Request for Qualifications and Invitation to Prequalify to Bid for Fire and Smoke Damper Replacement at Leonardtown High School

St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) is requesting qualifications and inviting prequalification to bid for fire and smoke damper replacement at Leonardtown High School, with prequalification applications due September 22, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. via hand delivery or email to Ms. Vivian Johnston at the Department of Design and Construction. This is a two-phase sealed-bidding process under COMAR Title 14, Subtitle 39.03.08; only prequalified contractors are eligible to submit construction bids in the second phase.

Contractors must demonstrate experience with at least three damper replacement projects valued at $100,000 or more since 2016, with at least two performed as prime contractor, and must include examples of K–12 school building damper replacements in occupied facilities. Project team members must meet minimum experience: Project Executive with ten years, Project Manager with five years, and Superintendent with five years on similar HVAC renovation projects. Contractors must be licensed in Maryland, in good standing with the Maryland Comptroller, and must provide evidence of sufficient bonding capacity for a five percent bid bond on the estimated $100,000 construction cost and performance and labor/material payment bonds each in the amount of $100,000.

The scope involves removal of specified smoke dampers and replacement with combination fire/smoke dampers and associated duct smoke detectors throughout Leonardtown High School at 23995 Point Lookout Road, including access above acoustical ceiling tiles and hard ceilings with subsequent restoration. All dampers must connect to existing power and fire alarm monitoring systems. Work is limited to evenings, Saturdays, and Winter Break to avoid occupied areas. The anticipated start is Fall 2026 with substantial completion required by April 2027 prior to the cooling season. The project is locally funded; Maryland Prevailing Wage and Davis-Bacon Wage scales do not apply. An MBE participation goal of zero percent is currently under review and may be modified before final bidding. Questions regarding prequalification are due September 15, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. to Wes King.