Founders Building Hot Water system rennovation

Southwestern Community College, a state agency in North Carolina, is requesting bids on a turnkey hot water system renovation for Founders Hall under IFB #2026-10-3, with sealed bids due November 12, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. EST and a mandatory site visit on October 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. EST.

The scope is removal of an existing electric tanked water heater and installation of four Navien NPE-240A2 tankless units in the boiler room, upgraded recirculation system with internal recirculation pumps on all units and an external recirculation loop serving the rest of the building, and insulation of all hot water piping and cold water piping in conditioned spaces. The vendor must isolate the commercial kitchen on existing tankless units to ensure uninterrupted service during installation. Work must coordinate around class schedules with hot water service interrupted for 1–2 days. The vendor is responsible for all permits, inspections, and coordination with facility staff.

Navien units carry manufacturer warranties of 8 years on heat exchangers, 5 years on parts, and 1 year on labor with recirculation. The system is designed with built-in redundancy: if one unit goes offline, the remaining three continue service without noticeable interruption.

Vendors must be registered with the North Carolina Secretary of State and maintain eVP vendor status. All personnel performing work on state property require background checks at vendor expense. Bidders must submit at least three customer references using the state form and demonstrate financial stability through certification. Vendors must designate a contract manager, provide bi-weekly progress reports, coordinate third-party inspections, and deliver as-builts, warranties, and service manuals. No subcontracting is permitted without prior written state consent. Payment occurs after inspections and state acceptance. Contract award targets a date to be determined, with work commencing within 30 business days of execution. Bid questions are due November 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST.