Walk-In Freezer RFP

Houghton Lake Community Schools in Michigan issued a Request for Proposals on May 4, 2026, for the replacement of one walk-in freezer at Collins Elementary School located at 4451 W. Houghton Lake Drive. The district is seeking proposals for either a 20' x 10' x 9' or 20' x 16' x 9' freezer box configuration, with comprehensive deliverables including demolition and removal of the existing unit, supply and installation of the new freezer box with floor support, two condensing units, two low-profile evaporators with operating components, drain installation with drain heaters, suction line insulation, and complete startup adjustments. All work must be provided on an all-inclusive basis covering removal, installation, startup, leveling, shelving, thermometers, food-safe covers, drain lines, crane work, permits, and necessary adjustments. The equipment must include a one-year parts and labor warranty plus a four-year extended compressor warranty for years two through four. Proposals are due by 3:00 PM EST on Friday, May 22, 2026, via mail or email submission, with bid opening occurring on the same date and formal contract award targeted for no later than June 12, 2026, with tentative installation scheduled for July 2026. A site visit is strongly recommended and can be scheduled by contacting George Rieger at riegerg@hlcsk12.net. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale based on vendor experience and references (15 points), ability to meet project scope and timeline (10 points), project specifications held (25 points), fulfillment and quality of equipment specifications (20 points), and contract charges, fees, and payments (30 points).

All bidders must submit eight required forms including vendor experience and references, project scope and timeline, acknowledgement of the RFP, non-collusion affidavit, HUB certification, debarment certification, familial disclosure statement, and Iran Economic Sanctions Act certification, with proposals remaining firm for sixty calendar days from the due date. The school district requires selected vendors to comply with federal and state requirements including Civil Rights Act provisions, OSHA standards, Buy American provisions, Jessica Lunsford Act background check requirements, and various federal executive orders and environmental regulations. An amendment to the original RFP was issued on May 8, 2026, which bidders must acknowledge and incorporate into their proposals, though the specific modifications are not detailed in the available documentation. Payment terms for the awarded contract are net forty-five days upon project completion. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the RFP documents; however, the project scope and evaluation criteria emphasize both cost considerations and quality of specifications as significant factors in the selection process.