Fire Station 14 Solar Water Heater Replacement

Sarasota County is seeking a qualified contractor to replace the hurricane-damaged solar water heater collector at Fire Station 14, located at 8821 South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, Florida. The procurement is an Invitation for Quotes (IFQ) requiring the removal of the existing Alternate Energy (AE-32) solar thermal collector and installation of a new AE-32 or approved equivalent unit. Specific deliverables include system verification, mounting surface inspection and repair, proper installation with correct pitch and orientation, plumbing connections, system pressure testing, fluid refilling, air bleeding, system restart and testing, and permit acquisition. Contractors must hold an active Certified Plumbing Contractor license and provide two references demonstrating solar water heater collector repair, replacement, and installation experience within the past seven years. The quote submission deadline is December 22, 2025, with a maximum quote submission of $150,000.00 per project and up to 10 percent contingency allowable with County project manager approval. Interested contractors can find detailed solicitation documents on the OpenGov Procurement portal.

The contract opportunity does not specify specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, and local or American business preferences do not apply due to grant funding requirements. The project is funded through disaster recovery grants, likely from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance, including Workers' Compensation with $500,000.00 employers liability limits, Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000.00 per occurrence and $2,000,000.00 aggregate, and Business Automobile Liability of $1,000,000.00 combined single limit. The contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible offeror submitting the lowest total bid price, with the contract term extending for the duration of the project. All work and materials will be warranted for one year or the standard manufacturer warranty, whichever is greater. The solar water heating system components include an Alternate Energy Technologies AE-32 solar collector and American Water Heaters residential electric direct solar water heater storage tanks available in 65, 80, and 119-gallon capacities.