Questions and Answers Set 1~10.docx

This is a Questions and Answers document related to an Invitation for Bid (IFB) issued by the Illinois Secretary of State for the installation of a new boiler system at the Chicago West facility located at 5301 W. Lexington Street, Chicago, Illinois 60644. The project involves removal and replacement of an existing water tube boiler with two condensing boilers (CB-2 and CB-3) of equal capacity, along with installation of associated pumps, controls, instrumentation, circuit breakers, and related mechanical and electrical work. The scope includes labor, materials, equipment, disposal services, removal of abandoned piping and ductwork, modification of the housekeeping pad, and complete site cleanup. Required deliverables include shop drawings, as-built drawings in AutoCAD format with three hard-copy sets, hydrostatic testing documentation, operator training with digital video documentation, and maintenance training at six and twelve months post-completion. Bids were due on May 28, 2026, with a mandatory pre-bid conference scheduled for May 15, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the project site. Work must be performed during normal business hours (7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday) unless otherwise arranged. The initial contract term is four years from execution, with a maximum total contract term not to exceed ten years including renewals.

Bidders must be pre-qualified by the Illinois Capital Development Board, possess seven years of documented experience in commercial boiler installation, and comply with the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act and Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative. Pricing must be submitted as a firm, fixed total cost on a lowest-price-responsive-and-responsible-bidder basis. A 10% bid bond is required at submission, and a performance bond for the entire contract amount is due within ten days of contract execution. Vendors must maintain general commercial liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 annual aggregate, auto liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and workers' compensation insurance as required by law, with the State named as additionally insured. The State reserves the right to evaluate vendors for disadvantaged enterprise status, including minority, women, persons with disability, disadvantaged individuals, and veteran ownership and control. A $15 Minority Contractor Opportunity Initiative fee will be deducted from the first payment to vendors awarded contracts valued at $1,000 or more. The new controls system must integrate with the existing BACnet Eclipse system managed by Automatic Building Controls LLC, with the mechanical contractor serving as prime contractor and electrical work performed as a subcontract. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the procurement documents.