IFB - Vehicle Exhaust Evacuation System Replacement in San Bernardino County

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Administration Division of Procurement and Contracts is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB #32A0684) for the removal and replacement of a vehicle exhaust evacuation system (EES) at the Caltrans District 32 Equipment Shop located at 320 South Sierra Way, San Bernardino, California. The project scope requires contractors to remove and legally dispose of the existing EES and install a comprehensive new system consisting of twelve motorized hose reels with dampers, two motorized hose reels without dampers, fourteen wall or post mount switches, fourteen silicone nomex hoses rated to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, fourteen rubber nozzles, six exhaust canes, one 5.5 horsepower fan motor, one inlet adapter, one pressure transducer, one variable frequency device, and approximately 400 feet of metal ducting that must connect to existing roof-penetrating ductwork without disturbing roof materials or asbestos-containing materials. A mandatory site inspection is scheduled for April 14, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., with written questions due by April 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.; bids must be submitted by April 23, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., with bid opening at 2:30 p.m. the same day and an estimated award date of April 30, 2026. The agreement term runs from May 18, 2026, through May 17, 2029, with work to be completed within 90 business days of the Notice to Proceed during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., excluding state holidays. Prospective bidders must hold a current and valid California Contractors State License Board license, with qualification options including a C-20 (Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor) license, a B (General Building Contractor) license with C-20 subcontractor, a C-61/D-34 and C-43 (Sheet Metal Contractor) license combination, or a B license with appropriate specialty subcontractor, and must maintain these licenses throughout the contract duration.

The total bid proposal must not exceed $461,000.00, with pricing structured as lump-sum amounts for removal and installation work, an hourly rate for unforeseen labor at $8 per hour, and a materials/parts allowance capped at 10 percent of the subtotal. Prevailing wage requirements apply if the total bid exceeds $15,000, and the work is subject to state prevailing wage rates for San Bernardino County, California Labor Code requirements, and Cal-OSHA compliance. The procurement includes a 3 percent Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation requirement with an incentive program and a 25 percent Small Business (SB) participation goal. Bidders must provide a Payment Bond equal to 100 percent of the total contract amount if the bid is $25,000 or more, and insurance requirements include Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, Automobile Liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, and Workers' Compensation coverage. All materials must be new with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) labels, and contractors must provide a one-year warranty against defects for repair work and a two-year warranty for new installations.