Water Heater for MCF-Stillwater

The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) is seeking to procure a water heater for the Stillwater facility through a Request for Bid (RFB) process. The specific procurement involves the delivery and set-in-place of a Bock OptiTHERM High Efficiency Condensing water heater, model OT400N2, with no substitutions permitted. The water heater must have a 119-gallon capacity, natural gas fuel type, 99% thermal efficiency, and ultra-low NOx emissions. The awarded vendor will be responsible for removing and disposing of the existing unit, while DOC staff will handle disconnecting the old unit and making final plumbing and electrical connections. The solicitation is open from March 20, 2025, to March 28, 2025, with responses to be submitted through the SWIFT Supplier Portal by 3 P.M. Central Time on the due date. Delivery is expected by May 1, 2025, to the MCF-Stillwater Commissary Warehouse in Bayport, Minnesota, with all work to be completed by June 30, 2025. The contract will be awarded on an "all or none" basis, with responses requiring strict compliance with specifications detailed in Exhibit C of the sample contract.

The procurement emphasizes diversity and inclusion, with preferences for Minnesota-based small businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with substantial physical disabilities. There is a 12% preference for targeted group, economically disadvantaged, and veteran-owned businesses. Respondents must provide equipment documentation, pricing through the SWIFT system, and any relevant license or maintenance agreements. A Certificate of Insurance is required, and vendors may need to complete mandatory admittance paperwork that could include a background check. The state reserves the right to reject any or all responses and to award to a single or multiple respondents. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the procurement focuses on environmentally responsible goods and requires the equipment to be tested and certified by an OSHA-recognized testing laboratory. The bid remains firm for 180 days and is subject to multi-factor authentication requirements for portal access.