Design and Construction of a Modernized Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility (Bioplant) at Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP)

The Army Contracting Command-Rock Island (ACC-RI), on behalf of the Project Lead Joint Services (PL JS), is seeking capable sources for the design, construction, commissioning, and operational turnover of a modernized industrial wastewater treatment facility (referred to as the Bioplant) capable of treating the full volume and variety of Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP) industrial wastewater influent while meeting or exceeding the environmental permit requirements for discharge into the New River.

The United States Government (Government) intends to utilize the information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Notice (SSN) to issue a follow-on Request for Solution (RFS) that will include the full requirement for the modernized Bioplant. The Government is contemplating using a Stand-Alone Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) under 10 U.S.C. 4022 to satisfy this requirement. However, if the acquisition approach changes, the information obtained from this SSN will be used in the planning and award of the project.

The Government’s intent is to award the proposed contract(s) based on the capabilities demonstrated in response to the follow-on RFP, therefore, all interested sources shall ensure that they have fully identified, in writing, their capabilities to perform the requirements included in the SSN and subsequent updates.

The Government encourages responses from traditional and non-traditional defense contractors, and organizations with innovative solutions, even if they have not previously performed work for the Department of War.

RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS:

RFAAP is a critical national security asset, serving as the last remaining continental (CONUS) Government-owned facility capable of manufacturing nitrocellulose (NC), nitroglycerin (NG), single-base, multi-base, and solventless propellants. The industrial wastewater generated by these manufacturing processes contains complex chemical components—including solvents and propellant residues (solid, dissolved, or suspended energetic materials)—which must be rigorously treated prior to discharge into the New River.

To be considered a capable source for this effort, all interested sources shall submit the requested information which will assist the Government in developing its acquisition strategy:

• Provide a description of a prototype or proven process(es) to treat complex, variable waste streams from the production of propellants (high BOD/COD, energetic residues, solvents) in compliance with permits.
• Ability to conduct a continuous 12-month prototype/pilot test using RFAAP wastewater with up to two proposed technologies (e.g. Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBRs), Membrane Bioreactor (MBR), etc.) to capture seasonal variations in microbial activity, right-size the plant, and test responses to confounding constituents, and assure that discharge is permit compliant.
• Provide relevant project experience, within the last ten (10) years, demonstrating the ability to design, construct, and commission a wastewater treatment facility capable of treating 1.5 million gallons per day (MGD) non-acidic wastewater influent as a baseline, with a 0.5 MGD minimum and 2.5 MGD surge capacity.
• Summarize design and construction experience, with strong consideration given to active military industrial or Government-Owned Contractor-Operated (GOCO) facilities, specifically demonstrating their ability to coordinate schedules, environmental compliance, and site access simultaneously with military command staff and operating contractors.
• Summarize experience adhering to requirements for Cybersecurity, Explosive Safety Site Plans (ESSP), Environmental and Construction permitting (i.e., VPDES, Construction General Permit, SWPPP, Stormwater Management, Air Quality), Geotechnical studies, Facility Siting, Quality Assurance, and Security, with added weight given to familiarity with a GOCO facility.
• Description of company facilities (commercial or government-owned), personnel (numbers, experience, specialized skill sets), key technologies, and environmental compliance as it relates to the above project.
• Provide company name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, technical point of contact, and company size (please specify as either a Large Business, Foreign-Owned Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a) concern, Woman-Owned Small Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone concern, Veteran-Owned Small Business, or Service-Disabled Small Business);

All contractors interested in this potential future requirement must be registered in the System of Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov.

This market survey is for information and planning purposes. Submissions for this Notice must be provided on or before 12:00 p.m. CDT on July 2, 2026, at no cost to the Government, by electronic mail (e-mail) to Steffanie Adams at steffanie.l.adams.civ@army.mil.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

    1. Responses shall be submitted electronically via e-mail to Steffanie Adams at steffanie.l.adams.civ@army.mil by no later than 12:00 p.m. CDT on July 2, 2026. See contract information below.

    2. Responses shall be in PDF format and shall not exceed 15 pages, including the cover sheet and diagrams. The minimum acceptable font size is 12 Calibri. The cover sheet shall include the following company information:

        a. Company name, address, and web URL (if applicable)

        b. Point of contract, telephone number, and email address.

        c. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Commercial and Government Entity Code (CAGE), and business type/size (based on NAICS 325920 – Explosive Manufacturing, 325998 – Other Miscellaneous Chemical Production, 332993 – Ammunition Manufacturing, 332249 – Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing). If small, please indicate any applicable socio-economic status such as: Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), 8(a), HUB Zone, etc.

    3. Response shall include documentation of technical expertise and capability in sufficient detail for the Government to adequately assess the capabilities of your company. It is imperative that business concerns responding to this sources sought articulate their capabilities clearly and adequately.

    4. Classified material and material samples will not be accepted.

DISCLAIMER:

This Sources Sought Notice is for market research purposes only and shall not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government does not intend to reimburse any contractors for any information or administrative costs associated with responding to this notification. Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary and any of the information stated above is subject to change. The Government intends to use the information received to develop the acquisition strategy for future requirements. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary information in any resultant solicitation(s). Proprietary information should be marked as such and the Government will protect it from unauthorized disclosure to the maximum extent permitted by law. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, the Government will publish a solicitation notice.

NOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES:

ACC-RI and PL JS hereby offer interested parties with capabilities to meet the requirements of this Sources Sought Notice an opportunity to have virtual one-on-one meetings or perform a site visit on either 30 JUN 2026, or 08 JUL 2026 at RFAAP to tour the current legacy Bioplant and prospective sites for construction. Each virtual one-on-one meeting or site visit will be scheduled in increments of no more than 30 minutes and one hour respectively. Interested parties shall provide a written request by 26 JUN 2026, to include its available date and time (between 0800 - 1600 EST on 30 JUN 2026 or 08 JUL 2026) electronically to Steffanie Adams at steffanie.l.adams.civ@army.mil.

It is anticipated that a Request for Solutions (RFS) will be posted within thirty (30) days following this posting as an amendment to the SSN to solicit qualified firms for fixed price proposals to perform the Bioplant design and construction project. At that time, a full project scope/requirement shall be provided for generation of a complete proposal. Subject to availability of funds, the Government intends to award a Fixed-Price OTA in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022, Authority of the DoD to Carry Out Certain Prototype Projects. The Government may opt to make no awards, or re-open the RFS at a later period if the submissions are insufficient in quality or fail to meet the intent of the RFS.