RFI_ELE260867_Underground_SinglePhase_Fusible_Cabinets__Main_Document.pdf

110 SE Watula Avenue, Third Floor

Ocala, Florida 34471 Main Number: (352) 629-8402 www.bidocala.com

The City of Ocala is accepting sealed electronic submissions for:

Underground Single-Phase Fusible Cabinets

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (“RFI”) #: ELE/260867

Official copies of all solicitation documents may be obtained via electronic download from the City of Ocala’s e-procurement portal located at: https://www.bidocala.com

** Copies of documents obtained from any other source are not considered official copies. **

Deadline for Questions: 07/23/2026 at 5:00 p.m. (EST)

All questions or inquiries regarding this solicitation must be submitted via e-mail to the Buyer Contact identified below or via the e-procurement portal no later than the Deadline for Questions noted above. Any questions received after the deadline will not be considered.

Where to Submit Responses: City of Ocala’s E-Procurement Portal:

bids@ocalafl.gov

Submission Deadline: 07/28/2026 at 2:00 p.m. (EST)

Sealed electronic submissions shall be accepted up to the Submission Deadline.

Submissions received after the deadline and/or transmitted to the City of Ocala outside of the e-procurement portal shall be rejected. The e-procurement portal’s timestamp shall be conclusive as to the timeliness of filing.

Contractor Registration: Proposers must be a registered Vendor within the ProRFx e-procurement portal in order to submit a response to this Solicitation. There is no charge to register, simply follow the registration path for “New Vendor Registration” at https://www.bidocala.com.

Buyer Contact/ Direct All Inquiries To:

Caley Conard E-Mail: cconard@ocalafl.gov Phone: (352) 629-8234

Notice to Proposers: The point of contact for all questions and issues relating to this RFI shall be the Buyer Contact identified above.

To ensure that your submission is deemed responsive, you are urged to request clarification or guidance regarding any issues involving this RFI prior to submitting your response.

THE CITY OF OCALA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL SUBMISSIONS

http://www.bidocala.com/ https://www.bidocala.com/ https://www.bidocala.com/ mailto:buyername@ocalafl.gov

Ocala Electric Utility (OEU) is evaluating solutions to improve the reliability and operational performance of its underground single-phase distribution system. Current infrastructure requires enhanced capability for fault protection and circuit sectionalizing to reduce the number of customers impacted during fault conditions and to improve overall system resilience. OEU is seeking commercially available technologies that can be integrated into existing underground distribution networks, including vault and pad-mounted applications, while maintaining compliance with applicable utility, ANSI, IEEE, and NEMA standards.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) AS DEFINED IN SECTION 287.012 (22), FLORIDA STATUTES. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute or promise to issue a formal solicitation (Request for Proposal or Invitation to Negotiate or Letter of Interest) in the future.

The City will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested Vendors’ expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitations, if any are issued.

If a solicitation is released, it will be advertised on the e-procurement platform https://www.bidocala.com. It is the responsibility of the interested vendor to register at the above-mentioned website to monitor the site for any potential forma solicitations.

Companies that are interested in this project and feel that they have the capabilities to meet or exceed the listed requirements are asked to submit information in the following format to the City.

ALL RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 2:00 P.M. EST ON TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2026

SUBMISSION

All responses must be received be e-mailed to bids@ocalafl.gov no later than 2:00 P.M. on July 28, 2026. Any submittal received after the stated time and date shall not be considered and will be deemed non-responsive. It shall be the sole responsibility of the Respondent to have its package delivered to the Authority via electronic submittal. The electronic submission must be in PDF format.

QUESTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS.

(a) Vendors must communicate any questions regarding this Solicitation by the deadline set forth above.

(b) Any and all questions must be submitted to the Procurement Department electronically via www.bidocala.com. Responses will be made electronically and posted online. It is the responsibility of the proposers to check for updates.

BACKGROUND AND PROJECT OVERVIEW

Ocala Electric Utility (OEU) is evaluating solutions to improve the reliability and operational performance of its underground single-phase distribution system. Current infrastructure requires enhanced capability for fault protection and circuit sectionalizing to reduce the number of customers impacted during fault conditions and to improve overall system resilience. OEU is seeking commercially available technologies that can be integrated into existing underground distribution networks, including vault and pad-mounted applications, while maintaining compliance with applicable utility, ANSI, IEEE, and NEMA standards.

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued to obtain general market information from firms with experience in operational performance of underground single-phase distribution systems, for the purposes of budget development and future procurement planning only.

