Plant City Utilities Communication Tower Generator Replacement (FEMA)

The City of Plant City is requesting bids to furnish and install a replacement standby generator system serving the municipal communication tower under IFB 26-056UM-IFB, with proposals due December 3, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and questions due November 16, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. The project is federally funded through FEMA and subject to federal labor standards provisions, including prevailing wage and fringe benefit requirements, apprenticeship compliance, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act overtime, and OSHA safety compliance.

The scope requires a 14 kW, single-phase diesel generator rated at 120/240V, 1.0 power factor, 60 Hz with EPA Tier 4-Final and Stage IIIB engine; an automatic transfer switch sized for the generator and tower load; a reinforced concrete generator pad; all electrical conduit, conductors, grounding, and terminations to the main distribution panel; factory-authorized startup and onsite load bank testing; and disconnection and removal of the existing generator. The generator must be Tradewinds brand, factory-assembled, weatherproof, sound-attenuated, and equipped with a sub-base fuel tank sized for minimum 48-hour runtime and all required accessories including battery, battery charger, block heater, and vibration isolators. Concrete work must comply with ACI 301, 306, 308, 318, 605, and 614 standards and ASTM C94 specifications. The contractor must conduct an eight-hour field acceptance test at full rated load using dry-type load banks and minimize downtime during transition to no more than 12 hours.

The contract term spans 390 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed, with work commencing within 30 days and substantial completion within 360 calendar days. Liquidated damages range from $1,015 per day for contracts under $50,000 to $10,203 plus $0.00005 per dollar over $20 million. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of three years of standby power system installation experience, provide four references from similar projects, and hold an active Florida Electrical Contractor License. Bid submittals must include a bid bond, proof of insurance ($500,000 general liability and $500,000 automobile liability per occurrence), W-9 documentation, and signed affidavits regarding public entity crimes, immigration compliance, human trafficking, and foreign country concerns. Bids are submitted electronically through the City's OpenGov portal. Awards under $50,000 are made by the City Manager; awards exceeding $50,000 require City Commission approval. The selected bidder must execute the contract and provide required insurance certificates and bonds within 14 calendar days of receiving contract documents.