Freedom Connection Natural Gas Pipeline

SOURCES SOUGHT - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
FREEDOM CONNECTION NATURAL GAS PIPELINE

THIS NOTICE IS FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) OR INVITATION FOR BID. 

This announcement seeks information from industry which will be used for preliminary planning purposes. This is not a solicitation for proposals, and no contract will be awarded from this synopsis. No solicitation, specifications or drawings are available at this time.

1.0 Introduction and Purpose

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Latin America and Caribbean District (SAA) is conducting market research for the construction of the Freedom Connection Natural Gas Pipeline in Puerto Rico. The results of this market research will help determine the final procurement strategy. USACE-SAA is issuing this follow up Request for Information due to changes in the design, scope of work and acquisition strategy.

This request is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of Small Business concerns, certified HUBZone, 8(a), Woman-Owned Small Businesses, Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business or Veteran-Owned Small Business.

The responses or submissions will be used for informational and planning purposes only and do not constitute a commitment by the Government. The Government will not pay for any information submitted, and respondents will not be notified of the results. Submission or responses to this request for information is not a prerequisite for any potential future offerings.

2.0 Background

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is funding the Freedom Connection Project.  The objective is to enhance the resilience of Puerto Rico’s northern power grid by improving fuel infrastructure. This project involves constructing an approximately 4.2-mile, 20-inch diameter natural gas pipeline to supply the Palo Seco Power Plant from the existing San Juan liquid natural gas (LNG) terminal.

SAA anticipates soliciting and awarding one (1) design-bid-build solicitation in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Parts 15 and 36. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 237120 - Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction. The small business size standard for this NAICS code is US $45 million. The estimated magnitude of construction is between $25,000,000 and $100,000,000. Anticipated award date is in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2027. Performance Period is 365 calendar days from NTP.

3.0 Scope of Work

The scope of work includes all integrated procurement, labor, equipment, and services required to construct and commission the new pipeline based on a forthcoming final engineering design. Core responsibilities include:

•    Materials Procurement: Procure all necessary items, including long-lead items such as 20” steel pipe, valves, fittings, and instrumentation, ensuring compliance with the final design and industry standards.

•    Site Work: Prepare access roads and rights-of-way, and perform site clearing, grading, and stabilization.

•    Pipeline Installation: Execute all installation activities, including:

• Trenchless methods (e.g., Horizontal Directional Drilling - HDD).
• Open trench cut-and-cover installation.
• Pre-fabrication of materials.
• Pipeline welding, non-destructive testing (NDT), and inspection.
• Application of protective external coatings.
• Above-grade pipeline installation, potentially requiring more than 50 feet deep concrete piles.

•    Facilities Construction: Build all standalone facilities, including mainline block-valve stations and pig launcher/receiver stations, including electrical and instrumentation.

•    Delegated Design: Manage and execute any potentially delegated design elements (e.g., temporary works, trench shoring, specialized HDD drill profiles, or structural supports), including coordination with and sealing by licensed Professional Engineers.

•    Testing and Commissioning: Perform hydrostatic pressure testing, leak detection, and all pre-startup commissioning protocols.

•    Restoration and Handover: Restore all disturbed areas and formally transfer the completed pipeline and facilities to the owner/operator.

4.0 Requested Information for Capability Statement

Interested firms must submit a capability statement (limited to 10 pages) that addresses the following. Responses should be tailored to demonstrate the firm's ability to successfully manage and execute this integrated procurement and construction project.

Corporate Information & Experience

1.    Company Profile: Provide your firm's name, address, point of contact (POC), CAGE Code, and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

2.    Business Category: Specify your firm's socioeconomic status (e.g., Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), HUBZone, 8(a), Woman-Owned Small Business).

3.    Bonding Capacity: Include documentation from your bonding company showing current single and aggregate performance and payment bond limits.

4.    Project Experience: Interested construction firms may provide no more than three (3) example projects where the interested firm served as the prime contractor. Each project must include the name, title, project role, e-mail address, and telephone number of at least one reference.  References may be used to verify project size, scope, dollar value, percentages and quality of performance. Example projects must be of similar size and scope.

Projects similar in scope to this project include:

Natural gas pipeline project of similar magnitude and complexity where your firm was responsible for both materials’ procurement and construction. Civil projects involving trenchless technologies like HDD, and work in dense urban or environmentally sensitive areas. Each project must comprise of detailed scope of the work, performance timeline, dollar value, customer name. Construction of pipelines of more than 1 mile in length including trenchless pipeline installation, including horizontal directional drilling, jack and bore, and other trenchless technologies.

5.0 Submission Instructions

•    Deadline: Responses must be submitted via email no later than 10:00 AM (AST), Tuesday, 24 September 2026.

•    Email To: Angel.J.Martinez@usace.army.mil and Meranda.R.Booth@usace.army.mil.

•    Format: No hardcopy or facsimile submissions will be accepted. The capability statement shall be limited to ten (10) pages. Any commercial brochures or currently existing marketing material may also be submitted.