AHEC-19915-R - Library Roof PV Solar Array Installation

The Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) issued a Design-Build Request for Proposals (AHEC-19915-R) for the installation of a solar photovoltaic array on the Auraria Library roof in Denver, Colorado. This two-step procurement process requires prequalification submittals due February 4, 2019, at 2:00 PM, with Step II involving sealed cost proposals due March 8, 2019, at 2:00 PM, and interviews scheduled for March 11, 2019, with contract award projected for March 15, 2019. The project involves designing and constructing approximately 600+ kilowatts of solar capacity on the library's 82,500 square-foot roof, achieving the greatest generation capacity within budget constraints, and includes a mandatory 10-year maintenance program covering inverter replacement and defective component repairs. Key deliverables encompass structural analysis confirming roof capacity to support photovoltaic panel weight combined with existing water ponding conditions of up to eight inches, temporary power provisions for critical building loads during outages, temporary generator provisions if necessary (480V 3-phase 80-kilowatt), electrical integration through one-line diagrams, and compliance with the Carlisle EPDM roofing manufacturer guidelines to preserve the existing 20-year warranty. Minimum qualifications require firms to demonstrate design and construction experience on at least two 500+ kilowatt solar projects completed within the prior four years using Colorado-based expertise, demonstrated Design/Build contracting experience on similar projects, and bonding capability up to $2,000,000. Cost proposals will be scored on a cost-per-kilowatt-generated basis and weighted at 60 percent of the final evaluation, while qualifications account for 40 percent, with the system required to comply with all codes through AEC-West Code Consultants and integrate with the campus's Energy CAP metering and monitoring system.

The RFP documentation does not identify any specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise restrictions limiting bidder participation. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed in the procurement documents provided. The project requires integration with existing electrical infrastructure, specifically the Auraria Library's electrical distribution system (MDC1 and MDC2) as documented in the one-line electrical diagrams dated January and February 2015, which illustrate the 1600-ampere, 480-volt/277-volt three-phase switchboard and associated transformers and distribution panels throughout the facility. The total approved budget for this Auraria Sustainable Campus Program project is $1,034,409, with a maximum allowable contract cost of $970,000 for all turnkey design, engineering, and installation services. Funding derives from student referendum fees designated for reducing campus reliance on fossil fuels, and AHEC will retain all Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) generated by the system. The design-build entity will utilize the State's lump sum agreement template, with AHEC indicating flexibility in not enforcing provisions deemed unnecessary for solar photovoltaic projects.