6-TB2711-SM - Solar Modules IFB.pdf

INVITATION FOR BIDS

SOLAR MODULES

SOLICITATION # : TB2711- SM

This Invitation for Bids (IFB) is issued in accordance with the Utah Procurement Code and applicable administrative rules of the Utah Administrative Code.

SECTION 1: PROCUREMENT INFORMATION

1.1 Purpose of this Solicitation

The purpose of this IFB is to enter into an agreement with a qualified vendor to provide solar PV modules for the Phase 4 solar projects. Two models have been approved as the Basis of Design. Refer to Section 3.1 for additional information.

It is anticipated that this IFB may result in an award of a purchase order to a single vendor, but the SLCSD reserves the right to award contracts on a line-item basis to multiple vendors if it is determined to be in our best interests.

1.2 Related Background Information

The Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD) Board of Education passed a sustainability resolution in June 2020. The resolution, among other things, requires the district to be carbon neutral by the year 2040. The district plans to achieve this goal using a phased approach. Phase 1 was largely completed in 2023. Phase 2 was completed in 2025. Phase 3 is completing in 2026. This IFB will support projects in Phase 4.

1.3 Procurement Unit Designation and Solicitation Number

The Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD) Purchasing Department is the procurement unit for this IFB. The reference number for this IFB is Solicitation #: TB2711- SM. This solicitation number must be referred to on all bids, correspondence, and documentation submitted to the SLCSD relating to this IFB.

1.4 IFB Schedule

IFB Issue Date: September 1, 2026 Q&A Questions Due: September 14, 2026 at 8: 00 AM MT Q&A Answers Posted: September 16, 2026 at 2: 00 PM MT Bid Closing Date/Time: September 23, 2026 at 2: 00 PM MT Anticipated Notice of Award: October 2026 Anticipated Project Commencement: Q2 2027

1.5 IFB Instructions

General IFB Instructions & Provisions are included with this solicitation on Bonfire, identified as “Notice- Instructions.” These provisions and all instructions in this document should be reviewed carefully to ensure that your bid documents are submitted correctly. Bidders must submit bids in accordance will all bid instructions contained in this document and attachments.

SECTION 2: GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

2.1 Required Terms and Conditions

A contract that results from this IFB will include the Salt Lake City School District Standard Terms for Goods (Attachment A).

The SLCSD Standard Terms and Conditions will not be negotiated.

In addition, the SLCSD requires a bid to be rejected if it is not responsive or responsible. A bid that is not responsive includes a bid that: (a) is conditional; (b) attempts to modify the bid requirements; (c) contains additional terms or conditions; or (d) fails to conform with the requirements or specifications of the IFB.

Any bid that contains exceptions and/or additions to the SLCSD Terms and Conditions may be rejected as non- responsive. Further the SLCSD will not allow a bidder’ s terms and conditions to become part of the contract resulting from this IFB. If a bidder’s terms and conditions are attached, referenced, or embedded into a bid, whether intentionally or inadvertently, the bid may also be rejected as nonresponsive. However, a bidder may request an exception and/or addition to the terms and conditions of this solicitation during the Question-and- Answer period.

Any exceptions to the specifications, terms, conditions and minimum requirements in this solicitation, not addressed and resolved during the Q&A period, may be protested in writing to the SLCSD Purchasing Department prior to the closing date for this solicitation.

2.2 Submitting a Bid

Bids must be received by the date and time specified on Bonfire (the “closing date”). Bids received after the closing date will be late and ineligible for consideration.

The method of submitting your bid is electronically through Bonfire. When submitting a bid electronically through Bonfire, please allow sufficient time to complete the online forms and upload documents. This IFB will close at the closing time. If you are in the middle of uploading your bid at the closing time, Bonfire will stop the upload process and your bid will not be received by Bonfire and your bid will not be reviewed by the

SLCSD.

Electronic bids may require uploading of electronic attachments. Bonfire will accept a wide variety of document types as attachments. Documents containing embedded encryptions cannot be processed by Bonfire. Additionally, the submission of documents containing embedded documents, zip files, mov, wmp, and mp3 files is prohibited. All documents should be attached as separate files.

