Annual Provision of Three-Phase Pad Mounted Transformers

Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU), a municipal electric utility in Alachua County, Florida, is soliciting bids for the annual provision of three-phase pad-mounted transformers on an as-needed basis under ITB released August 11, 2026, with proposals due September 9, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and questions due September 2, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Only transformers from approved manufacturers—Cooper Power Systems, General Electric/Prolec, Howard, ABB/Hitachi, ERMCO, WEG Transformer, and Central Molley, Inc.—will be considered, and only one manufacturer is permitted per bid.

The scope is three-phase pad-mounted transformers complying with ANSI and IEEE standards, with voltage ratings and kVA capacities spanning 25 kVA to 500 kVA, and detailed specifications for tank construction, bushings, cooling systems, temperature controls, grounding, insulation systems, efficiency, impedance, sound levels, nameplate markings, and delivery and packaging conditions. Transformers must meet ISO 9001 certification. Bidders must submit certified test reports indicating actual loss data; GRU will inspect delivered units to verify compliance with no-load and total losses tolerances. All materials and equipment are FOB Destination with freight included. Pricing must be firm and submitted on the Pricing Response Form with all line items included; no bid bond is required.

The contract term runs September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029, with an option to renew for one additional two-year period and a possible six-month extension. Price adjustments are permitted at each contract anniversary, capped at 5 percent or the change in Producer's Price Index and Consumer Price Index (whichever is lower) as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, with supporting documentation required.

Award will be based on evaluation of price, lead time, understanding of approach, warranty, company process qualifications, experience, and references, at GRU's discretion, applied to individual line items or combinations thereof. An optional evaluation meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2026 at 12:00 p.m., with Intent to Award on September 25, 2026. Bidders must maintain General Liability insurance of $1,000,000, Automobile Liability of $500,000, and statutory Workers Compensation; comply with Florida's e-Verify requirements; and comply with anti-human trafficking provisions. Bids must be submitted electronically through the GRU e-Procurement Portal. GRU is exempt from Florida sales taxes and reserves the right to purchase from other qualified manufacturers if the primary supplier fails to perform.