Design and Build Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Systems at Five Schools

The City of Waterbury and Waterbury Public Schools issued Request for Proposal (RFP) 8595 on October 24, 2025, for the design and build of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at five school sites: Wendell L. Cross Elementary School (151-0310PV), M.M. Generali Elementary School (151-0311PV), Sprague Elementary School (151-0312PV), B.W. Tinker Elementary School (151-0313PV), and West Side Middle School (151-0314PV). The procurement seeks a single contractor to design, permit, construct, and commission turnkey front-of-meter, Buy-All-Sell-All solar photovoltaic systems at all five locations, with each system including data acquisition capabilities and lobby-mounted kiosks for real-time energy production display. Proposers must be Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (CT DAS) Prequalified Construction Contractors holding current SOLAR ELECTRIC classification certification to be eligible for submission. The scope of work encompasses detailed system design specifications including module manufacturer and wattage, inverter specifications, rapid shutdown devices, racking systems, monitoring equipment, balance of system components, engineering, permitting, interconnection, and all electrical and site/mechanical construction costs, with proposers required to submit firm fixed pricing as total project cost and dollars per watt direct current ($/Wdc). A non-mandatory site visit is scheduled for October 31, 2025, with requests for information due by 2:00 PM on November 6, 2025, and proposals due by 11:30 AM on November 17, 2025. The selected contractor must establish construction commencement by July 3, 2026, for federal Investment Tax Credit safe-harbor purposes, with substantial completion required within 270 consecutive calendar days of Notice to Proceed and final completion within 365 consecutive calendar days, and the contract agreement period extends through December 31, 2027. The City anticipates preliminary selection notification on or about December 1, 2025, with contract execution anticipated within 45 days of selection.

This procurement includes mandatory set-aside requirements and compliance obligations reflecting Connecticut's prevailing wage standards and the City of Waterbury's workforce development goals. Contractors must comply with Connecticut General Statutes Section 31-53 prevailing wage requirements and set aside a minimum of 25 percent of the state-funded contract portion for subcontractors holding current DAS small business enterprise certification, with 25 percent of that subcontractor allocation reserved for minority, women, and/or disabled-owned businesses. Additionally, contractors must adhere to the City of Waterbury's Good Jobs Ordinance (Chapter 34), which establishes hiring goals requiring 30 percent Waterbury residents, 25 percent apprentices or basic skilled workers, and 70 percent economically disadvantaged individuals among new hires. Performance and financial requirements include submission of a ten percent bid bond or equivalent security with proposals, execution of performance and payment bonds equal to 100 percent of the contract amount upon award, and maintenance of insurance coverage including general liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate), auto liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), workers' compensation at statutory limits, and professional liability ($1,000,000). The selected contractor must provide a two-year workmanship warranty from commissioning and submit quarterly production reports, with corrective action required if actual production falls more than 15 percent below weather-adjusted expectations. The project is funded in whole or in part by Connecticut Department of Administrative Services grant monies; however, the specific estimated total project value or budget range is not detailed in the available solicitation documents.