Installation of Fire Alarm at Bicentennial Elementary School

CITY OF NASHUA
NASHUA SCHOOL DISTRICT
PLANT OPERATIONS
INVITATION TO SUBMIT
STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
for
INSTALLATION OF FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
BICENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Due: Thursday, May 7, 2026
Plant Operations
Nashua School District
38 Riverside Street
Nashua, NH 03062

CITY OF NASHUA
NASHUA SCHOOL DISTRICT
INVITATION TO SUBMIT
STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
REPLACE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
BICENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
INTRODUCTION
The Nashua School District (NSD), Nashua, NH, is seeking qualifications from
interested companies experienced in installing fire alarm systems in public or
private educational facilities.
The NSD has 18 schools consisting of two high schools, three middle schools,
twelve elementary schools and one building housing pre-school and alternate high
school students. Support facilities include the School Administration building and
the Plant Operations complex.
This solicitation for qualifications is for replacing the existing fire alarm system
with a new system at Bicentennial Elementary School.
BACKGROUND
Bicentennial Elementary was originally constructed and occupied in 1977. It is
approximately 65,000sf and is located at 296 East Dunstable Road in Nashua. It has
an existing fire alarm system, installed in 1997, that is beyond its recommended life
span and is not capable of supporting voice evacuation. The existing fire alarm
panel is a Simplex 4005, which is no longer in production and was discontinued in
2014.
We are looking to install a new addressable fire alarm system with voice evacuation
complete with all wiring, conduit, connections, detection and notification devices
(including interconnections with HVAC equipment and fire sprinkler systems), and
batteries to provide backup power for a minimum of 90 minutes in accordance with
the requirement of NFPA 101, IBC 2021, and NEC. A Fire Alarm Control Unit
(FACU) as well as two remote Fire Alarm Annunciator (FAA) stations shall be
provided with the system. The system is to be complete and whole, and full testing
and commissioning services shall be provided. All equipment must be non-
proprietary and able to be serviced by any qualified service provider.
Harriman Architects will be providing complete and biddable documents that will
include drawings and specifications. These documents will be provided sometime
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in May 2026 to those contractors selected by this RFQ process. Bids will then be
due at a selected date in June 2026.
Additional Terms and Conditions are listed in Appendix A.
STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
Statements of Qualifications must include the following information:
- Completed Company Questionnaire (Appendix B) and Financial Statement.
- A list of five (5) or more clients where similar work has been provided,
with contact names and numbers.
- A description of experience related to this work.
Send to:
Shawn M. Smith
Plant Operations Director
38 Riverside Street
Nashua, New Hampshire 03062
And/or email to: smithsha@nashua.edu
Statements of Qualification are due to the above address(es) by 2pm,
Thursday, May 7, 2026.
The School District reserves the right to add, delete, or revise any section of the
RFQ. The School District reserves the right to: 1) accept those qualifications
statements it deems most suitable and beneficial; 2) reject any or all qualifications
statements; and 3) waive any of the requirements of the selection procedures
explained in this document. The School District also reserves the right to retain all
copies Statements of Qualifications submitted by interested companies, and to
waive irregularities and reject any and all submittals on any basis and without
disclosure of a reason.
The School District will examine and evaluate each Statement of Qualifications
submitted. A detailed and objective evaluation will be conducted, the sole intent of
which will be to identify those companies that best meet the needs of the School
District. The School District will use evaluation criteria it feels is most appropriate
to the review process, and the relative importance of this criteria will be determined
at the sole discretion of the School District.
Incomplete submissions may be cause for rejection.
Selection criteria will include, but not be limited to, the following.
1. Prior experience of similar size and scope
2. Cost structure for services rendered
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3. Completeness of RFQ package
4. References
No company shall have any cause of action against the City of Nashua or The
Nashua School District arising out of a failure by the City or the School District to
consider a company's Statement of Qualifications, or the methods by which The
School District evaluated qualifications statements received. The selection of the
prospective companies shall be at the sole discretion of the City of Nashua.
Please note the City of Nashua does not pay late fees in responding to billing. If
you include a late fee, it should not be applied for a 45 day period after receipt of
the bill. We take pride in paying our bills in a timely manner.
