SCWRF ELECTRICAL SERVICE #1 UPGRADES

Collier County, Florida is soliciting sealed bids for Bid No. 26-8628 to procure construction services for the South County Water Reclamation Facility (SCWRF) Electrical Service #1 Upgrades project located at 5600 Warren Street, Naples, Florida. The project involves the complete replacement of aged electrical infrastructure, including demolition and replacement of the existing 480V 3-phase Electrical Service #1 switchgear rated at 3,200 amperes continuous with new switchgear (SWGR-1), a switchgear control panel (CP-SWGR), and a generators tap box. The contractor must also replace two existing 800-kilowatt Cummins diesel generators with two new 1,000-kilowatt Caterpillar units featuring on-board paralleling controls, day tanks, 304 stainless steel diesel piping, exhaust systems, and ancillary equipment, while installing new cable tray raceways and reusing most existing underground conduit and conductors. Key deliverables include all labor, materials, equipment, temporary power provisions (three 500-kilowatt and two 600-kilowatt portable generators), comprehensive testing including load bank tests and field acceptance tests, Factory Acceptance Test approvals from equipment manufacturers, shop drawings, wiring diagrams, operation and maintenance manuals, and a 24/7 on-site generator maintenance technician during the switchgear offline period. The project contract duration is 760 calendar days total, comprised of 730 days for substantial completion and 30 days for final completion, with work generally limited to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Sealed bids are due no later than March 5, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. local time through the county's online procurement portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/collier-county-fl. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting and site visit will be held on January 27, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the project location. Bidders must demonstrate specific qualifications including experience installing switchgear with a capacity of 3,000 amps or greater and generators totaling 1,000-kilowatt or greater in parallel capacity completed within the previous ten years, experience on at least one construction project with a contract value exceeding $2 million within the past ten years, and possession of a current Florida Electrical Contractor (EC) license with supporting documentation of three years of prior experience on similar projects; reference projects must include detailed information with project superintendent names, project names, start and completion dates, equipment specifications, and contract amounts. Bidders must submit a bid bond equal to 5 percent of the total bid amount, and the successful bidder must provide performance and payment bonds equal to 100 percent of the contract amount along with required insurance coverage including Worker's Compensation at statutory limits, Employer's Liability at $1,000,000, Commercial General Liability at $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 aggregate, and Automobile Liability at $1,000,000 per occurrence. The award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with liquidated damages of $1,387 per calendar day assessed for failure to achieve substantial completion within the specified 730-day period.

The solicitation does not explicitly reference set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or other protected classifications, and does not identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors holding this work. Bidders must comply with E-Verify immigration verification requirements, possess a Florida Certificate of Authority to Conduct Business, obtain required business tax receipts and professional licenses, and register as a Collier County Contractor License holder if pulling permits; the county will pay for all Collier County-issued permits and fees directly, while the successful bidder is responsible for obtaining all non-County permits and paying associated costs. All proposed subcontractors must be qualified as defined in the Procurement Ordinance and identified with the bid submission, subject to county approval. The project requires integration with existing facility infrastructure at the South County Water Reclamation Facility, adherence to National Electrical Code (NEC) standards and local Florida codes, and coordination with facility systems. The anticipated project budget is $5,463,800, with an Owner's Allowance of $400,000 allocated for unforeseen conditions and work directed by the owner through formal change orders, though this allowance does not guarantee payment of any portion of these funds.