RFP Solar Design & Installation, Solicitation 1 — Squalicum High School

Bellingham School District #501 is soliciting design-build proposals for a rooftop photovoltaic system at Squalicum High School, with proposals due October 22, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time and a mandatory site walk on October 1, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. This is a best-value procurement, not a low-bid award, subject to prevailing wage requirements under Chapter 39.12 RCW, federal prevailing wage and apprenticeship obligations tied to the Investment Tax Credit, and 15% apprentice utilization under RCW 39.04.320.

The scope is design engineering, fabrication, and installation of a 498.22 kW DC / 400.00 kW AC rooftop PV system with 859 photovoltaic modules and four inverters at 3773 E. McLeod Road, Bellingham, Washington. The Contractor must carry design through construction documents, build, commission, and place the system in service. Contractors must comply with FCC Covered List restrictions on foreign power inverters and module-level power electronics and federal prohibited foreign entity restrictions.

The Maximum Allowable Construction Cost (MACC) is $1,018,900 before Washington retail sales tax (9.2%), or $1,112,639 including tax. The Not-to-Exceed (NTE) price must include all sales tax, apprentice utilization costs, and contractor contingency with no exclusions permitted. This is the first of five anticipated solicitations under a District-wide solar program running 2026 through 2028. Substantial Completion is due by July 15, 2027, and Placed in Service by August 15, 2027. The system must be placed in service by December 31, 2027 to maintain federal tax credit eligibility under IRC 6417. Board approval is anticipated December 17, 2026, with contract execution and Notice to Proceed on or about December 18, 2026.

Evaluation scoring is bidder qualifications (20 points), cost/price (20 points), cost quality (15 points), equipment specification (20 points), and project approach and methodology (25 points). Liquidated damages apply: $250 per calendar day for failure to meet Substantial Completion, and $100 to $3,200 per calendar day escalating for failure to meet Placed in Service. The District will apply for a 50% sales and use tax remittance under RCW 82.08.962 if specified labor standards are met; contractors must document workforce diversity, wage and hour law compliance history, apprenticeship utilization, and preferred entry for area workers. One hundred percent performance and payment bonds are required.