Battery Testing For Electric Generation and Electric Generating Stations

The City of Tallahassee, located in Leon County, Florida, is soliciting bids through Invitation for Bid (IFB 076-26-RM) for battery load testing services at electric substations and power generation stations. The procurement encompasses comprehensive battery testing and maintenance services for multiple-cell battery banks located at 23 substations, two generating stations (Hopkins Generating Station at 1125 Geddie Road, Tallahassee, FL 32304, and Purdom Generating Station at 667 Port Leon Drive, St. Marks, FL 32355), and mobile battery carts. The contractor must provide all labor, materials, equipment, and supplies necessary to perform modified performance capacity testing in accordance with IEEE standards (IEEE 450 for vented lead acid, IEEE 1188 for VRLA, IEEE 1106 for NiCd, and NERC PRC-005), detailed test evaluations, and comprehensive reporting of findings. The estimated scope includes approximately 20 annual tests, though the City reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of tests, with tests ranging from five to twenty per year. All work must be performed during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding City holidays) and coordinated in advance with the City's Technical Representative, with the City providing escorts during on-site work. Mandatory site visits for prime bidders are required at both locations on May 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., with dates and times subject to change at the City's discretion. Bid submissions through the Bonfire electronic system are due June 16, 2026, by 2:30 p.m., with questions due by June 2, 2026, by 2:30 p.m., and answers provided by addendum on or about June 9, 2026. The contract has a base term of four years with one optional two-year extension period for a total possible duration of six years, with an anticipated award date of on or about June 2026. Award will be made to the responsive and responsible bidder with the lowest total amount based on firm-fixed pricing for each complete battery system load test on a lump-sum basis.

No local business enterprise goals are established for this solicitation; however, local vendor preference points are available to vendors demonstrating a permanent place of business with full-time employees (or at least two part-time employees, or fifty percent local ownership if the vendor has no employees) within Leon, Wakulla, Gadsden, or Jefferson County, Florida for a minimum of six months prior to quote submission, with vendors required to submit copies of county and/or city business licenses. Minority and women business enterprise participation is encouraged but no specific set-asides or restrictions on organization types are identified in the solicitation documents. No incumbent contractor information is provided. The City reserves the right to award to one or multiple vendors. Contractors must maintain Commercial General Liability insurance of $2,000,000 per occurrence, Business Automobile Liability of $1,000,000 per accident, Workers' Compensation with $1,000,000 employer liability coverage, and post a performance bond equal to 100 percent of the contract price. All mandatory compliance documentation must be submitted, including Drug-Free Workplace Certification, Non-Collusion Affidavit, Responsible Vendor Review, Site Visit acknowledgment, Human Trafficking Affidavit, Vendor Conflict of Interest forms, and Federal Form W-9. Specific pricing and total contract values are not disclosed in the solicitation documents; pricing is submitted by respondents on the required Price Schedule (Attachment A) with all costs being firm-fixed and inclusive of labor, supervision, materials, supplies, equipment, tools, transportation, and handling on an F.O.B. Destination basis.