NOTICE TO BIDDERS Ellis & Eastern Railroad 2019 CRISI Schedule A – Timber Bridge Rehabilitation Schedule B – Steel Bridge Strengthening Sealed bids will be received by the Ellis & Eastern Railroad at the office of Civil Design Inc. until 2:00 P.M. (CDT) Thursday, March 26, 2026, and then will be publicly opened and read in the Civil Design Inc. Conference Room, 609 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006. Such bids are to provide for the following approximate work for "Ellis & Eastern Railroad 2019 CRISI: Schedule A – Timber Bridge Rehabilitation & Schedule B – Steel Bridge Strengthening" including but not limited to the following scope of work: Schedule A – Timber Bridge Rehabilitation: A total of ten (10) bridges require timber rehabilitation and strengthening to achieve 286,000 lb. railcar loading requirements. Work includes material furnishing and installation for replacement of deficient timber components, dispose of existing bridge timber, pile posting, installation of timber stringers, bent caps, bracing, frame bent construction, bridge ties, guard timber, headwall and wingwall replacement, installation of bridge hardware, temporary access, site restoration, steel H-pile driving, timber approach span replacement with steel stringer spans, and other incidental work to complete the construction of the project. Schedule B – Steel Bridge Strengthening: A total of two (2) steel truss spans require steel strengthening to achieve 286,000 lb. railcar loading requirements. Bridge P-103 & P-106 are included in this scope of work which includes furnishing and installing various steel plates and angles to various members to improve overall member strength including bolts and other hardware as necessary. Members requiring strengthening include but are not limited to stringers, floorbeams, hangers, diagonals, and top chords. Bidders have the option of bidding only Schedule A, only Schedule B, or both Schedule A and B. PRE-BID CONFERENCE:A Pre-bid Conference will be held at the Ellis & Eastern Railroad Office, 1500 N. Sweetman Pl., Sioux Falls, SD 57107 on Thursday, March 12, 2026 @ 9:30 A.M.(CDT).A field trip to some of the bridge sites will take place following the meeting for any parties interested to discuss any particular questions. Bidders are encouraged to attend and participate in the conference. The Engineer will transmit to all prospective Bidders of record such Addenda as the Engineer considers necessary in response to questions arising at the conference. Oral statements may not be relied upon and will not be binding or legally effective. Plans, specifications, and bidding information may be inspected and procured at the office of Civil Design Inc, 609 Main Avenue South, Brookings, South Dakota. The Contact at Civil Design Inc. is Chris Brozik, PE and may be reached at (605) 696-3200 or cbrozik@civildes.com. Each proposal must be accompanied by a certified check, cashier's check, or draft for five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid, such check to be certified or issued by either a State or National Bank, and payable to the Ellis & Eastern Railroad, or in lieu thereof, a bid bond for ten percent (10%) of the amount of the bid, such bond to be issued by a surety au¬thor¬ized to do business in South Dakota & Minnesota and payable to the Ellis & Eastern Railroad. The check or bond will be retained by the Ellis & Eastern Railroad as liquidated damages if the successful bidder refuses or fails to enter into a contract and performance bond in accordance with the bid when notified. Bids will be on a unit price basis, and must include all applicable taxes, as indicated in the Bid Form. The Ellis & Eastern Railroad reserves the right to waive irregularities and to reject any and all bids. Bids must be mailed or hand delivered. Electronic bids will not be accepted. Bidders shall state on the left-hand corner of the envelope, "BID ENCLOSED for Ellis & Eastern Railroad 2019 CRISI: Schedule A – Timber Bridge Rehabilitation & Schedule B – Steel Bridge Strengthening”. Any bids received after the deadline will not be accepted. Published twice at the total approximate cost of $105.04. March 3,March 10, 2026