The Facilities Services team has been working on a multi-pronged approach to addressing the air conditioning systems serving Meadowlane Primary, Meadowlane Intermediate and Central Middle Schools. The Board has previously approved contracts to refurbish two chillers and four cooling towers, replace the condensing water piping system and the typical facility renewal projects and Meadowlane Primary and Meadowlane Intermediate.

The District also issued a purchase order to Trane U.S., Inc. for preconstruction services to design and submit a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) proposal for a new central energy plant at Central Middle School under the piggyback contract with US Communities (#19-500-PB-SH). Trane's scope of work was based on a Design Criteria Package (DCP) prepared by Above Group, Inc. under their continuing contract for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection engineering services.  Generally, the scope of work included providing a new packaged central energy plant including two chillers, two cooling towers, pumps, tanks, condenser water piping and related electrical. Alternates for chiller redundancy, a central energy plant building and chilled water storage are also included.

Trane submitted a GMP proposal in late January. Despite negotiations, the District and Trane were not able to reach agreement on the price or the terms of the construction. Trane completed all of the requirements of the preconstruction contract including 60% design documents that may be used by the District. 

In February, the District issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ 20-621-Q-DR) for design build services for the Central Middle School central energy plant, utilizing the DCP prepared by Above Group, Inc. and also providing the 60% design drawings prepared by DDC, Inc.. Four firms responded to the solicitation and were shortlisted. Oral interviews were conducted on March 30, 2020, with the recommended rankings as follows:

1. Welsh Construction, LLC
2. Wharton-Smith, Inc.
3. Heard Construction, Inc.
4. McCree Design Builders

The top ranked firm, Welsh Construction, LLC, submitted their preconstruction services proposal in an amount not to exceed $108,888.03. Their submittal proposed utilizing DDC, Inc. as the design engineer as they are already familiar with the project. The GMP will be submitted in May for Board consideration. The project will be funded with capital as this project was not included in the Sales Surtax Funded Detail Report - Attachment F for Central Middle School and the sales surtax funding for Central has been previously utilized.  Administration and permitting costs were previously budgeted.

Board approval is required for purchase orders over $50,000. The standard form of the agreement was modified to reflect recent changes to Florida Statutes and was reviewed and approved by legal counsel. 

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Approve the award of the design-build contract with Welsh Construction, LLC for the Central Middle School Central Energy Plant (RFQ 20-621-Q-DR).

Approve the budget for the preconstruction services for the Central Middle School Central Energy Plant in the amount of $108.888.03.

Approve the preconstruction services proposal submitted by Welsh Construction, LLC in an amount not to exceed $108,888.03 for the Central Middle School Central Energy Plant.