Energy Northwest is soliciting competitive proposals for the Direct Current Charger and Containment Monitoring System CMS Upgrade Project at Columbia Generating Station. This project is to be completed during Refuel Outage 28, with planning starting in Fall 2026 and work commencing in March 2027. A mandatory site visit is scheduled for May 27, 2026. Questions are due by June 10, 2026, and proposals are due by June 17, 2026. Bidders must hold an active Washington State contractor license if work is performed in Washington. Work performed in Washington State is subject to prevailing wage requirements. Proposals will be evaluated based on a combination of technical qualifications, commercial qualifications, and price. Energy Northwest reserves the right to reject any or all proposals. Information submitted becomes public record.
The required completion dates for the work are: 250 VDC charger replacement by May 01, 2027, 125 VDC charger replacement by April 3, 2027, and the recorder replacement project by June 17, 2027. The contract period of performance is to begin on the contract signing date and continue to May 28, 2027, or until terminated. The notice states, Time of delivery or performance of the contract is of the essence.
Specific payment language will be included in the contract. Invoices must be submitted electronically to accounts payable and the procurement specialist. Incomplete or improper invoices may be returned for corrections. The contract also details retainage of 5% of the approved invoiced amount, which will be paid upon final payment. A bond in lieu of retainage may be submitted. The contract also mentions incentive payments and liquidated damages.
The document does not explicitly state a warranty period. However, Exhibit D, the Final Statement and General Release, includes a statement where the contractor warrants that they have fully completed all work and complied with all terms and conditions of the contract.
The proposal to be accepted shall be at the sole discretion of Energy Northwest. Energy Northwest will evaluate proposals using weighted criteria including general qualifications (10%), commercial qualifications (10%), technical qualifications (45%), and price (35%). The criteria utilized in evaluating prospective bidders shall relate to the competence and qualifications of the bidders being considered so that the bidders selected shall constitute the best qualified of those considered in the sole judgment of Energy Northwest.
Bidders must attend the mandatory site visit, complete and sign the cost proposal form, and submit Exhibit A, Certification of Compliance with Wage Payment Statutes. They must also hold an active Washington State contractor license if work is performed in Washington. Mandatory qualifications are evaluated on a pass/rejection basis, and failure to meet any will result in automatic rejection. Commercial qualifications are evaluated on a yes/no basis. Technical qualifications reflect factors other than price and are scored from 0 to 5.
The contract includes provisions for liquidated damages for delays, accident-free criteria, control dose, event-free operations, meeting commitments, attending training, and rework. The total amount of liquidated damages is capped at 7% of the contract sum for specific criteria and 8% of the total contract sum for the aggregate of delays and other damages. Penalties and sanctions may also apply for false filings of wage payment forms or failure to pay appropriate wages.
A mandatory site visit is required and scheduled for May 27, 2026, at 11:00 AM local time, at Energy Northwest, Columbia Generating Station, 76 N. Power Plant Loop, Richland, WA ****, in Conference Room ****, Building No. 26 Deschutes. Bidders must meet at the specified date, time, and location to kick off the mandatory examination of the site.
Protests based on specifications or terms apparent on the face of the RFP documents must be received no later than 10 calendar days prior to the bid submittal date. Protests based on other circumstances must be received within five calendar days after the protesting bidder knows or should have known of the facts. After bid opening and prior to award, any party planning to protest must file a written notice of intention within two full business days.