656-22-341 Conduct Substation Upgrade

This contract, designated as solicitation number 36C26326B0024-0002, is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside for the upgrade of a substation in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, under the Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 23. The work involves replacing existing oil-immersed power transformers with new 6000 kVA, 34.5kV/13.8kV units, including full installation, electrical connections, site staging, phasing, and removal of decommissioned equipment. Bidders must comply with stringent technical specifications requiring copper windings, sealed-tank oil preservation, 6.5% impedance, and adherence to IEEE, ASTM, NFPA, and FM Global standards. All equipment must pass rigorous factory and field acceptance tests, including insulation resistance ≥100 megohms, dielectric strength >33kV, dissolved gas analysis <1000 ppm, and water-in-oil content <25 ppm, with final acceptance granted only upon successful on-site testing by the Contracting Officer. Submissions are strictly limited to SDVOSBs certified in the VIP database and must include a Certificate of Compliance under the Buy American Act. Prime contractors must self-perform at least 25% of the work, and labor payments to subcontractors may not exceed 85% of total contract costs. The contract includes newly inserted FAR Clause 52.222-90 addressing DEI discriminatory practices and mandates that transformers not be shipped until factory tests are approved, with a strict prohibition on equipment manufactured more than one year prior to delivery. Proposals must be emailed by 10:00 a.m. CT on May 18, 2026, to Dwayne Brauch at dwayne.brauch@va.gov, and a pre-bid site visit and virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams are available for bidders. The estimated contract value is between $5 million and $10 million, with an 870-calendar-day period of performance beginning after issuance of the Notice to Proceed. Shipping requires shrink wrapping, permanent identification plates with voltage and impedance data, laminated danger signage, spare gaskets, and a spare parts list, but bar-coding is not required. Payment administration and contracting officer details are managed through the VA’s Saint Paul office, and all documentation including test reports, warranty copies, and