Miscellaneous HVAC Services to The Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

Essex County, New Jersey is requesting sealed bids for miscellaneous HVAC services—preventative maintenance, inspections, rehabilitations, and improvements—at the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, Bid 26-183, with bids due September 30, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. A mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for September 24, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the facility.

Work must be completed within thirty calendar days from notice to proceed. The scope covers HVAC system preventative maintenance, inspections, rehabilitations, and improvements at specified areas throughout the zoo.

Bidders must submit one original and two copies of sealed proposals to the Essex County Office of Purchasing, 465 Dr. MLK Blvd, Room 335, Newark, New Jersey 07102. A bid guarantee of ten percent of the total bid price, not to exceed $20,000, payable to Essex County, must accompany each bid. The successful bidder shall provide a performance bond equal to one hundred percent of the contract amount, a labor and materials payment bond, and a one-year maintenance bond.

Contractors must comply with the New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act and register on the NJ Wage Hub for certified payroll submissions. Additional requirements include Public Works Contractor Registration, Business Registration Certificate, Standard Construction Insurance with minimum commercial general liability coverage of $1 million per occurrence, workers' compensation insurance, and a certificate of insurance naming Essex County as an additional insured. Affirmative action compliance is mandatory, including submission of Initial Project Workforce Report (Form AA-201) and monthly project workforce reports.

Liquidated damages are assessed at $500 per calendar day for failure to complete work on schedule. Two percent retainage is withheld from interim payments until final project acceptance. Essex County reserves the right to reject any or all bids and award the contract to the lowest responsible responsive bidder.