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Bend City Council OKs $799,356 HVAC contract for nine fire facilities and police building
Summary
The council authorized a contract with Temprite Mechanical LLC to replace HVAC systems in nine Bend Fire & Rescue buildings and the police department in an amount not to exceed $799,356. Councilors discussed electrification and bid evaluation before approving the contract.
The Bend City Council on Sept. 9 authorized a contract with Temprite Mechanical LLC to replace heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment in nine Bend Fire & Rescue buildings and the Police Department building for an amount not to exceed $799,356.
Councilors discussed whether the project should pursue full electrification and whether the low bidder had been vetted before the vote. Matt (facility/real-estate staff) said a 2024 analysis with the Oregon Energy Trust recommended a like‑for‑like replacement and that converting existing gas systems to electric heat pumps would require substantial additional infrastructure and costs. “Their recommendation at the time was the best thing you can do is replace 1 to 1,” Matt said. City staff and the Energy Trust concluded retrofitting would require large electrical upgrades for several buildings.
Councilor Steve Platt moved the authorization; Councilor Ariel Mendez seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote; the council did not record individual roll‑call tallies in the meeting minutes.
City staff said bundling the work under a single contract produced cost savings and allowed contingency to be retained in the capital budget. Gary Kaye, identified in the discussion as a facilities project manager, told the council the bids were analyzed and compared to previous projects and that Temprite has reliably performed for the city in the past. Staff said the low bid was roughly $300,000 lower than the next lowest bid but that procurement documents were detailed and the project scope was programmed to ensure comparable offers.
Councilors noted the difficulty and cost of electrifying existing municipal buildings, saying new facilities are easier to design all‑electric. Council members asked that the larger conversation about an electrification strategy continue as the city plans future capital projects.
The contract amount and project scope were described in the staff report presented to council and remain subject to standard construction contingencies and project management oversight.
