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The Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit, Water and Sewerage Department authorizes the Director to approve DWSD Contract 6007795 for Project WS-756 with Inner City Contracting LLC and Eminent Excavating LLC, a Joint Venture (JV) award, for Lead Water Service Line Replacements in the Eden Gardens neighborhood, for a total contract amount not-to-exceed $8,125,500.00 and a term of two (2) years. This also authorizes the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
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Agenda of April 15, 2026
Item No. 2026-89
Contract No.: 6007795 / WS-756
Contractor: Inner City Contracting LLC, 18715 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI 48223 (JV)
Eminent Excavating LLC, 514 S. Fort Street, Detroit, MI 48217
Contract Amount: $8,125,500.00
Contract Term: Two (2) years (start date tentative upon final approval)
TO: The Honorable
Board of Water Commissioners
City of Detroit, Michigan
FROM: Gary Brown, Director
Water and Sewerage Department
RE: Proposed DWSD Contract 6007795/ WS-756
Lead Water Service Line Replacement - Eden Gardens
Inner City Contracting LLC & Eminent Excavating LLC (JV)
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Marqaicha Welch, Procurement Manager, the Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit, Water and Sewerage Department authorizes the Director to approve DWSD Contract 6007795 for Project WS-756 with Inner City Contracting LLC and Eminent Excavating LLC, a Joint Venture (JV) award, for Lead Water Service Line Replacements in the Eden Gardens neighborhood, for a total contract amount not-to-exceed $8,125,500.00 and a term of two (2) years. This also authorizes the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND / JUSTIFICATION
Detroit has an estimated 80,000 lead service lines (LSLs), connected to an aged and historically under-maintained water network, with high incidences of water main breaks. Main breaks and service leaks frequently affect LSLs and require disconnecting the LSL to make a repair. As part of the DWSD Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the replacement of water mains, Lead (Pb) service lines are converted to new copper service lines along with the provision of water filters and pitchers to the customer for the benefits the public health and safety. Given the potential negative health impacts due to Lead service lines to water system customers, DWSD has been undertaking efforts in the replacement of these services. In addition to the replacement of LSLs along with water main replacement work, DWSD is undertaking dedicated LSL replacement from the existing water main to the customer meter without water main replacement.
Per EPA and MI-EGLE requirements, Lead services are to be replaced from the water main all the way to the customer meter within their property (residence, commercial space, other). Normally, Lead replacements are integrated into water main replacement capital work, but not all water mains can be replaced over the next handful of years to capture all the outstanding Lead services. Under Contract WS-756, DWSD proposes to develop a dedicated Lead water service replacement project whose scope does not have the necessity of a full water main replacement. Through this contract, up to 1,000 Lead services will be replaced within two years with a combination of excavation and directional boring.
The work consists of replacing Lead water services of up to 1.5 inches in diameter with copper services and road/curb boxes at up to 1000 locations throughout the City of Detroit. These locations are not known at the present time and services will be located through hydro excavation work by the contractor as part of the project scope. The space near the shutoff box at the sidewalk will be excavated to the depth of the existing water service and visual confirmation made of Lead or copper in place. If a copper service is found, then the site will be backfilled and restored at established unit costs; if Lead, then the contractor will coordinate its replacement. Also, other locations of LSL work may be assigned to the Contractor identified by the Engineer and assigned to the Contractor on an “as-needed” basis pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Contract Documents.
There is no guarantee as to the number of replacement locations that will be assigned. However, about 1000 Lead service line replacements are expected to be assigned throughout the life of this Contract. No design drawings will be provided by DWSD. The contractor will be responsible for following the DWSD Full Lead Service Line Replacement (FLSLR) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Lead Water Services specification to efficiently, effectively, and safely remove and replace LSLs.
PROCUREMENT METHOD
This procurement was competitively solicited through a Request for Bids (RFB) per Requisition 542602, which was fully approved on 1/22/2026. The RFB was advertised on the Michigan Inter-Governmental Trade Network (MITN) BidNet website for 35 calendar days (2/11/26 - 3/18/26). MITN published this opportunity to 1,674 companies, and 76 firms downloaded the bid package. In addition to posting on MITN, Procurement sent email notices to approximately 18 firms. Eight (7) bids were received:
|
BIDDER |
Bid Total |
Equalizations |
Equal. Credits Applied |
Equalized Total |
|
Inner City Contracting / Eminent Excavating LLC |
$8,125,500.00 |
Joint Venture 6% |
$487,530.00 |
$7,637,970.00 |
|
Major Contracting / Giorgi Concrete LLC |
$8,150,000.00 |
Joint Venture 6% |
$489,000.00 |
$7,661,000.00 |
|
LGC Global, Inc./ Detroit Grounds Crew LLC |
$8,429,947.00 |
Joint Venture 6% |
$505,796.82 |
$7,924,150.18 |
|
Precision Infrastructure |
$7,945,750.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
$7,945,750.00 |
|
DMC Consultants, Inc. |
$8,342,865.87 |
DHB 1% DSB 1% DRB 2% |
$83,428.66 $83,428.66 $166,857.32 |
$8,009,151.23 |
|
Five Star Energy |
$10,371,250.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
$10,371,250.00 |
|
Bidigare Contractors, Inc. |
$10,666,250.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
$10,666,250.00 |
* A bid from Decima, LLC was deemed non-responsible due to lack of references to quantify their ability to perform full scope of work for this project.
The evaluation of the bids was based on the lowest bid price. As the apparent equalized low bidder, the joint venture with Inner City Contracting LLC and Eminent Excavating LLC, was evaluated and determined to be responsive. The bid tab and responsiveness evaluation, and Inner City Contracting’s bid was forwarded to the Engineering Division. Therefore, it is recommended that the Joint Venture (JV) Inner City Contracting LLC and Eminent Excavating LLC be awarded the contract resulting from RFB WS-756 in the amount of $8,125,500.00.
Inner City Contracting LLC clearances expire on 1/14/27 and Eminent Excavating LLC clearances expire on 10/14/26. A formal contract document will be sent to the vendors for signature; it is anticipated to be signed prior to the board meeting.
SUMMARY
A. Contract No.: 6007795 / WS-756
B. Contractor: Inner City Contracting, LLC & Eminent Excavating, LLC (JV)
C. Anticipated Contract Term: 2 years (start date tentative upon final approval)
D. Contract Amount: $8,125,500.00
E. Anticipated FY Breakdown:
FY 25-26: $ 3,125,166.66
FY 26-27: $ 3,125,166.67
FY 27-28: $ 1,875,166.67
F. Funding Source: Bond Funded
G. GL String: 5740-20334-487801-617900-900453-30129-0000-000000
- 100% Water
This proposed contract was presented to the BOWC Finance Committee on April 1, 2026. Per DWSD procurement protocol, Mayoral approval will be obtained.