Commission hears timeline for HVAC RFP, confirms water-softener funding for Law Enforcement Center

County staff and commissioners discussed the procurement timeline and specifications for HVAC upgrades at the Cole County Law Enforcement Center and confirmed that water softeners are included in the capital budget.

A facilities-related speaker (speaker 9) said the office was "kinda hoping, like, something like January 15" to push the RFP out; staff (speaker 1 and speaker 5) said they had just received updated drawings and model numbers and would post the RFP around Jan. 15 and hold pre-bid meetings in late January or early February to allow contractors to review the specifications. Facilities staff (speaker 5) noted that ASHRAE standards have changed for jails and that they needed to update unit and model numbers accordingly.

Commissioners asked whether the water softeners required separate pre-bid meetings; staff confirmed the softeners were included in the approved capital budget and can move forward with procurement after the RFP timeline is set. No formal vote was recorded on the HVAC item; the discussion served as direction to staff to proceed to post the RFP and schedule pre-bid meetings.