Chiller Rental

The USDA Agricultural Research Service, through its office in Beltsville, Maryland, has initiated a firm-fixed-price commercial services acquisition under FAR Part 12 for the rental, installation, commissioning, maintenance, and demobilization of a temporary 900-ton water-cooled chiller system to address an emergency cooling failure at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Illinois. The contract, identified by solicitation number 1232SA26C0013 and posted on July 7, 2026, is justified under FAR 6.302-2 for unusual and compelling urgency due to the imminent risk of facility shutdown, equipment damage, and loss of critical scientific research, with a permanent replacement planned for fiscal year 2027. The contractor must achieve full operational status within three weeks of the Notice to Proceed and provide 24/7 emergency support, weekly inspections, operator training, and complete demobilization with site restoration. The system must comply with IMC, IBC, NEC, NFPA, and ASHRAE standards, and all logistics—including delivery, setup, temporary utilities, wall penetrations, glycol sampling and restoration, and return freight—are the contractor’s responsibility. The acquisition was restricted to a single qualified vendor, Thermo Systems, LLC, based on prior familiarity with the facility, demonstrated experience with federal chiller rentals, and the inability to meet the urgent timeline through full and open competition. No formal evaluation factors with weights, CLINs, pricing, or contract clauses were disclosed; however, award is expected on a trade-off basis prioritizing technical capability and schedule adherence over cost. The contract value is estimated at $1.2 million. No packaging or marking standards, including MIL-STD, are specified, and no representations, certifications, or socioeconomic data from the offeror are documented. The contracting office in Beltsville, MD, oversees the acquisition, with Joshua J. Dobereiner listed as the primary point of contact, while no COR, COTR, or payment office details are provided.