Federal Pacific Electrical Switch-Gear Replacement at Fields Road ES

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland is soliciting sealed bids for the Federal Pacific Electrical Switch-Gear Replacement project at Fields Road Elementary School in Gaithersburg, Maryland under IFB #9789.1. This invitation for bid seeks a qualified electrical contractor to remove and replace the existing Federal Pacific electrical switch-gear and main feeder wire systems, including furnishing all materials, labor, equipment, and delivery necessary for complete installation and compliance with MCPS specifications, manufacturer requirements, and the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) and applicable electrical codes. Key deliverables include installation of a new 277/480-volt, 3-phase, 4-wire service entrance switchboard, new circuit breaker panelboards at 208/120 volts and 480/277 volts, conduit systems, grounding and bonding infrastructure, and surge protective devices throughout the distribution system. The contractor must complete a comprehensive fault-current analysis, protective device coordination study, and arc flash hazard analysis in accordance with IEEE 399, IEEE 1584, and NFPA 70E standards prior to equipment ordering, and submit shop drawings, product data, and coordination drawings for approval. All electrical components must be UL listed and labeled, with quality assurance testing including insulation resistance tests, continuity tests, and short-circuit tests conducted per NETA acceptance testing specifications. Required qualifications include a Maryland Master Electrician and Electrical Business License, minimum five years of experience performing similar work, and authorization documentation confirming status as an authorized installer/representative for the equipment offered. Sealed bids must be submitted by June 3, 2026, at 2:00 P.M. to the Montgomery County Board of Education Department of Procurement at 45 West Gude Drive, Suite 3100, Rockville, Maryland 20850-9999, with on-site work scheduled to begin June 21, 2027, and completion required by August 20, 2027.

The procurement establishes a minimum 10% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) participation goal, requiring bidders to submit MBE compliance documentation and good faith efforts documentation or face disqualification. Acceptable equipment manufacturers are limited to Schneider Electric/Square D, ABB/General Electric, Eaton Corporation, and Siemens Industry for switchboards and panelboards. Bids exceeding $100,000 must include a Bid Bond equal to 10% of the bid amount, with the successful bidder required to furnish Performance and Payment Bonds each in the amount of 100% of the project award within five working days of award notification. All materials must be new and free from defects, with asbestos-free laboratory analysis reports from EPA-accredited laboratories required within five working days of award. The contractor must provide comprehensive business insurance with minimum limits of $500,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for property damage, and furnish an unconditional two-year warranty on all equipment and workmanship from the date of acceptance. Late charges of $500 per calendar day for the first five days and $1,000 per day thereafter apply for delays beyond the completion date, with the final payment contingent upon MCPS acceptance and operational demonstration. While the specific project budget is not disclosed in the procurement documents, the contract term extends one year from Board of Education approval, with MCPS reserving the right to extend for up to three additional one-year periods at existing prices and terms.