Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade (Optics)

The contract solicitation SV0218-26, titled Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade (Optics), is a sealed bid invitation for a Firm Fixed-Price Construction contract issued by UNICOR, Federal Prison Industries under the Department of Justice, with a total small business set-aside restriction limited to contractors within the North Carolina servicing district. The project involves the comprehensive upgrade of electrical infrastructure at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina, including installation of a new pad-mounted transformer, upgrades to electrical service and distribution equipment to support new and future injection molding machines, and all necessary materials, labor, and equipment required for the work. Performance must be completed within 150 calendar days, excluding federal holidays, beginning within ten days of receiving the notice to proceed, and work may be required on weekends and outside standard business hours to avoid disrupting facility operations. All work is performed within a secure zone except for the external utility service connection, and contractors must comply with detailed technical specifications including 260050 FL for basic materials and methods, along with specific standards for raceways, grounding, panelboards, and low-voltage conductors referenced in the statement of work and engineering drawings. The solicitation mandates strict compliance with federal acquisition regulations, including clauses on insurance requirements for work on a government installation with minimum liability limits of $500,000 for general liability and $200,000 per person/$500,000 per occurrence for automobile liability, as well as adherence to Buy American requirements and tax provisions. Contractors must provide a full-time project manager present at all times during performance and submit detailed certifications, licenses, and credentials for all personnel. Security protocols require completion of DOJ-03 personnel requirements, a criminal history check (BP-A0660), CJIS name check, and BOP pre-employment forms, with 21 calendar days allocated within the performance period for clearance processing if submissions are received within ten days of the notice to proceed. Evaluation is based on a best value tradeoff process where technical approach is a mandatory pass/fail gate followed by past performance as the second most important factor, with price being the least significant, and technical and past performance combined are deemed significantly more important than cost. Invoicing must use the AIA G-702 form, submitted electronically to designated UNICOR accounts payable email addresses with no U.S. Postal Service use allowed, and must include contractor self-certification of small business status. The contracting officer holds