Chilled Water Infrastructure Expansion North Chiller Plant

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking bids for pre-purchased electrical equipment, specifically medium voltage switchgear, as part of the Chilled Water Infrastructure Expansion North Chiller Plant project. The procurement covers a comprehensive electrical infrastructure package including 15kV switchgear lineup, circuit breakers, protective relays, metering, and control systems to be housed in a weatherproof walk-in enclosure. The technical specifications require arc-resistant switchgear rated at 12.47kV with a 25kA fault current and a main bus rated at 1200A. Bid solicitation IFB #3000012109 was issued on January 30, 2025, with written questions due by February 7, 2025, at 1:00 PM EST, and final bid submissions required by February 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM EST. The equipment is scheduled for delivery in November 2026, with installation, start-up, and commissioning planned from November 2026 through February 2027. Preferred equipment manufacturers include Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) for protective relays and meters, with Schneider Electric and ABB listed as acceptable alternates. The University intends to award the contract to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder meeting all specified technical requirements.

The University has established a goal of 10% participation from Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) as 1st or 2nd tier subcontractors, encouraging diverse business participation in the procurement process. Vendors must be authorized by the manufacturer to distribute or resell the products and provide a minimum 12-month warranty or the manufacturer's warranty, whichever is longer. All bid responses must be submitted electronically through the North Carolina electronic Vendor Portal (eVP), with pricing to be submitted FOB Destination and including all transportation costs in the total bid price. While no specific budget range is disclosed, the complexity of the electrical infrastructure suggests a significant capital investment. The University reserves the right to make separate awards for different line items or cancel the invitation for bid entirely. No pre-bid conference or site visit is required for this procurement, and the contract will be awarded as soon as possible after the bid opening, with a focus on meeting the precise technical specifications for the North Chiller Plant infrastructure expansion project.