Inquiries on matters pertaining to this Request for Qualifications shall be directed to
Shawn Smith, the Plant Operations Director for the Nashua Schools at 603-966-
1500, or smithsha@nashua.edu.
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APPENDIX A
General Terms and Conditions
Any exceptions to these general terms and conditions stated elsewhere in
this Request for Qualifications/Proposals shall prevail.
I. Specifications
References to brand names or model numbers are intended only to
establish a minimum standard of quality. Unless otherwise stated, such
references shall not restrict submissions which include other brand names
or model numbers.
Any inability to comply with the conditions or specifications outlined in the
Request for Qualifications/ Proposals must be clearly stated.
Firms who find discrepancies in the specifications or are in doubt with regard
to any part of a specification shall immediately notify the District. If it is
deemed necessary, an addenda will be issued to all firms by mail, fax or
email. The District will not be responsible for any oral instructions.
The City of Nashua supports the concept of purchasing products which are
biodegradable, can be or have been recycled, or are environmentally sound.
Due consideration will be given to the purchase of such products. If you are
bidding on any such products which qualify, please so indicate in a cover
sheet by item number and description.
II. Charges
No charges will be allowed for federal, state, or municipal sales and excise
taxes, as the Nashua School District is tax exempt.
All charges are to be firm net prices, and are to be F.O.B. destination,
including charges for delivery and placement.
III. Terms and Conditions of Bid
The Nashua School District reserves the right to waive all formalities and
reject any and all proposals when it is in the best interest of the District to do
so.
To be eligible for an award, a proposer must be deemed "responsible". A
responsible bidder 1) has the ability, capacity and skill to provide the goods
or services required; 2) can provide the goods or services within the time
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frame specified; 3) has a satisfactory record of integrity, reputation,
judgment and experience; 4) has sufficient financial resources to provide the
goods or services; 5) has an ability to provide future maintenance and
support as required; and 6) has developed a positive track record with the
City of Nashua to the extent the bidder has previously provided goods or
services.
From time to time, the District may, because of critical time frames, solicit
proposals prior to approval of the fiscal year operating budget or formal
award of special revenue funds actually funding the bid purchase. The
award of a bid is always contingent upon the availability of such funding.
The submission of a proposal constitutes the bidder's acceptance of and
agreement to the terms and conditions of this Request for Proposals (RFP).
All proposals will be firm and binding for ninety (90) days from the date of
the proposal opening.
IV. Submission and Opening of Proposals
All proposals receiving consideration must be submitted in sealed
envelopes, clearly identified as directed by this Request for
Qualifications/Proposals, and delivered to the Nashua School District Plant
Operations Office located at 38 Riverside Street, Nashua, NH 03062 by the
date and time specified.
Samples when required shall be furnished free of charge and must be
tagged with the bidders name and bid identification. Samples not used or
destroyed in testing will be returned to the bidder at his/her request and
expense.
V. Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations
All goods or services furnished must comply with all applicable federal,
state, and local laws, codes and regulations.
Material Safety Data Sheets are required for all products containing one or
more toxic substances in accordance with the New Hampshire "Worker's
Right to Know Act" (Chapter 277-a). Award of the bid to the successful
bidder is contingent on the bidder supplying 20 copies of the Material Safety
Data Sheets to allow for postings at all potential District locations.
VI. Insurance Requirements
Contractor shall carry and maintain in effect during the performance of
services under this contract:
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General Liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 per
occurrence; $2,000,000 aggregate;
$1,000,000 Combined Single Limit Automobile Liability; and Workers'
Compensation Coverage in compliance with the State of New
Hampshire statutes, $100,000/$500,000/$100,000.
Contractor shall maintain in effect at all times during the performance under
this contract all specified insurance coverage with insurers. None of the
requirements as to types and limits to be maintained by Contractor are
intended to and shall not in any manner limit or qualify the liabilities and
obligations assumed by Contractor under this contract. The City of
Nashua shall not maintain any insurance on behalf of Contractor.
Subcontractors are subject to the same insurance requirements as
Contractor and it shall be the Contractor's responsibility to ensure
compliance of this requirement.
