Food Services Warehouse Freezer/Cooler Replacement

The St. James Parish School Board is seeking competitive bids for a Food Services Warehouse Freezer/Cooler Replacement Project located at 1876 W Main Street in Lutcher, Louisiana. The procurement involves a comprehensive demolition and replacement of existing walk-in cooler and freezer facilities, including new refrigeration systems, electrical connections, and associated infrastructure. The project will construct a new walk-in cooler measuring approximately 446 square feet and a walk-in freezer measuring approximately 906 square feet, complete with multiple evaporator coils, temperature alarm systems, and network-enabled control systems. Sealed bids will be received until 2:00 pm on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the School Board Office, with a mandatory pre-bid conference scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 10:00 am. The contract will allow the successful bidder 145 calendar days to complete the entire project, with liquidated damages of $1,000 per day for failure to meet substantial completion and punch list requirements. Bidders must submit comprehensive documentation including a bid bond, Louisiana Uniform Public Work Bid Form, and various affidavits verifying employee status and no criminal convictions. The St. James Parish School Board reserves the right to award the contract on whatever basis is most advantageous to the owner.

The bid documents do not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged business enterprises. Bidders are required to comply with standard Louisiana public works contracting requirements, including verification of employee eligibility and criminal background checks. The project will involve complete replacement of existing refrigeration infrastructure, including removing current units, electrical connections, and sprinkler systems. While no incumbent vendor is specifically identified, the new system will require integration with existing building electrical systems, including a new 100A electrical panel fed from the existing Panel "B" with specialized circuits for lighting, evaporator coils, and emergency systems. Electronic bid submissions will be accepted through BidNet Direct, and bid documents can be obtained from Thompson Luke & Associates, LLC in Baton Rouge. Bid documents suggest the project is funded through the school board's capital improvement or maintenance budget, though no specific total project value is explicitly stated. Bidders are prohibited from withdrawing their bids for 45 days after the bid opening, and the school board maintains the right to accept or reject any or all bids.