Chiller repair and maintenance

The Metropolitan Airports Commission is requesting proposals for chiller repair and maintenance services at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and St. Paul Downtown Airport (STP), with proposals due September 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., and a mandatory pre-proposal meeting and facility tour on August 24, 2026 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Vendors must meet four minimum qualifications to be eligible: at least five years' experience servicing Trane, McQuay, and York chillers; ability to provide two-hour emergency response 24/7/365 with replacement parts availability; a minimum of seven certified chiller technicians; and stocked routine repair items for each chiller make and model with documented 24-hour availability for non-stocked items. Prevailing wage rates apply in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. Vendors must carry comprehensive insurance with minimum general liability limits of $5 million per occurrence and comply with airport badging requirements, EPA refrigerant handling standards, and extensive safety protocols. A Workforce Certificate is required for contracts exceeding $100,000, and an Equal Pay Certificate for contracts exceeding $500,000 under Minnesota Department of Human Rights requirements.

The scope covers scheduled maintenance across multiple chiller units, 90 hours of annual technician labor, and emergency repair services. An addendum issued September 1 clarifies that the Commission performs condenser coil cleaning on air-cooled chillers; contractors should exclude this from base bid pricing. Repairs to internal components (tubes, tube supports, end sheets) are excluded from base pricing and billed separately. For three Trane chillers at Terminal 2 scheduled for replacement by December 2026, factory representatives will handle shutdown and startup services in year one; contractors should exclude these. Refrigerant charges and labor for maintaining full loads are excluded and billed separately.

The contract term is three years (November 1, 2026 through October 31, 2029) with one optional three-year renewal, subject to Commission approval and annual price increases not exceeding 3 percent. Repair parts are invoiced separately with a maximum 5 percent markup above list price. Liquidated damages of $250 per hour apply for failure to meet the two-hour emergency response requirement. Vendor inquiries are due August 27, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Contract award is anticipated by October 5, 2026, with Commission approval on October 19 and project commencement December 1. Evaluation criteria total 1,000 points weighted equally across service approach, personnel qualifications, related work experience, and financial proposals. Proposals must be submitted through the Bonfire platform.