2.3 Question and Answer Period

The Question-and-Answer period closes on the date and time specified on Bonfire. All questions must be submitted through Bonfire during the Question-and-Answer period. Answers from the SLCSD will be posted on Bonfire. Questions may include notifying the SLCSD of any ambiguity, inconsistency, scope exception, excessively restrictive requirement, or other errors in this IFB. All requests for approved-equal substitutions to the Basis of Design equipment or material must be submitted as a question. A question may also include a request to modify the Terms and Conditions. Questions are encouraged.

Questions may be answered individually or may be compiled into one document. Questions may also be answered via an addendum. An answered question or an addendum may modify the specification or requirements of this IFB. Answered questions and addendums will be posted on Bonfire. Bidders should periodically check Bonfire for answered questions and addendums before the closing date. It is the responsibility of the bidders to submit their bids as required by this IFB, including any requirements contained in an answered question and/or addendums.

Prior to the closing date, the SLCSD may, at its sole discretion, issue addenda. Addenda may modify any minimum requirement or specification of this IFB. It is the responsibility of the bidders to submit their bids as required by this IFB, including any requirements contained in addenda issued by the SLCSD.

Bidder shall not contact any employee, board member, or evaluation committee member of the issuing procurement unit of this IFB. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification.

NOTE: Exceptions taken by a bidder to the scope/content of the solicitation that have not been addressed during the Question-and-Answer period may result in the bidder being disqualified.

2.4 Addenda

Any modification to this procurement will be made by formal addendum issued by the SLCSD Purchasing Department. Addenda to this IFB may be made for the purpose of making changes to: the scope of work, the schedule, the qualification requirements, the criteria, the weighting, or other aspects of this IFB. Authorized and properly issued addenda shall constitute the official and binding position of SLCSD. Bidders are encouraged to periodically check Bonfire for posted questions, answers, and addenda.

Any response to this IFB which has as its basis any communications or information received from sources other than this IFB or related addenda may be considered non-responsive and rejected at the sole discretion of SLCSD.

SECTION 3: SOLICITATION REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Scope of Work

This IFB is to select a vendor to provide solar modules for the Phase 4 solar PV projects. The district has pre-approved the following two models which must be domestic content of at least 6. 1% and FEOC compliant:

• SEG Solar: SEG-590-BTA-BG (Yukon N Series)

• Jinko Solar: JKM590N-72HL4-BDV (Eagle 72 G6B)

Cutsheets on these modules have been attached as additional documents within Bonfire. All models must use Staubli MC4 connectors and have a minimum lead length of 1200mm.

The SLCSD anticipates needing the following quantities at the noted sites.

Site # of modules # of spares 1 Glendale MS 856 9 2 Highland Park ES 493 5 3 Auxiliary Services Rooftop 337 4 4 Auxiliary Services Carport 594 6 Totals 2280 24

Total Modules 2304 Total Pallets (36pc/pallet) 64

Note - Quantities may adjust +/- 10%, and rounded to a full pallet, at time of placing final order Vendor is responsible for providing freight associated with delivery. Vendor is responsible for providing storage (if necessary) up until the project commencement date.

The SLCSD will consider alternatives to the above noted makes/models. However, any alternatives must be submitted and approved as an “approved equal.” Minimum approved equal criteria include:

• Domestic content of at least 6.1% and FEOC Compliant

• External dimensions: 2278 x 1134 x 30 mm

• Acceptable wattage: 585-595W

• Positive power tolerance

• Downward load rating: 31 psf or greater

• Module technology: N-Type monocrystalline bifacial

• Tier 1 Module with 144-156 half cells orientation

• UL Listed

• Minimum 12-year product and 30-year linear power warranty o 1st year degradation not to exceed 1%, each subsequent year not to exceed 0.4%, minimum power at year 30 is 87.4% or greater

• Double glass module with a minimum front glass thickness of 2mm and total combined front and back glass thickness of 4mm.

• Staubli MC4 connectors

• Minimum lead length of 1200mm

• Rated for snow load of 5400Pa

• Rated for wind load of 2400Pa

• Max system voltage of 1500V

3.2 Price Schedule

Please enter all bid pricing on Attachment B: Price Schedule.

Bidders must complete and submit ‘Price Schedule’ according to the instructions provided on the price schedule. Bidders shall not change the format of the price schedule and must submit pricing in the exact format requested for a fair comparison of pricing among all bidders. Bids received in an alternate format may be disqualified.

