Notice of Bid/Request for Proposal
NOTICE TO DESIGN BUILD TEAMS
The Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees announces that Qualifications Based Design/Build Services (QB/DB), for the design and construction of solar photovoltaic systems (PV) for the purpose of entering into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), will be required for the project listed below. PROJECT NUMBER: BR-1063 Solar PV System
PROJECT AND LOCATION: Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers Campus, Fort Myers, Florida
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The project consists of the design and construction of a solar photovoltaic system on the Florida Gulf Coast University Campus. The project is to include a system size of 2MW to be installed by the end of second quarter 2009. FGCU shall provide a site for the ground mount systems and several building locations throughout the campus for rooftop PV arrays. The ground mount PV site will require the selected proposer to clear, fill and prepare the site prior to construction. The State of Florida Share of the Project Budget is $8,000,000. The preferred Solar PV equipment is described below:
Solar Module:
The Preferred panel will be a crystalline panel (either single or poly crystalline) and preference will be given to this technology. Other panel technology will be evaluated against this preference.
The PV modules must meet industry-accepted standards for performance, reliability, safety. Evidence to support these criteria must be contained in the supplier’s System Manual, which shall include all applicable information concerning the equipment and installation. PV modules and panels must be listed and in compliance with UL standard 1703, Standard for Safety: Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels. PV modules must also meet or exceed IEC 61215 and any other relevant standards.
The PV equipment must be able to withstand high wind loads and potential damage from flying debris.
Inverters:
A single inverter or a cluster of inverters rated for a total output of between 250 k W and 500 k W will be preferred. The inverter(s) must be listed and in compliance with Underwriters Laboratories (UL)1741-2005, “Inverters, Converters, Controllers, and Interconnection System Equipment for Use with Distributed Energy Resources,” and all elements of the IEEE 1547 interconnection standards
Hardware:
Both roof mount and ground mount hardware systems are desired. Generally, FGCU is interested in fixed mounts for rooftop systems and single axis tracking for ground mount systems.
The PV System is planned to be located on the Fort Myers Campus. The project must have an executed GMP by December 2008, and be completed and operational by July 2009. Preference shall be given if the project can be completed and operational so as to take advantage of current tax credits associated with the Energy Act of 2005 that is set to expire at the end of 2008. The Design/Build Team (Design and Construction Services Team/DCST) shall be responsible for the management of the process and project to meet project scope, budget and schedule requirements. The Design/Build Services contract shall be in compliance with the Qualifications Based Design/Build selection provisions in Section 287.055, F.S. and Rule 6C-14.007, F.A.C., including pre-construction fees, construction related service costs and a guaranteed maximum price. It is the University’s responsibility to negotiate a fair, competitive, and reasonable compensation per Section 287.055, F.S. A fair, competitive and reasonable compensation shall be evaluated based upon the following information: (1) Compensation on similar projects, (2) other compensation reference data; and (3) after approval of the ranking, proposals requested from the short listed firms based upon a scope of services document to be provided at the time of negotiations. The University will contract with a single contract entity whose Design/Build Team shall provide all services including, but not limited to professional services, budgeting, cost estimating, construction services, labor, materials, and equipment required to design, construct, and furnish the project. The selected team will be required to provide computer drawings according to the standards of the Florida Gulf Coast University, including computer record drawings reflecting as-built conditions. Blanket professional design liability insurance will be required for this project in the amount of $1,500,000 and will be provided as a part of Basic Services. The respondent must be capable of bonding at 100% of the value of the contract with a surety licensed to do business in the State of Florida with a Best rating of A, Class IX. Project development including professional services is contingent upon availability of funds. If additional funding is realized, the University has the option to incorporate additional scope/funding under this contract.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Teams desiring to apply for consideration shall submit a Request for Qualifications submittal including a letter of interest, a completed “Design and Construction Services Qualification Supplement form (DCSQS), dated July 2008” with attachments, and additional information required within the proposal limits as described in the Request for Qualifications dated July 2008. Applications submitted in any other format may not be considered. The Request for Qualifications dated July 2008 and the Design and Construction Services Qualifications Instructions and Supplement form dated July 2008, which includes project information and selection criteria, may be obtained by contacting: Jack Fenwick, Director, Facilities Planning, Florida Gulf Coast University, 10501 FGCU Blvd. So., Fort Myers, Florida 33965-6565, via e-mail: jfenwick@fgcu.edu, (239)590-1500, Fax (239)530-1505. All teams must be properly registered at the time of application to practice its profession in the State of Florida. If the applicant is a corporation, or a joint venture, it must be registered by the Department of State to do business in the State of Florida at the time of application. If the applicant is the contract entity and has a consultant to perform the design or construction services, the contract entity and consultant must have an agreement at the time of application to formally contract for consulting services. Selection of finalists for interview will be made on the basis of qualifications of the proposed Design/Build Team, including team qualifications, team experience and ability to provide service in meeting the project requirements and the goals and objectives of the University’s Strategic Plan. As part of the Florida Gulf Coast University’s strategic plan, FGCU made a commitment to foster collaboration, open and timely communication, mutual respect, trust and inclusiveness. The Florida Gulf Coast University is an equal opportunity institution, and, as such, strongly encourages the lawful use of certified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (“MBEs”) in the provision of design and construction-related services by providing a fair and equal opportunity to compete for, or for participation in, design and/or construction related services. Applications that do not comply with the above instructions may be disqualified. Submittals are part of the public record and no submittal material will be returned. The plans and specifications for The Florida Gulf Coast University projects are subject to reuse in accordance with the provisions of Section 287.055, Florida Statutes. As required by Section 287.133, Florida Statutes, a consultant may not submit a proposal for this project if it is on the convicted vendor list for a public entity crime committed within the past 36 months. The selected consultant must warrant that it will neither utilize the services of, nor contract with, any supplier, subcontractor, or consultant in excess of $25,000 in connection with this project for a period of 36 months from the date of their being placed on the convicted vendor list. Interested teams are invited and encouraged to attend a Pre-Submittal meeting at the Florida Gulf Coast University, on Thursday, August 14, 2008, 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), in the FGCU’s Campus Support Complex Building, Conference Room 14, Fort Myers, Florida to review the scope and requirements of this project. Requests for meetings by individual firms will not be granted. It shall be noted that no verbal communication shall take place except as provided at the Pre-Submittal Meeting, the Pre-Interview Meeting and the request for the RFQ and DCSQS. Requests for any additional information or clarification at any other time than above must be in accordance with the RFQ. Six (6) copies of the required information shall be submitted to the attention of Jack Fenwick, Director, Facilities Planning, 10501 FGCU Blvd. So., Fort Myers, Florida 33965-6565 by 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), on Monday, August 25, 2008. Facsimile (FAX) or electronic submittals are not acceptable and will not be considered. The University reserves the right to suspend or discontinue the selection process at any time and to return or reject any or all submissions of Design/Build proposals without obligation to the respondent. The award of this contract is subject to availability of funds.