Additional Repairs to Chiller #1 - National Agricultural Library

The contract for additional repairs to Chiller #1 at the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Maryland, was awarded on a sole-source basis under FAR 12.102(a) due to the urgent need to restore critical cooling operations following a ruptured oil hose that caused a 1600-gallon refrigerant and oil leak. The decision to restrict competition was based on the incumbent contractor, ASW Mechanical, possessing unique and irreplaceable knowledge of the specific failure mode of the York Model YKCFCGP5-CMF chiller system, which was already on-site performing prior maintenance, thereby enabling immediate action to prevent extended downtime and potential building-wide system failure. The work scope includes repairing the ruptured hose, replacing the legacy control board, recharging with R134a refrigerant, and refilling with York K chiller oil to return the system to full operational status without requiring redundant diagnostics or external contractors. The place of performance is clearly defined as the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, MD 20705, and while no formal period of performance dates are specified, the work was required to commence immediately due to critical operational and financial risks associated with delay. The solicitation number is 1232SA26P0364, posted on June 17, 2026, with no competitive evaluation process applied, and no pricing details, contract type, or payment information disclosed in the documentation. Acceptance of the repair work occurred on-site, with compliance ensured through the use of manufacturer-compatible parts and system functionality as de facto quality standards, despite the absence of formally cited technical specifications or inspection criteria. The contracting office is under the USDA ARS AFM APD, with Angela B. Wingert designated as the primary point of contact, though no contracting officer representative, technical representative, or procurement contracting officer details are provided. No formal attachments, packaging instructions, accounting lines, invoicing methods, or specific contract clauses were included in the documentation, and while the contractor’s UEI is listed as ZPAADCYJCR2, socioeconomic status and size certification details are not stated. The procurement reflects an expedited, non-competitive action justified entirely by emergency conditions and contractor-specific expertise, with no indication of options, modifications, or additional requirements beyond the immediate repair tasks.