Benzie County Central Schools Paging Upgrade

Benzie County Central Schools is seeking qualified contractors to provide a comprehensive paging system upgrade across three school facilities: Betsie Valley Elementary School, Benzie Central High School, and Lake Ann Elementary School. The project scope includes the design, procurement, installation, configuration, and testing of a new integrated paging and bell system with all associated equipment, labor, materials, and utilities necessary for full system implementation. The deliverables encompass 12 distinct installation zones across the three buildings, with detailed technical specifications covering audio/video cabling, speaker installations, surface raceway systems, exterior horn raceway and mounting, and Bluetooth and line-level audio input plate installations as outlined in comprehensive bid drawings and specifications. Qualified bidders must be fully licensed and insured communications contractors authorized by the paging system manufacturer, with certified technicians and demonstrated experience on similar projects; all contractors must pass background checks including Michigan State Police verification. The bid response deadline is October 8, 2021, at 3:00 PM for emailed PDF submissions to Commtech Design at bids@commtechdesign.com, with a non-mandatory pre-bid meeting scheduled for September 28, 2021, at 11:00 AM at Benzie Central High School and all questions due by October 1, 2021, at 3:00 PM. Work access is restricted to 3:30 PM to 11:00 PM Monday through Friday, with all classroom and hallway work limited to summer or non-school hours, and the project completion deadline is March 1, 2022, with 30 days of system operation required without failures or outages. Evaluation criteria include compliance with bidding documents, price, responsiveness to owner requirements, experience with similar projects, manufacturer relationships, personnel certifications, and any ongoing equipment or installation costs.

The bid specifications do not indicate any specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular types of organizations, though all contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including $1,000,000 general liability combined single limit, $500,000 workers' compensation per injury, and $2,000,000 umbrella insurance. All bidders are required to submit a five percent bid bond in the form of a certified check or surety bond, with performance bonds required for contracts valued at $50,000 or more at one hundred percent of contract value. No incumbent vendors or current contractor information is provided in the available documentation, nor is specific budget or award value information disclosed; however, the performance bond requirement for contracts exceeding $50,000 suggests the project is anticipated to be valued at or above this threshold. The school district retains the right to waive bid formalities and reject any or all proposals, and the owner will retain ten percent of the total project cost until final system completion, ensuring contractor accountability for quality deliverables throughout the implementation period.