NIGP 03138: Evaporative Coolers

NIGP 03138 Evaporative Coolers, an Item code, covers the supply and maintenance of evaporative cooling equipment and related parts that state and local governments use across municipal facilities, schools, housing authorities, and transit systems. Recent solicitations show purchasing activity spanning equipment supplies, preventative maintenance contracts, chiller system replacements, and water treatment services for cooling towers and closed-loop systems. The issuing bodies are diverse—cities (Tucson, Charlotte, Alameda), counties (Okaloosa County, Florida), school districts (Houston Independent School District), housing authorities, and transit agencies procure under this code. The work ranges from as-needed parts inventories to three-year service contracts with renewal options, and includes compliance with federal standards such as Davis-Bacon prevailing wage, Clean Air Act refrigerant recycling, and FDA guidelines for treatment chemicals.

Recent activity clusters in Texas, Florida, California, and Arizona. The City of Tucson posted an RFQ for evaporative cooling equipment supplies on an as-needed basis due August 19, 2026, supporting approximately 1,500 municipal cooling units with one-year contract term and options to extend for up to four additional years, subject to HUD, FTA, and ARPA compliance including Section 3 low-income hiring and minority/women-owned business set-asides. Okaloosa County, Florida posted an ITB for water treatment services covering evaporative cooling towers and condenser systems at eight county facilities due September 16, 2026, under a three-year contract with two optional one-year renewals, federally grant-funded with Davis-Bacon requirements. The Housing Authority of the City of Alameda solicited rooftop HVAC package unit replacements and condenser disconnection/reinstallation via RFP due October 27, 2026, requiring five years of commercial HVAC experience and California C-20 licensure. Houston Independent School District requested HVAC chiller and air handling unit replacement at three school locations via RFP due July 29, 2026, with completion required by December 31, 2026, and the City of Charlotte posted an RFP for boiler and chiller maintenance and repair services across CATS facilities due October 15, 2026.