Replace (3) Cooling Towers Central Plant

Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia, in Clayton County, issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Project #32-04-2021 to solicit qualified contractors to replace three cooling towers at the university's central plant facility. The procurement seeks to identify the most qualified potential providers capable of managing this mechanical systems infrastructure project through a Statement of Qualifications submission process. The scope of work encompasses the supply and installation of cooling tower equipment that must comply with detailed technical specifications addressing capacity, performance standards, materials, and operational requirements as outlined in Attachment A Specifications and Attachment B Sketches. Deliverables include qualified cooling tower units meeting specified sizing and performance standards, complete installation labor, shipping, and comprehensive warranty provisions. Contractors must demonstrate expertise in HVAC maintenance, repair, and installation services, with relevant experience in power plant equipment and building maintenance applicable to central plant operations. The RFQ was posted on April 2, 2021, with a response deadline of April 26, 2021, and qualified vendors were identified in a Notice of Qualification issued on May 19, 2021. Three suppliers were deemed qualified to proceed: E Escher Inc., Tebarco Mechanical Corporation, and Mallory & Evans Service Company, Inc., with one supplier, John F Pennebaker Co Inc, disqualified for not meeting qualification criteria.

The solicitation documents do not identify specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, minority-owned businesses, or small business designations, nor do they indicate restrictions limiting response eligibility to particular vendor categories. The three qualified contractors identified in the May 2021 Notice of Qualification represent the pre-screened vendors eligible to participate in subsequent contract award phases and competitive competitions issued by Clayton State University. No incumbent contractor information or restrictions regarding existing vendors are specified in the available procurement documentation. The solicitation does not include explicit budget ranges or award values in the materials provided, though the comprehensive scope involving three cooling tower replacements at a university central plant facility suggests a substantial capital project investment. Vendors are required to comply with Georgia state procurement regulations, as outlined in the SPD contracting guidance documents, and may designate proprietary information as trade secrets through the Trade Secret Affidavit process to protect sensitive business data. Any protests regarding supplier qualification determinations must be submitted electronically to doas.protests@doas.ga.gov in accordance with the Georgia Procurement Manual, with inquiries directed to Issuing Officer Wendy Spears.