RFB-50-24 Mechanical & Controls Upgrade Gateway

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Division of Engineering & Contract Administration, issued Request for Bid (RFB) RFB-50-24 on behalf of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) to procure mechanical and controls upgrade services at Gateway Community & Technical College facilities located in Florence, Kentucky (Boone County) and Edgewood, Kentucky (Kenton County). The procurement encompasses replacement of two existing air-cooled chillers, renovation of HVAC control systems across multiple KCTCS campuses (Professional Services Building, Technology Innovation Enterprise building, Edgewood campus, and Boone campus), re-balancing of mechanical systems, and exterior site lighting upgrades. Specific deliverables include the provision and installation of various gate valves and balance valves in the hydronic system, factory startup services for new chillers, pumps, and variable frequency drives (VFDs), and upgraded thermostats and controls work utilizing a GSA materials and operations labor pricing agreement. Construction must be coordinated with KCTCS classroom schedules, with controls work prioritized at the Professional Services Building and Technology Innovation Enterprise building first, Edgewood campus controls scheduled for summer to minimize disruptions, and Boone campus controls completed last, with chiller equipment anticipated to arrive in fall 2024 and construction beginning upon chilled water system shutdown. The bid closing date was September 20, 2023, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time, with a mandatory site visit meeting held on August 28, 2023, at 10:00 AM at 500 Technology Way, Florence, Kentucky 41042. A 5 percent bid bond was required at time of submission, with performance and payment bonds required if the bidder was selected as the low bidder. Unit prices for the line items must include labor, materials, supplies, services, overhead, and profit, with contractors responsible for all sales tax on purchases.

The solicitation documents do not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular organization types or disadvantaged enterprises; therefore, the bid appears open to qualified private contractors. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. Bidders were required to submit proposals electronically through the Owner's Document Collaboration System (eCommunications) via MOVEit, with online bidding prohibited, and must clearly identify their firm's position as prime bidder, miscellaneous subcontractor, material supplier, or other status. All required forms needed to be completely filled out at the time of bid submission. Bid documents, specifications, and drawings were available at no charge through the State Plan Room at stateofkyplanroom.com, with digital copies provided and hard copies available for a fee. The award value or budget range for this procurement was not disclosed in the available documentation, though the project scope and specifications suggest a substantial mechanical and controls upgrade initiative across multiple KCTCS facilities.