successfully perform the 
Work without additional expense to the Contracting Agency.

The Bidder agrees that the Contracting Agency shall not be liable to it on any claim for 
additional payment or additional time or any claim whatsoever if the claim directly or 
indirectly results from the Bidder’s failure to investigate and familiarize itself sufficiently 
with the conditions under which the Contract is to be performed.

The Bidder shall be familiar and comply with all Federal, State, tribal, and local laws, 
ordinances, and regulations which might affect those engaged in the Work. The 
Contracting Agency will not consider any plea of misunderstanding or ignorance of such 
requirements.

Bid prices shall reflect what the Bidder anticipates to be the cost of completing the Work, 
including methods, materials, labor, and equipment. Except as the Contract may provide, 
the Bidder shall receive no payment for any costs that exceed those in the Bid prices.

Prospective Bidders are advised that projects with Work on or adjacent to water may 
require insurance coverage in compliance with:
1.  The Longshoremen’s and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act (administered by U.S. 

Department of Labor), or

2.  The State Industrial Insurance (administrated by the Washington State Department 

of Labor and Industries), or

3. Both.

The Contractor shall bear all cost for such insurance as provided in 

Section 1-07.10

.

No Claim shall be allowed because of any ambiguity in the Contract if:
1.  The Bidder discovers an ambiguity but fails to notify the Contracting Agency, or
2.  The Bidder failed to discover a patent ambiguity that would be discovered by a 

reasonably prudent contractor in preparing its Bid.

Any prospective Bidder desiring an explanation or interpretation of the Bid Documents, 
shall request the explanation or interpretation in writing by close of business on the 
Thursday preceding the bid opening to allow a written reply to reach all prospective 
Bidders before the submission of their Bids. Oral explanations, interpretations, or 
instructions given by anyone before the Award of a Contract will not be binding on 
the Contracting Agency. Any information given a prospective Bidder concerning any of 
the Bid Documents will be furnished to all prospective Bidders as an Addendum if that 
information is deemed by the Contracting Agency to be necessary in submitting Bids or if 
the Contracting Agency concludes that the lack of the information would be prejudicial to 
other prospective Bidders.

Illumination, Signal, Electrical 

9-29

Materials for Type 1, 2, and 8 Concrete Junction Boxes shall conform to the following:

Materials

Requirement

Concrete

Section 6-02

Reinforcing Steel 

Section 9-07

Fiber Reinforcing

ASTM C1116, Type III

Lid

ASTM A786 diamond plate steel

Slip Resistant Lid

ASTM A36 steel

Frame

ASTM A786 diamond plate steel or ASTM A36 steel 

Slip Resistant Frame

ASTM A36 steel

Lid Support

ASTM A36 steel, or ASTM A1011 SS Grade 36 (or higher)

Handle & Handle support

ASTM A36 steel, or ASTM A1011 CS (Any Grade) or SS (Any 

Grade)

Anchors (studs)

Section 9-06.15

Bolts, Studs, Nuts, Washers

ASTM F593 or A193, Type 304 or 316, or Stainless Steel grade 

302, 304, or 316 steel in accordance with approved shop 

drawings

Locking and Latching 

Mechanism Hardware and Bolts

In accordance with approved shop drawings

9-29.2(1)A2

 

Non-Concrete Junction Boxes

Material for the non-concrete junction boxes shall be of a quality that will provide for 
a similar life expectancy as portland cement or blended hydraulic cement concrete in a 
direct burial application.

Type 1, 2, and 8 non-concrete junction boxes shall have a Design Load of 22,500 pounds 
and shall be tested in accordance with 

Section 9-29.2(5)

. Non-concrete junction boxes 

shall be gray in color and have an open bottom design with approximately the same 
inside dimensions, and present a load to the bearing surface that is less than or equal to 
the loading presented by the concrete junction boxes shown in the 

Standard Plans

. Non-

concrete junction box lids shall include a pull slot and embedded 6 by 6 by ¼-inch steel 
plate and shall be secured with two ½-inch stainless steel Penta-head bolts recessed into 
the cover. The tapped holes for the securing bolts shall extend completely through the 
box to prevent accumulation of debris. Bolts shall conform to ASTM F593, stainless steel.

9-29.2(1)B 

Heavy-Duty Junction Boxes

Heavy-Duty Junction Boxes are defined as Type 4, 5 and 6 junction boxes and shall be 
concrete and have a minimum vertical load rating of 46,000 pounds without permanent 
deformation and 60,000 pounds without failure when tested in accordance with 

Section 9-29.2(5)

.

The Heavy-Duty Junction Box steel frame, lid support and lid fabricated from steel plate 
and shapes shall be painted with a shop applied, inorganic zinc primer in accordance with 

Section 6-07.3

. Ductile iron and gray iron castings shall not be painted.