REQUESTED INFORMATION NEEDED:

https://www.bidocala.com/ mailto:bids@ocalafl.gov http://www.bidocala.com/

Please keep in mind that City staff will be reviewing information submitted in response to this RFI. As such, please construct your responses in a plain, clear, and concise manner.

Respondents are requested to provide information on commercially available solutions that provide fault protection and sectionalizing capability for single-phase underground distribution systems. Submittals should include a description of the proposed equipment and its functional operation, including how overcurrent and fault interruption is achieved. Information should also address installation requirements, compatibility with existing underground distribution infrastructure (including vault and pad-mounted applications), maintenance procedures, operational performance, expected service life, and applicable industry standards compliance. Respondents should also highlight how their solution improves system reliability, reduces outage duration, and supports safe and efficient field operations.

Respondents must submit answers to the following questions:

1. Does your solution support single-phase underground distribution applications and provide integrated overcurrent and fault protection? Please describe the protection approach and operating principle in underground fault conditions.

2. How does your solution perform sectionalizing of underground distribution circuits, and how does it isolate faults to minimize the number of customers affected? Please also describe compatibility and integration with existing underground distribution systems.

3. What are the installation requirements and constraints for your equipment, including vault and pad-mounted applications? Please include footprint, space requirements, and any modifications required for retrofit into existing underground infrastructure.

4. What are the maintenance and inspection requirements for your solution, including how maintenance is performed in underground environments, support for fuse replacement or equivalent procedures, and expected service life and reliability considerations?

5. What applicable industry standards and safety requirements does your solution meet (e.g., ANSI, IEEE, NEMA, utility standards), and how does the design ensure safe, durable, and tamper-resistant operation for field personnel?

6. Please include any photos or catalog information that would be beneficial to the department.

PUBLIC RECORDS. All written competitive submissions received by the city pursuant to this RFI concerning this RFI shall be handled in accordance with Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and Article 1, Section 24, of the Florida Constitution.

(a) Sealed proposal responses or replies received by the City in response to its solicitations are exempt from public disclosure until such time as the City provides notice of an intended decision or until thirty (30) days after the opening of the proposals, whichever is earlier. If the City rejects all proposals or replies pursuant to this solicitation and provides notice of its intent to reissue the solicitation, then the rejected proposals or replies remain exempt from public disclosure until such time that the City provides notice of an intended decision concerning the reissued solicitation or until the City withdraws the reissued solicitation. A proposal or reply shall not be exempt from public disclosure longer than twelve (12) months after the City's initial notice rejecting all proposals or replies.

(b) Upon award recommendation or ten (10) days after opening, bids become “public records” and shall be subject to public disclosure consistent with Chapter 119 (Public Records) and Section

815.045 (Trade Secret Information), Florida Statutes. Should bidders/proposers consider any information related to their proposal or the services to be provided to City to be proprietary, a trade secret, or otherwise constitute confidential material under Florida or federal law, bidder/proposer shall designate such portion of the material as such by clearly marking it as CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, or TRADE SECRET and submit both a non-redacted and redacted copy of their submission. The redacted copy shall only exclude or obliterate the exact portions claimed to be confidential, proprietary, or trade secret. Additionally, bidder/proposer shall state the basis for the exemption that it contends is applicable to the record, to include the statutory citation to an exemption created or afforded by statute.

(c) THE CITY WILL MAKE NO EFFORT TO VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT THE REDACTED

MATERIAL IS EXEMPT FROM CHAPTER 119, FLORIDA STATUTES. THAT DETERMINATION

IS TOTALLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BIDDER/PROPOSER AND THE

BIDDER/PROPOSER SHALL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFENDING ITS

DETERMINATION THAT THE REDACTED PORTIONS OF ITS RESPONSE ARE

CONFIDENTIAL, TRADE SECRET, OR NOT OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE.

PROPOSER SHALL PROTECT, DEFEND, AND INDEMNIFY THE CITY FOR ANY AND ALL

CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO PROPOSER’S DETERMINATION THAT THE

REDACTED PORTIONS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE. IF THE PROPOSER FAILS

TO SUBMIT A REDACTED COPY OF ITS SUBMISSION, ANY CLAIM OF CONFIDENTIALITY

IS WAIVED, AND THE CITY SHALL BE AUTHORIZED AND REQUIRED TO PRODUCE THE

ENTIRE DOCUMENT OR RECORD IN ITS ANSWER TO A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FOR

SAID RECORDS.