Academic Building Chiller Replacement_GSC

Gordon State College, operating under the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in Johnson County, Georgia, issued an Invitation to Bid for the complete replacement of the existing air-cooled chiller system and associated pumps at the Academic Building on the GSC campus in Barnesville, Georgia. The project scope includes demolition of the existing CHR-1 chiller, valves, and piping; installation of a new YORK TRANE air-cooled chiller unit rated at 166 tons minimum capacity with specified operating parameters (54°F entering water temperature, 42°F leaving water temperature, 166 GPM water flow); replacement of two redundant 7.5 horsepower chilled water pumps operating at 1,750 RPM; underground piping replacement; application of hydronic heat trace to exposed piping; installation of new pipe supports; electrical modifications including replacement of the 400-ampere three-phase disconnect switch and installation of new 3#250 KCMIL copper conductors; and integration with the Building Management System via variable frequency drives with BACnet/MSTP communication cards. The contract will be awarded on a lump sum basis to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with contractors required to demonstrate a Current Ratio of 1.0 or higher, maintain a Workers' Compensation Experience Modification Rate not exceeding an average of 1.2 over three years, and provide evidence of past successful completion of public works projects on time and within cost and quality standards. All interested contractors were required to attend a mandatory pre-bid meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Facilities Building #5 (419 College Drive, Barnesville, GA); written questions were due by Tuesday, March 24, 2026, with responses and addenda posted by Tuesday, March 31, 2026; and sealed bids were due by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Bid Room in Lambdin Hall. The contractor must complete all work within 180 consecutive calendar days from the issuance of a Proceed Order while coordinating with ongoing building operations to minimize disruption.

No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions on organizational types were identified in the solicitation documents. Contractors and subcontractors were required to comply with the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act and certify compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, with all contractors required to maintain current registration and participation in the federal E-Verify work authorization program throughout the contract period. All insurance and bonding companies must be licensed in Georgia with an A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating of "A-" or better and Financial Size Category of Class V or larger. Bids required a Bid Bond equal to not less than five percent of the bid amount, with performance and payment bonds each equal to 100 percent of the contract sum required prior to contract execution. Air South was selected as the successful offeror with a fixed contract award amount of $269,015.35, with seven unsuccessful bidders (Atlanta City Guys, T&D Mechanical, Greene & Associates, Entek, Mann Mechanical, JM Clayton, and John F. Pennebaker) rejected as they did not submit the lowest bid. The Notice of Award was issued on April 27, 2026, with the apparent successful offeror announced on April 8, 2026, and all protests to be submitted electronically to doas.protests@doas.ga.gov in accordance with the Georgia Procurement Manual.