Extruder Power Wiring

Solicitation number 1232SA26Q0520, issued by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, requests quotations from small business concerns for the supply and installation of a 480 VAC, 80-amp power circuit and service disconnect to power an extruder unit at the Food Processing Laboratory in Albany, California. This firm fixed-price contract, conducted under FAR Part 12 for commercial items, is a total small business set-aside aligned with NAICS code 238210 (Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors), with a small business size standard of $19 million. The work entails installing a 3-pole circuit breaker, a 100A NEMA 3R fusible disconnect, wiring through existing conduits, replacing any deficient wiring, labeling equipment, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local electrical codes, including the NEC, UFGS, ARS 242.1M, and OSHA standards. The contract requires full project management by the prime contractor, including quality control, scheduling, reporting, and supervision, with a 30-day performance period commencing within 10 calendar days of award. Evaluation will follow a Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) approach, where quotations must demonstrate full technical compliance, including valid electrical licensing in California and satisfactory past performance, with unqualified offers accepted only if both technical and past performance standards are met. Inspection and acceptance occur on-site after the contractor submits final documentation, including as-built drawings, certified payroll, schedules, and warranties. Security requirements include personal identity verification and compliance with safeguarding clauses, with potential USDA Linc Pass badges for personnel. Contractors must provide 10 days’ notice prior to final inspection and any planned utility shutdowns. Payments are conditioned on appropriate security for progress payments and invoicing is required through the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). The contract mandates experienced, qualified personnel with a prime contractor-employed superintendent onsite at all times. Ethical obligations, subcontracting restrictions, and diversity compliance are governed by multiple FAR clauses incorporated into the contract. Electronic and physical proposals are accepted by the May 11, 2026, deadline, with all mandatory documentation to be submitted in specified formats. The contract is administered by the USDA ARS Acquisition Office in Beltsville, Maryland, with technical oversight and project management support provided locally by USDA representatives in Albany, California.