275-Ton Air-Cooled Chiller Replacement

The City of Ocala is seeking a licensed mechanical contractor to supply and install a new 275-ton air-cooled chiller system at City Hall and the Customer Service Center, located at 110 SE Watula Avenue in Ocala, Florida. The procurement involves replacing an existing 247-ton chiller with a new packaged air-cooled chiller featuring a VFD screw compressor, with approved manufacturers limited to Trane or an equivalent. Bidders must be licensed mechanical contractors in Florida with a minimum of five years of experience in mechanical services, and must provide three references from similar completed projects. The project requires installation within thirty days of the notice to proceed, with HVAC systems remaining operational during normal business hours (7 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday). A mandatory pre-bid meeting was held on November 10, 2025, with an optional site visit scheduled for November 21, 2025, and all follow-up questions must be submitted through ProRFx no later than November 24, 2025, by 5:00 PM. The final bid deadline is set for December 2, 2025, at 2:00 PM, with bids to be submitted electronically via ProRFx.

The solicitation does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. No incumbent vendor information is provided in the documentation. The contractor must perform a minimum of 30% of the work with its own forces and obtain City approval for any subcontractor services. Required insurance includes $1,000,000 per occurrence Commercial General Liability, $1,000,000 combined limit Commercial Automotive Liability, and Workers' Compensation per Florida statutory requirements. The contractor must provide a five-year material and labor warranty against operational failure, with monthly progress reports submitted to the City Project Manager. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the procurement will be awarded on a lump sum basis to the lowest responsible bidder meeting all requirements. Any potential contract renewals would be subject to negotiation, with price increases limited to 3% annually unless justified by market conditions, and such requests must be submitted with CPI-U documentation at least 90 days before the contract term expires.