Design-Build Services for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System

The City of Orlando, located in Orange County, Florida, is seeking design-build services for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems through Request for Proposal (RFP) No. RFP24-0014. The procurement aims to design and construct up to 20 individual PV systems across various City-owned facilities, with a cumulative procurement target of 7.5 MW DC solar systems. Proposed installations will include roof-mounted, carport, trellis, floating platform, and terrestrial solar configurations. Respondents must demonstrate extensive experience, specifically having completed at least ten PV projects of 200kW DC or larger and possessing knowledge of local utility interconnection procedures. The comprehensive design-build services required encompass project coordination, site planning, engineering, permitting, construction, utility interconnection, system testing, operations and maintenance, and training. The contract will span five years, consisting of a two-year base contract with three potential one-year extensions. Proposals were due electronically by January 19, 2024, at 2:00 pm local time, with a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting held on November 10, 2023. Evaluation criteria will assess team qualifications, past performance, local business proximity, and design-build fee, with a total possible score of 100 points across multiple rating categories.

The City has established specific participation goals for Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) at 18% and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE) at 6%, with additional opportunities for Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) participation. Respondents must be licensed Florida design-builders, architects, or engineers, with strict requirements for professional qualifications. The procurement includes Davis-Bacon wage determinations, mandating prevailing wage rates for various construction trades and worker classifications in Orange County. While no specific incumbent vendors were mentioned, the solicitation requires detailed post-selection documentation, including a Design-Build Pre-Construction Agreement that outlines compensation structures, insurance requirements, and compliance expectations. The agreement establishes a contingency fund to be mutually agreed upon and requires contractors to use E-verify for workers and maintain detailed financial records subject to audit. Although a precise budget range was not explicitly stated, the multi-year contract and 7.5 MW DC system procurement suggest a significant potential investment in solar infrastructure for the City of Orlando.