Study for Hot Water System

The Chelsea Housing Authority has issued a solicitation seeking qualified mechanical or plumbing engineering firms to conduct a comprehensive study focused on the modernization and leak-risk reduction of the electric-only Domestic Hot Water (DHW) system at Buckley Apartments, a seven-story, 210-unit multifamily building located at 14 Bloomingdale Street, Chelsea, Massachusetts. The study requires an in-depth property inspection to assess the current hot water tanks’ age, condition, and leak-risk factors, while identifying utility constraints and evaluating five distinct modernization approaches: repairing the existing system with mitigation measures, consolidating units onto a single tank, installing a centralized hot water plant, implementing heat-pump technology, or pursuing a hybrid/phased approach. Each option must be analyzed across multiple dimensions including cost, risk reduction, energy efficiency, resident impact, construction timeline, and eligibility for incentives. The final deliverable will consist of a detailed comparative report with cost estimates, a recommendation of the preferred solution, and a presentation of findings to the Authority. Proposals are required to demonstrate relevant firm experience, provide resumes of key personnel, client references, a lump-sum fee proposal, a project schedule, and evidence of insurance. Submissions must be formatted as PDFs and sent via email by January 9, 2026. A site walk is scheduled for December 18, 2025, to allow offerors to familiarize themselves with the project context. The procurement falls under NAICS code 238220 and is managed by the Chelsea Housing Authority as a state, local, and education (SLED) agency. The contract type is anticipated to be firm fixed price based on lump-sum fees submitted. The evaluation will likely balance technical merit with cost effectiveness, focusing on the best solution to minimize leak risks while optimizing energy efficiency and cost considerations. No specific FAR clauses, set-aside designations, or special contract requirements such as security clearances or organizational conflict of interest provisions are included, reflecting the professional services nature of the engagement rather than a supply contract. Payment and invoicing details remain unspecified. Overall, this solicitation emphasizes a technically rigorous, cost-conscious engineering assessment to support improved domestic hot water system management at a large multifamily residential property.