Cooling Towers Inspection and Cleaning

The South Carolina State Fiscal Accountability Authority, Division of Procurement Services, is seeking a qualified contractor to perform cooling tower inspections, cleaning, and maintenance services for 11 state buildings located in Columbia, SC. The procurement is structured as an Invitation for Bid (IFB) issued on behalf of the Department of Administration's Division of Facilities Management and Property Services. The contractor will be responsible for providing all labor, tools, and equipment for comprehensive cooling tower maintenance, with the state providing only belts and automatic greaser cartridges. Key requirements include having licensed and certified technicians, providing 24/7 emergency response, and adhering to ASHRAE and NFPA standards. The contract covers 16 cooling tower locations with unit pricing for each site and includes hourly labor rates for regular (8am-5pm) and after-hours work. Materials for repairs will be billed at cost plus 17%. The bid submission deadline is March 21, 2025, at 11:00 AM ET, with a non-mandatory pre-bid conference scheduled via Microsoft Teams on March 13, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET. Questions from potential bidders are due by March 13, 2025, at 4:00 PM, and award notification is expected on March 27, 2025.

The contract term is one year with four optional one-year renewal terms, spanning from April 8, 2025, through April 7, 2030. While no specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned, contractors must be licensed and insured in South Carolina. The successful vendor must complete all work within 60 days of receiving a purchase order, with liquidated damages of $500 per day assessed for delays. The cooling towers are manufactured by various companies including B.A.C, Marley, EVAPCO, and Reymsa, with equipment located across multiple state buildings in Columbia, such as the Archives & History building, Columbia Mills, Energy Facilities, and the Gressette Collins building. Most facilities operate Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 5 PM, with six locations having Saturday-only operations. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the detailed pricing structure suggests a comprehensive and potentially significant maintenance contract for the state's HVAC infrastructure.