Chiller Replacement at New Town Elementary

Union County Public Schools (UCPS) in Waxhaw, North Carolina is soliciting sealed bids for the replacement of two air-cooled chillers and associated pumping equipment at New Town Elementary School through a Request for Proposal process. The procurement requires contractors to provide a complete turnkey installation including all labor, equipment, materials, permits, fees, inspections, testing and balancing, system flushing, chemical treatment, and commissioning support. Each chiller must have a minimum capacity of 158 tons, operate at 95°F ambient conditions, and deliver 44°F chilled water at 375 GPM with a maximum pressure drop of 10 feet. The project scope also includes installation of two primary chilled water pumps (5 HP and 20 HP) and one secondary variable-frequency-drive pump (25 HP). Approved equipment manufacturers include Carrier, Trane, and Daikin for chillers, with Bell & Gossett, Armstrong, and Taco as approved pump manufacturers; all equipment must meet AHRI Standard 550/590 and ASHRAE 90.1-2019 efficiency requirements. An informal pre-bid meeting is mandatory on March 20, 2026 at 9:00 AM EST at the school site, written questions must be submitted by 1:00 PM on March 26, 2026, and sealed bids are due by 2:00 PM EST on April 8, 2026. Substantial completion is required by August 18, 2026, prior to the start of the school year. The base contract includes a five-year warranty for parts, labor, and refrigerant charge, with an optional ten-year warranty available as Alternate M1, and bidders must submit shop drawings, equipment certifications, testing and balancing reports, and operation and maintenance manuals.

UCPS encourages minority and women-owned business participation and requires bidders to meet or exceed a 10% subcontractor utilization goal per North Carolina's Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program. The project must integrate with the existing Trane Tracer SC+ building automation system, though Addendum No. 1 clarifies that the actual onsite controls are Tridium N4 systems, and contractors should consult specification 230900 for specific building automation system requirements. Southwest Engineers (Jordan Winstead, 252-521-1981) has been identified as the water treatment chemical representative. Electrical service is available at 460V, 3-phase with existing utility infrastructure noted at the site. No incumbent contractor has been identified for this project. The base bid includes a $40,000 allowance, representing 10% of the total Base Bid amount, though the specific overall project budget or award value range is not disclosed in the available documents. Bidders must submit a Prequalification Form for Single Prime Contractors as part of their bid response, and project award will occur after the winning bid's relevant paperwork has been reviewed and approved.