The parties agree that Contractor shall have the status of and shall perform
all work under this contract as an independent contractor, maintaining
control over all its consultants, sub consultants, contractors, or
subcontractors. The only contractual relationship created by this contract is
between the City and Contractor, and nothing in this contract shall create
any contractual relationship between the City and Contractor's consultants,
sub consultants, contractors, or subcontractors. The parties also agree that
Contractor is not a City employee and that there shall be no:
(1) Withholding of income taxes by the City:
(2) Industrial insurance coverage provided by the City;
(3) Participation in group insurance plans which may be available to
employees of
the City;
(4) Participation or contributions by either the independent contractor
or the City to the public employee's retirement system;
(5) Accumulation of vacation leave or sick leave provided by the City;
(6) Unemployment compensation coverage provided by the City.
Contractor will provide the City of Nashua with certificates of insurance for
coverage as listed below and endorsements affecting coverage required by
the contract within ten calendar days after the City issues the notice of
award. The City of Nashua requires thirty days written notice of cancellation
or material change in coverage. The certificates and endorsements for each
insurance policy must be signed by a person authorized by the insurer and
who is licensed by the State of New Hampshire. General Liability,
Employers' Liability and Auto Liability policies must name the City of
Nashua as an additional insured and reflect on the certificate of
insurance. Contractor is responsible for filing updated certificates of
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insurance with the City of Nashua's Risk Management Department during
the life of the contract.
All deductibles and self-insured retentions shall be fully disclosed in
the certificate(s) of insurance.
If aggregate limits of less than $2,000,000 are imposed on bodily
injury and property damage, Contractor must maintain umbrella
liability insurance of at least $1,000,000. All aggregates must be fully
disclosed on the required certificate of insurance.
The specified insurance requirements do not relieve Contractor of its
responsibilities or limit the amount of its liability to the City or other
persons, and Contractor is encouraged to purchase such additional
insurance, as it deems necessary.
The insurance provided herein is primary, and no insurance held or
owned by the City of Nashua shall be called upon to contribute to a
loss.
Contractor is responsible for and required to remedy all damage or
loss to any property, including property of the City, caused in whole or
part by Contractor or anyone employed, directed, or supervised by
Contractor.
VI. Hold Harmless Provisions
The winning bidder must agree to defend, hold harmless, and indemnify the
City of Nashua, its officers, agents and employees against all claims or
injuries to any person or firm arising out of the actions of the bidder, its
officers, agents, or employees in providing services or goods in connection
with this bid award.
VII. Default
Should any goods or services furnished by the bidder under a contract or
purchase order fail to conform to the specifications contained herein or to a
sample submitted by the bidder, the District may reject the goods or
services. In such an event, the bidder shall be instructed to remove any
goods or cease providing services at no cost to the District, and replace
them with goods or services conforming to the specifications and samples.
Should the bidder default in the performance of the foregoing paragraph, the
District reserves the right to purchase the goods or services from other
sources, and to hold the bidder responsible for any excess costs occasioned
to the District thereby.
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VIII. Conflict of Interest
Any bidder who believes a conflict of interest may exist in responding to the
Request for Proposals shall so state that conflict as part of the bid
submission. The District reserves the right to reject said bid based on its
conclusion that a substantive conflict exists.
END OF APPENDIX A
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Appendix B
Fire Alarm System
Company Questionnaire & Statement of Qualifications
All information requested in this Questionnaire MUST be furnished by the
Contractor submitting the RFQ (hereinafter referred to as "Company"), and MUST
be submitted as part of the FIRE ALARM SYSTEM REPLACEMENT proposal.
All statements must be complete and accurate. Omissions, incompleteness,
inaccuracy, or misstatements may be cause for rejection of the Statement of
Qualifications.
All statements of Qualifications shall become the property of the City of Nashua. Those
parts of a Statement of Qualifications which are defined by a Company as business or
trade secrets, and are reasonably marked "Trade Secrets" or "Confidential" or
"Proprietary," shall only be disclosed to the public if such disclosure is required or
permitted under the laws of the State of New Hampshire or the City's policies, rules or
regulations.
By submission of this Statement of Qualifications, Company acknowledges and agrees
that the City of Nashua has the right to make any inquiry or investigation it deems
appropriate to substantiate or supplement information contained in this questionnaire and
authorizes the release to the City of Nashua of any and all information sought in such
inquiry or investigation.
________________________________
Company (Print Name)
By:_____________________________
By:_____________________________
Signature
(Additional sheets may be inserted and/or attached as necessary to complete the
Statement of Qualifications and Company Questionnaire)
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