Page 9-194 

Illumination, Signal, Electrical

The concrete used in Heavy-Duty Junction Boxes shall have a minimum compressive 
strength of 4,000 psi.

Materials for Type 4, 5, and 6 Concrete Junction Boxes shall conform to the following:

Materials

Requirement

Concrete

Section 6-02

Reinforcing Steel 

Section 9-07

Lid

ASTM A786 diamond plate steel, rolled from plate complying 

with ASTM A572, grade 50 or ASTM A588, and having a min. 

CVN toughness of 20 ft-lb at 40 degrees F
Or
Ductile iron casting meeting 

Section 9-05.15

Frame and stiffener plates

ASTM A572 grade 50 or ASTM A588, both with min. CVN 

toughness of 20 ft-lb at 40 degrees F
Or
Gray iron casting meeting 

Section 9-05.15

Handle

ASTM A36 steel or ASTM A1011 Grade CS or SS

Anchors (studs)

Section 9-06.15

Threaded Anchors for Gray Iron 

Frame

ASTM F1554 grade 55 Headed Anchor Requirements

Bolts, Studs, Nuts, Washers

ASTM F593 or A193, Type 304 or 316, or Stainless steel grade 

302, 304, or 316 in accordance with approved shop drawing

Hinges and Locking and 

Latching Mechanism and 

associated Hardware and Bolts

In accordance with approved shop drawings

Safety Bars

In accordance with approved shop drawings

The bearing seat and lid perimeter shall be free from burrs, dirt, and other foreign debris 
that would prevent solid seating. Bolts and nuts shall be liberally coated with anti-
seize compound. Bolts shall be installed snug tight. The bearing seat and lid perimeter 
shall be machined to allow a minimum of 75 percent of the bearing areas to be seated 
with a tolerance of 0.0 to 0.005 inches measured with a feeler gage. The bearing 
area percentage will be measured for each side of the lid as it bears on the frame.

9-29.2(2)  Cable Vaults and Pull Boxes

Cable Vaults and Pull Boxes shall be constructed as a concrete box and as a concrete lid. 
The lids for the Cable Vaults and Pull Boxes shall be interchangeable and both shall fit the 
same box as shown in the 

Standard Plans

.

The Contractor shall provide shop drawings for all components, including concrete box, 
Cast Iron Ring, Ductile Iron Lid, Steel Rings, and Lid. In addition, the shop drawings shall 
show placement of reinforcing steel, knock outs, and any other appurtenances. The shop 
drawing shall be prepared by or under the direct supervision of a Professional Engineer, 
licensed under Title 18 RCW, State of Washington, in the branch of Civil or Structural. 
Each sheet shall carry the following:

Illumination, Signal, Electrical 

9-29

1.  Professional Engineer’s original signature, date of signature, original seal, and 

registration number. If a complete assembly drawing is included which references 
additional drawing numbers, including revision numbers for those drawings, then 
only the complete assembly drawing is required to be stamped.

2.  The initials and dates of all participating design professionals.
3.  Clear notation of all revisions including identification of who authorized the revision, 

who made the revision, and the date of the revision.

Design calculations shall carry on the cover page, the Professional Engineer’s original 
signature, date of signature, original seal, and registration number.

For each type of box or whenever there is a change to the Cable Vault or Pull Box design, 
a proof test, as defined in this Specification, shall be performed and new shop drawings 
submitted.

9-29.2(2)A 

Standard Duty Cable Vaults and Pull Boxes

Standard Duty Cable Vaults and Pull Boxes shall be concrete and have a minimum load 
rating of 22,500 pounds and be tested in accordance with 

Section 9-29.2(5)

. For the 

purposes of this Section, Small Cable Vaults are considered a type of Standard Duty 
Cable Vault.

Concrete for Standard Duty Cable Vaults and Pull Boxes shall have a minimum 
compressive strength of 4,000 psi. The lid frame shall be anchored to the vault/box 
concrete lid by welding headed studs ⅜ by 3 inches long, as specified in 

Section 9-06.15

, 

to the frame. The wire fabric shall be attached to the studs and frame with standard tie 
practices. The vault/box concrete lid shall contain ten studs located near the centerline 
of the frame and wall. Studs shall be placed one anchor in each corner, one at the middle 
of each width and two equally spaced on each length of the vault/box. The steel frame, 
lid support, and lid shall be painted with a black paint containing rust inhibiters or painted 
with a shop applied, inorganic zinc primer in accordance with 

Section 6-07.3

 or hot-dip 

galvanized in accordance with AASHTO M111.

All Standard Duty Cable Vaults and Pull Boxes placed in sidewalks, walkways, and shared-
use paths shall have slip-resistant surfaces. The steel frame, lid support, and lid for the 
Standard Duty Cable Vaults and Pull Boxes shall be hot-dip galvanized.