RFP-153-21 Design Build FFA Solar Energy Hardinsburg, KY

The Commonwealth of Kentucky's Department for Facilities and Support Services, Division of Engineering and Contract Administration, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education, issued Request for Proposal RFP-153-21 for design-build services to construct a solar energy system at the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Camp in Hardinsburg, Kentucky, located in Breathitt County. The procurement solicits comprehensive design, permitting, installation, and commissioning of a complete utility grid-tied solar photovoltaic solution consisting of a 25-kilowatt ground-mounted array with 62 modules rated at 24.8 kW DC capacity and 21.3 kW AC inverters, expected to produce 31,700 kilowatt-hours annually. Deliverables include all associated wiring, electrical infrastructure connections to utility meter 54950, metal structural framing with metal paneling, and comprehensive web-based monitoring capabilities with BACnet communication protocols. The design-builder must obtain all necessary permits from the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction at the design-builder's expense and comply with all Kentucky Building Code requirements. The selected design-builder must provide a three-year full service warranty covering labor and materials, along with the manufacturer's 25-year power production warranty on modules and 10-year limited inverter warranty. Proposals were evaluated using a one-step selection method based on a 100-point scoring system encompassing Design/Build Team Corporate Background and Capability to Perform (15 points), Project Staff and Organizational Structure (10 points), Past Performance and Experience (10 points), References (5 points), Required Building Systems and Components (10 points), Guaranteed Maximum Price (25 points), and GMP per kilowatt AC rating (25 points). The original proposal deadline of February 15, 2021, was extended to February 22, 2021, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time, with proposals required to be submitted electronically through the MOVEit secure file transfer system at https://ftp.ky.gov. A non-mandatory pre-proposal site visit was available upon scheduling with Josh Mitcham, Director of the FFA Leadership Training Center, with design-builder selection anticipated in March 2021. The contract requires substantial completion within 120 calendar days and final completion within 30 calendar days thereafter, with liquidated damages assessed at $250.00 per calendar day for delays beyond the substantial completion deadline and $125.00 per day for delays beyond the final completion deadline.

The RFP documentation does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations eligible to respond, nor does it identify any designated disadvantaged enterprise requirements. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are referenced in the solicitation materials. The design-builder must provide a 5 percent response security (bid guarantee) and acknowledge all RFP addenda while certifying compliance with Kentucky procurement statutes, ethics requirements, tax obligations, and non-collusion provisions. The project budget is established as a fixed maximum not-to-exceed amount of $55,000.00, representing the total award value for all design-build services, materials, labor, permitting, and commissioning activities. Respondents are required to submit bids in accordance with the General Conditions for Design-Build Contracts established by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which mandate performance and payment bonds equal to 100 percent of the contract sum and insurance minimums of $1,000,000 combined single limit for general liability with a $3,000,000 annual aggregate. Contact for additional information or clarification is Margaret MacDonald at 502-564-5182 or Margaret.macdonald@ky.gov, with bids to be submitted to the Finance Division of Engineering & Contract Administration at The Bush Building, 403 Wapping Street, 2nd Floor, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.