DMH Small Purchase CMHC Sprinkler Head Replacements - Basement Level REBID

Chester Mental Health Center, under the Illinois Department of Mental Health, is seeking bids for replacement of approximately 140 sprinkler heads in the basement level of the hospital's wet pipe fire suppression system under a small purchase rebid, with proposals due October 26, 2026. A mandatory onsite pre-bid meeting and walkthrough is required prior to bid submission. The prime contractor must perform a minimum of 51% of total contract work on-site using its own directly employed workers and owned or rented equipment; failure to meet this threshold at bid submission or any post-award deviation without written approval constitutes grounds for immediate termination for cause.

The scope includes furnishing and installing brass pendant, upright, and sidewall sprinkler heads rated 160 degrees Fahrenheit and above for general storage occupancy, with 280-degree Fahrenheit rated heads for areas near heating equipment. All work must comply with NFPA 13 and NFPA 25 standards and CMS Physical Environment requirements. The contractor must supply sprinkler head wrenches, spare wrenches to be turned over to the facility, and six spare heads of each type installed. All removed heads must also be turned over to the facility. Work is restricted to Monday through Friday during designated windows (7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), with one-week advance notice required for initial start and one-workday notice for scheduled work.

The contractor must be licensed and qualified in fire suppression system work, with NICET certification preferred. The project is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, requiring payment of prevailing wage rates for the county where work is performed. Contractors must certify prevailing wage compliance for bids to be considered responsive. During periods when Illinois unemployment exceeds 5% for two consecutive months, at least 90% of laborers must be Illinois residents; exceptions may be requested with supporting documentation. Upon completion, the contractor must provide documentation to the Chief Engineer confirming all replacements, installed head specifications, and verification of post-work testing and system restoration.