Absorption Equipment and Chiller Service

The Life Skills & Transition Center (LSTC) in North Dakota is soliciting bids for comprehensive preventative maintenance services for absorption chiller and air conditioning equipment located in the Powerhouse and Central Receiving buildings. The procurement is structured as an Invitation for Bid (IFB) 325-25-990-029, specifically targeting two Trane absorption chillers and two Trane rooftop air conditioner units. Required services include annual spring start-up, detailed preventative maintenance, system analysis, mid-year sampling, and potential additional services such as ammonia removal. Bidders must participate in a mandatory pre-bid meeting on April 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM CT, which will allow potential contractors to inspect the equipment. The bid response is due on May 2, 2025, at 12 PM CT, with the initial contract term running from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, and potential options for up to three 24-month renewals. The contract requires extensive technical expertise, including comprehensive start-up procedures, system inspections, refrigerant level checks, safety control evaluations, and laboratory analysis of system components. Award will be determined by the lowest-cost bidder meeting requirements for all eight bid items.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Contractors must provide a dedicated service provider and sales representative, with pricing required to be firm throughout the contract period. Mileage, per diem, and lodging expenses must be included in the unit pricing, and the contract is tax-exempt. While a specific total contract value is not disclosed, the bid requires detailed unit pricing for various service components across the two-year initial contract term. The technical requirements suggest that successful bidders must have specialized knowledge of absorption chillers and rooftop air conditioning units, with capabilities to perform complex maintenance tasks including taking complete operating logs, checking system pressures and temperatures, collecting and analyzing refrigerant and lithium bromide samples, installing inhibitors, checking motor starters, and adjusting water temperatures. The contract also requires contractors to review system performance directly with state personnel, indicating a collaborative and technically sophisticated procurement process.