Generator Replacement at Various FEMS Engine Houses And Facilities

The District of Columbia Department of General Services (DGS) is issuing an Invitation for Bids (IFB) DCAM-26-CS-IFB-0007 for a qualified General Contractor to perform replacement and installation of Generator Systems and Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) Systems at eight Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) Engine Houses and facilities throughout Washington, DC, including Engine Houses 3, 7, 9, 14, 16, and 20, plus Training South Lower and Ready Reserve North E24. The scope of work encompasses removal of existing generator and ATS systems with delivery to the DC FEMS-Logistics Warehouse, installation of new natural gas-fueled generators ranging from 75 to 400 kilowatts with associated ATS systems, structural reinforcements as needed, utility coordination with Pepco and Washington Gas, load bank testing, BACnet system integration with existing building automation systems, comprehensive commissioning, and training of DGS and FEMS personnel on equipment operation and maintenance. The contractor must furnish all labor, materials, equipment, and supervision necessary to deliver complete and fully operational systems in accordance with contract documents, applicable codes, and permitting authority requirements, including securing all required building, electrical, plumbing, and public space permits from District agencies. Deliverables include permit-ready shop drawings, field verification of existing conditions, removal and disposal of existing equipment, five-year equipment and material warranties plus one-year workmanship warranties, laminated quick-tips sheets at electrical panels, comprehensive operations and maintenance reports, and two thirty-minute training sessions covering minimum two engine house shifts. The contractor must conduct all work during normal business hours (Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 7 PM) with substantial completion by October 30, 2026, and final completion by November 30, 2026. The pre-bid conference is scheduled for April 13, 2026, at 2:00 PM via Microsoft Teams, with the final day for questions on April 15, 2026, at 4:00 PM; bids are due April 28, 2026, at 12:00 PM with bid opening at 3:30 PM the same day. Evaluation is based solely on the lowest responsive and responsible lump-sum bid price for base work requirements, with diesel-fueled generator alternates and Engine 16 capacity upgrades (300 KW to 350 KW) remaining optional for post-award exercise at the District's discretion.

The solicitation is open to all contractors meeting District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) certification requirements, with a mandatory subcontracting plan requiring that 35 percent of the contract dollar volume be subcontracted to Small Business Enterprises (SBEs) or Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs) if sufficient SBEs are unavailable. Certified Business Enterprises receive bid price reductions ranging from 2 percent to 12 percent maximum depending on certification type, including preferences for small business enterprises (3 percent), resident-owned businesses (5 percent), longtime resident businesses (10 percent), and equity impact enterprises (10 percent). All contractors and subcontractors must comply with Davis-Bacon prevailing wage determinations effective January 2, 2026, with wage rates ranging from $13.04 to $57.16 per hour depending on trade classification, the District's Living Wage Act requiring a minimum of $17.50 per hour (increasing to $18.00 per hour July 1, 2025), and First Source Employment Agreement provisions mandating that contractors make good faith efforts to ensure that 51 percent of all new hires are District residents for projects valued between $300,000 and $5 million. Contractors must integrate new BACnet-based building automation systems with existing Intellimation systems already in place at FEMS facilities and must coordinate with the ProjectTeam platform for project management and documentation. The District has established a DGS-controlled contingency allowance of $10,000 per engine house for unforeseen conditions discovered during construction, and liquidated damages of $500 per day apply for failure to meet the substantial completion date. While specific contract award values are not disclosed in the IFB, the project scope across eight facilities with generators ranging from 75 to 400 kilowatts and comprehensive installation, permitting, and commissioning requirements indicates a substantial multi-million-dollar procurement, with individual engine house contracts to be awarded separately to the lowest evaluated responsive and responsible bidder for each location.