Building 154 Cooling Tower Media Replacement

This solicitation, numbered 1232SA26R0048, is a combined synopsis and request for proposal issued under FAR Part 12 for the replacement of cooling tower media at Building 154 in Ames, Iowa, and is exclusively set aside for small businesses as a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS code 236220 with a size standard of $45.0 million. The contract requires the contractor to provide all labor, materials, equipment, and supervision necessary to demolish and replace existing fill and drift eliminators across twelve cooling tower cells, install new PVC fill material and structural components, perform FRP repairs, and complete mechanical preventive maintenance, all while complying with manufacturer performance guarantees, CTI certification, Factory Mutual approvals, and all applicable federal, state, and local building codes. The work must commence within ten days of notice to proceed and be fully completed, including site cleanup, within 180 calendar days. Submittals for safety, quality control, construction, and scheduling plans, as well as product documentation for fill, drift eliminators, nozzles, and stainless steel hardware, must be submitted electronically within ten days of award. The contract follows a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable evaluation method, where offers must first pass technical acceptability and past performance gates before the lowest-priced compliant offer is selected. The project is governed by a firm fixed price structure, and payment will be processed by the USDA ARS Acquisition and Property D office in Beltsville, Maryland, with progress payments permitted monthly or at more frequent intervals based on Contracting Officer approval and supported by detailed itemization, subcontractor payment listings, and certification of compliance. All work must adhere to stringent security protocols, including compliance with USDA, ARS, and APHIS policies, PIV requirements, and restricted site access, with violations leading to immediate removal and permanent ban. The contractor must also comply with prevailing wage rates, Buy American provisions, trafficking-in-persons requirements, whistleblower protections, and anti-discrimination certifications under AGAR 452.203-70. Proposals must be submitted via email to Erin Riffey by July 30, 2026, with the solicitation number included in the subject line, and offerors must maintain active SAM registration and hold firm pricing for 90 days after submission. Key contractual clauses include FAR 52.246-12 for inspection, FAR 52.24