SECTION 4: EVALUATION AND AWARD PROCESS

4.1 Bid Evaluation General Information

Pursuant to the Utah Procurement Code, this IFB shall be evaluated in accordance with the objective criteria described in this IFB. Bids submitted must comply with all requirements noted within this IFB. Any bid that does not comply may be deemed non-responsive and disqualified from further evaluation.

4.2 Bid Checklist

This checklist is intended to serve as a reminder to submit all the requested and required information. Full instructions are contained within the solicitation documents and must be followed.

Section 3.1 Acknowledgment of Ability to Meet the Scope of Work ‘Scope of Work’.

Section 3.2 Price Schedule saved as ‘Price Schedule’.

Section 5 Confidential Information, if any, saved as ‘Confidential Information’.

4.3 Bid Evaluation Administrative and Mandatory Minimum Requirement Compliance

Each bid received shall be evaluated for responsiveness in the following manner:

Criteria Determination Timely Receipt of Bid Pass/Fail Complete Bid Packet Pass/Fail Complete and Correct Documents Pass/Fail Mandatory Requirements Compliance Pass/Fail

Any bid that does not pass these administrative criteria and the mandatory minimum requirements will be deemed non-responsive and will be rejected from this solicitation.

4.4 Bid Evaluation Technical Specifications

Bids that pass the administrative and mandatory minimum requirements will be evaluated to determine that they meet or exceed the scope of work. Any bid that does not meet or exceed the scope of work will be deemed as non-responsive and disqualified from further consideration.

4.5 Contract Award Process

All bids that meet or exceed the scope of work shall be evaluated on price and the SLCSD Purchasing Department, pursuant to UCA §63-6a-Part 6 of the Utah Procurement Code, shall:

(a) (i) award a contract as soon as practicable to the responsible bidder who submits the lowest responsive bid; and

(ii) publish the name and bid amount of the bidder to whom the contract is awarded; or

(b) (i) cancel the invitation for bids without awarding a contract; and

(ii) publish a notice of the cancellation that includes an explanation of the reasons for cancelling the invitation for bids.

SECTION 5: PROTECTED INFORMATION

The Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), UCA §63G-2-305, provides in part that:

the following records are protected if properly classified by a government entity:

(1) trade secrets as defined in Section 13-24-2 if the person submitting the trade secret has provided the governmental entity with the information specified in Section 63G-2-309

(2) commercial information or nonindividual financial information obtained from a person if:

(a) disclosure of the information could reasonably be expected to result in unfair competitive injury to the person submitting the information or would impair the ability of the governmental entity to obtain necessary information in the future;

(b) the person submitting the information has a greater interest in prohibiting access than the public in obtaining access; and

(c) the person submitting the information has provided the governmental entity with the information specified in Section 63G-2-309;

(6) records, the disclosure of which would impair governmental procurement proceedings or give an unfair advantage to any person proposing to enter into a contract or agreement with a governmental entity, except, subject to Subsections (1) and (2), that this Subsection (6) does not restrict the right of a person to have access to, after the contract or grant has been awarded and signed by all parties;

Pricing may not be classified as confidential or protected and will be considered public information.

Process for Requesting Non- Disclosure: Any Bidder requesting that a record be protected shall include with the bid a Claim of Business Confidentiality. To protect information under a Claim of Business Confidentiality, the Bidder must complete the Claim of Business Confidentiality form with the following information:

1. Provide a written Claim of Business Confidentiality at the time the information (bid) is provided to the SLCSD, and

2. Include a concise statement of reasons supporting the claim of business confidentiality (Subsection 63G-2- 309(1)).

3. Submit an electronic “redacted” (excluding protected information) copy of the proposal. Copy must clearly be marked “Redacted Version.”

The Claim of Business Confidentiality form is available as a separate attachment to this solicitation.

An entire bid cannot be identified as “ PROTECTED” , “ CONFIDENTIAL” or “ PROPRIETARY” and may be considered non- responsive unless the Bidder removes the designation.

Redacted Copy: If a Bidder submits a bid that contains information claimed to be business confidential or protected information, the Bidder must submit two separate proposals: one redacted version for public release, with all protected business confidential information either blacked-out or removed, clearly marked as "Redacted Version"; and one non- redacted version for evaluation purposes clearly marked as "Protected Business Confidential."

All materials submitted become the property of the SLCSD. Materials may be evaluated by anyone designated by the SLCSD as part of the bid evaluation committee. Materials submitted may be returned only at the SLCSD's option.