Fire Rescue Headquarters Generator

The Town of Hilton Head Island is soliciting sealed bids through Invitation for Bid (IFB) 2026-05 for the furnishing and installation of a complete diesel generator and automatic transfer switch system at the Fire Rescue Headquarters Campus located at 10 Park Lane, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29928. The procurement requires qualified contractors to provide and install a 350-kilowatt diesel generator set, an automatic transfer switch, a 1,500-gallon double-walled diesel fuel tank with 48-inch diameter specifications, and all associated wiring, feeders, conduit, grounding systems, and electrical connections linking the existing transformer, existing Main Distribution Panel, new generator, and new automatic transfer switch in compliance with the National Electrical Code and all local codes and ordinances. Bidders must submit lump sum pricing through the Town's Procurement Portal (hiltonheadislandsc.bonfirehub.com) by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on April 14, 2026, with public bid opening via Microsoft Teams at 9:30 AM Eastern Time on April 15, 2026; written questions must be submitted by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on April 7, 2026. Required qualifications include a minimum of three years of experience providing similar goods and services, submission of three client references with complete contact information and brief project summaries, current South Carolina contractor's license, and proof of one million dollars in general liability insurance with the Town named as an additional insured. All contractors must execute the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act Affidavit, maintain E-Verify compliance for all newly hired employees, and agree to complete the contractor's obligations within a contract term commencing upon the effective date and expiring upon completion of all work, with the contractor required to order the generator within 24 hours of contract execution and notify the Town within 24 hours of equipment receipt. The Town will award the contract to the responsive and responsible bidder with the lowest overall cost, considering applicable evaluation factors and local vendor preferences.

The procurement includes provisions for local vendor certification, which provides a five percent price reduction (maximum $10,000) for evaluation purposes only, though the final contract price reflects the original bid amount if a certified local vendor is awarded; certified disadvantaged businesses receive preference in tied-bid situations and must provide proof of current government certification claiming disadvantaged business status. Bidders with total bid costs equal to or exceeding $100,000 must submit a bid surety in the form of a certified check or bid bond equal to at least five percent of the bid amount, and performance and payment bonds (each at 100 percent of contract price) are required within ten calendar days of contract award; failure to execute the contract as required results in forfeiture of the surety amount as liquidated damages. The solicitation documents indicate that the anticipated contract value exceeds $100,000 based on the surety requirement threshold, though no specific budget ceiling or award value range is explicitly stated in the procurement materials. The technical specifications reference a Gillette Model SPVD-3500-3-2 generator and Generac Model TX301 automatic transfer switch as the basis of design, and the contractor must guarantee all materials and workmanship free from defects for a minimum of one year from the date of acceptance. Integration requirements include coordination with the existing electrical infrastructure at the Fire Rescue Headquarters Campus, including the current transformer and Main Distribution Panel, and the contractor must provide permanent typed circuit use lists in each panel upon completion; the Town retains the right to reject any or all bids and may terminate the agreement for convenience with written notice.