J045--EMERGENCY Cooling Tower Repair Services at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System

The Minneapolis VA Medical Center is conducting market research to identify qualified vendors capable of providing comprehensive inspection, maintenance, repair, and training services for two cooling towers located in Building 69’s energy center. This initiative, identified by NAICS code 238220 with a $19.0 million small business size standard, seeks input from businesses to shape future acquisition strategies, including potential set-asides for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Veteran-Owned, and other socio-economic small businesses. The scope of work involves shutdown coordination, mechanical and electrical inspections, replacement of gearboxes and water distribution components, power washing of all accessible parts without chemicals, fan balancing, and post-repair performance testing using calibrated instruments and qualified personnel. Training for VA staff must be delivered over up to two days and cover operation, preventive maintenance, winterization, and troubleshooting for both the EvapTech 3-cell and Marley 1-cell cooling tower models. Contractors are required to supply their own scaffolding or OSHA-approved lifts, adhere strictly to PPE requirements including hard hats, safety glasses, and hearing protection, secure all necessary permits, and ensure no interference with facility operations during work hours, which are scheduled outside normal business hours (6 a.m. to 5 p.m.) unless otherwise coordinated. All work must be completed within the proposed period of performance from June 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, with responsiveness and speed of execution being favorable factors. Responses to this sources sought notice, due by May 14, 2026, must include the vendor’s SAM Unique Entity ID, socio-economic status (including SDVOSB, VOSB, WOSB, or other classifications), disclosure of any existing government contracts enabling service delivery, details on proposed subcontracting percentages and tasks, estimated lead time for completion, and completed pricing fields for the single line item described in the provided table. Contractors must submit a testing plan, schedule of tasks with milestones, material submittals and technical data sheets, MSDS for any chemicals, photographic documentation of work phases, maintenance logs, warranty certificates for new components, and a worksite access protocol. All deliverables must be submitted via email to Alisha.Milander@va.gov; failure to respond fully to any of the five required questions will render the submission non-responsive. This notice is not a solicitation and no contract will be awarded based on these responses; however, the information received will directly inform the government’s