Hudson County is replacing the heating and cooling plant at the Hon. William J. Brennan Hudson County Courthouse, 583 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, under Bid No. 8076 (county file 3389). Bidders' qualification statements and sealed bids are due November 10 at 10:30 a.m. at the county's purchasing department, 3rd floor, 567 Pavonia Avenue. Written questions close October 9 at 3 p.m. The pre-bid walk-through already happened, on October 2.
Here's the twist. You'd think the gate on an HVAC plant would be a mechanical license. It isn't. The county wants bidders prequalified by New Jersey's Division of Property Management and Construction in “(C024) Historic Restoration,” plus at least one of General Construction (C008), General Construction/Alterations & Additions (C009) or Millwork (C016). In plain terms, the prime has to carry the historic restoration classification, and the mechanical outfit is most likely a sub. That's no accident. The county commissioners' agenda for October 23, 2025 listed a resolution “authorizing pre-qualification regulation for bidders” for exactly this job.
There's money and design work behind it. The county's historic and engineering consultant on the plant replacement is French and Parrello Associates. A September 9, 2026 caucus agenda carried Addition No. 4 to that contract, $88,240, for “Professional Engineering/Historic Architectural Services.” The same agenda listed for adoption a bond ordinance for “the modernization of and General Improvements to the Historic William J. Brennan Courthouse,” appropriating $45,044,332 and authorizing $42,899,363 in bonds or notes. That ordinance covers the courthouse broadly. The bid notice itself posts no estimate for this contract.
The terms: it's under a project labor agreement. Bid security is a cashier's check, certified check or bid bond “equal to ten percent of the bid, but in no case to exceed $20,000.00.” A list of subcontractors goes in with the bid. Plans and the prequalification documents are at the County Engineer's office, Bergen Square Center, 830 Bergen Avenue, Floor 6B, at $1 a set, check only. And like any New Jersey public job, you and your listed subs need public works registration with the state Department of Labor.
What to do now: get your questions in by 3 p.m. on October 9. Pick up the plans and the qualification forms, and if you're a mechanical contractor, find the C024-classified GC you'll ride with before November 10 at 10:30 a.m.
On the record: Heating and Cooling Plant Replacement, Hon. William J. Brennan Hudson County Courthouse, issued by Hudson County, New Jersey. Solicitation 8076. Bids are due November 10, 2026 (Bids and bidder qualification statements are due at 10:30 a.m. at the county purchasing office, 567 Pavonia Avenue, Jersey City. Written questions close Oct. 9 at 3 p.m.). The listing on Hudson County legal notices: https://www.hcnj.us/blog/2026/09/08/bid-no-8076-heating-and-cooling-plant-replacement-for-the-honorable-william-j-brennan-courthouse/. Full record on The RFI Wire's board: https://therfiwire.com/rfi/RFI-003136.html.