INVITATION TO BID
PROJECT/OWNER: Flathead County – Justice Center
Chiller Replacement and Combustion Air Upgrade
920 South Main Street
Kalispell, Montana 59901
ARCHITECT: Cushing Terrell
745 South Main Street
Kalispell, Montana 59901
Flathead County is requesting Bids from qualified Contractors for the Justice Center Chiller Replacement and Combustion Air Upgrade project. The project is located at the Flathead County Justice Center, at 920 South Main Street, Kalispell, MT 59901. This project involves the replacement of the existing water-cooled chiller with a new air-cooled chiller and the addition of a forced-air system to provide tempered boiler combustion air. The existing cooling tower will be removed, and the outdoor enclosure will be modified to accommodate the new chiller. Additional chilled water system components will be installed in the basement space that currently houses the indoor chiller. The existing heating hot water system will be used to provide heat for tempering of the boiler combustion air. Control of these systems will be integrated into the existing JCI Metasys DDS systems. Additional details and other Work is indicated in the Contract Documents. The anticipated notice of award is March 3rd, 2026 with an estimated substantial completion date of April 30th, 2027. The existing chilled water system shall remain operational until October 1st, 2026. This is a critical facility for the County and it will need to remain occupied and operational during the construction duration, therefore exceptional care and consideration of any disruptions, temporary utilities, noise, dust, odors, etc. will need to be coordinated and approved by the owner in advance. The one percent (1%) Montana Gross Receipts Construction and Montana Prevailing Wage Rates are both applicable.
Copies of the construction documents and specifications can be obtained online http://www.montanabid.com or from local Montana plans exchanges beginning Tuesday, January 20th, 2026. A Pre-Bid/Kick-Off Meeting will be held on site on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 at 10:00AM. It is not required but recommended. Bidders are to meet out in front of the main entrance of the Flathead County Justice Center, located at 920 South Main Street, Kalispell MT 59901. From there, the group will tour the spaces/facilities within the scope of this project. The deadline for all Contractor and Supplier RFIs and substitution requests is 4:00 PM, February 13th, 2026. All bidding questions should be directed to Cushing Terrell in Kalispell, Gerry Nichols-Pagel, at 406.407.7783 or emailed to
Sealed Bids must be submitted to the Commissioners’ Office, located at 800 South Main Street, Room 302, Kalispell MT no later than 4:00 PM local time, Monday, February 23rd, 2026. No late, faxed, or emailed Bids will be accepted. Bids are scheduled for opening by the Board of Commissioners at 9:00 AM, February 24th, 2026 in the Commissioners Chambers. All Sealed Bids must be clearly marked, "Flathead County – Justice Center Chiller Replacement and Combustion Air Upgrade". All Sealed Bids must be submitted on the Bid Form found in the Specifications and signed by an officer or a person duly authorized to sign Bids. ONLY BIDS RECEIVED BY THE SPECIFIED TIME AND AT THE SPECIFIED LOCATION WILL BE CONSIDERED. LATE BIDS WILL NOT BE OPENED.
Bid Security in the amount of 10 percent (10%) of the total Bid must accompany each Bid. This Security shall be in the form of a cashier’s check, certified check, bank draft or bank money order, in any case drawn and issued by a federally chartered or state chartered bank insured by the federal deposit insurance corporation, or a Bid Bond executed by a surety corporation authorized to do business in the State of Montana payable to Flathead County. Each Bidder will be required to have a Montana Public Contractor's License. Subcontractors for work over $1,000 shall also be the holder of a Montana Public Contractor's License in the proper classification.
All bids will be taken under advisement. Flathead County reserves the right to reject any or all Bids and Alternates, to waive formalities that do not affect the fairness of the Bid process, reject nonconforming, irregular, non-responsive or conditional Bids, and to accept the Bid deemed in the best interest of the County. Flathead County is an equal opportunity employer. Pending an acceptable bid, the Board of Commissioners intends to issue a Notice of Award Tuesday March 3rd, 2026 at 9:00 AM in the Commissioners Chambers. Within 10 calendar days after the Notice of award, the Successful Bidder will be required to furnish a lump sum contract as the basis for contract negotiations and all required insurance certificates. The Successful Bidder will be required to provide commercial general liability insurance with a minimum limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence, auto combined single liability with a minimum limit of $1,000,000 per accident, and proof of workers’ compensation coverage (or an independent contractor’s exemption certificate). Contractors may not contractually limit their liability to lower amounts. A Performance Bond in the amount of 100% of the contract will be required within 10 calendar days after contract execution.
DATED this 20th day of January, 2026.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Flathead County, Montana
By: _/s/Brad W. Abell________________
Brad W. Abell, Chairman
Publish on January 23 and 30, 2026.