Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) Services Mariner High School - HVAC Renovation.

The School Board of Lee County, Florida is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) Services to design, construct, and administer a comprehensive HVAC renovation project at Mariner High School located at 701 Chiquita Boulevard North, Cape Coral, Florida. The procurement seeks qualified MEP firms to provide design services, construction administration, and third-party commissioning services for a scope of work that includes air handling unit replacement, unit ventilators, chilled water piping systems, ductwork installation, exhaust systems, variable air volume (VAV) boxes, building automation system integration, and energy efficiency improvements. Respondents must demonstrate financial capability and provide evidence of three to five similar projects completed within the past seven years, along with three client references detailing their MEP design and construction experience. The evaluation process utilizes a two-phase approach consisting of written response scoring (100 points) across six weighted criteria including Past Experience and Client References (30%), Methodology and Project Approach/Resources (44%), Financials/Litigation (10%), Workload/District Projects (12%), and Local Participation (4%), followed by oral presentations scored on five criteria including Proposed Project Team (22%), Methodology and Project Management/Timeline (40%), Cost Controls (15%), Creativity and Innovation (12%), and Knowledge of Project Site and Local Participation (9%). Electronic qualification statements must be submitted through the Bonfire Platform by 1:00 PM EST on February 18, 2026; a mandatory pre-submission conference and site walk-through will occur on January 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST at the project location, written questions are due by 2:00 PM EST on February 4, 2026, the Selection Committee will meet for scoring on April 7, 2026, finalist presentations are anticipated in April 2026, and School Board action is expected in May 2026.

The District offers a local vendor preference program applicable to firms with a place of business in Lee County, Florida, or those providing goods or services to the School Board for three consecutive years with personnel and equipment located within Lee County; the District retains discretionary authority to determine local vendor qualification. All respondents must comply with federal contract requirements including Davis-Bacon wage standards, E-Verify employment eligibility verification, Buy American provisions for commercial food products, and prevailing wage determination compliance, with all MEP personnel and subcontractors required to complete background screening per Florida Statutes before performing services on campus. Professional licensing documentation, insurance requirements naming the School Board as additional insured, and multiple compliance certifications regarding debarment, drug-free workplace status, public entity crimes, scrutinized company lists, and Israel boycott prohibitions are mandatory submittal requirements. The target total project cost ranges between $8 million and $12 million, inclusive of design, construction, labor, and materials, with compensation determined by the State of Florida Department of Management Services Fee Guide Calculator for Architecture and Engineering Services, utilizing percentage-based fee distribution across project phases (15% Schematic Design, 20% Design Development, 35% Construction Documents, 5% Bidding, and 25% Construction Phase). The contract will commence upon Board approval and remain in effect through project completion, with the option to extend for up to 180 days by mutual agreement; no incumbent contractor or existing infrastructure integration requirements are specified in the solicitation documents.