Provide and Install Two Hot Water Heaters

This solicitation, numbered 1232SA26Q1076, is a combined synopsis and request for quotation for the replacement of two natural gas water heaters at the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Southern Horticulture Research Unit in Poplarville, Mississippi. The procurement is set aside exclusively for Woman Owned Small Businesses under the North American Industry Classification System code 238220, with a small business size standard of $19 million. The contract requires the installation of two AO Smith BTR-197 water heaters, including removal and disposal of existing units, temperature calibration, operational verification, and submission of a Site Safety Plan. All work must be performed without disrupting daily operations and must comply with applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), USDA Acquisition Regulation (AGAR), and federal standards, including the BioPreferred Program for bio-based materials. The offeror must hold a valid Mississippi plumbing license and provide documentation of relevant experience; subcontractor experience is not acceptable. The solicitation follows a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation method, meaning the award will go to the lowest-priced offer that meets all technical requirements and has acceptable or neutral past performance, as assessed through CPARS. Offerors must submit a signed SF-1449 form, a transmittal letter containing the Unique Entity Identifier, CAGE code, and Taxpayer Identification Number, along with proof of a valid plumbing license and one recent, direct project reference. All proposals must be received by August 3, 2026, and must be delivered to the specified address in Poplarville, Mississippi. The contract is anticipated to be a firm fixed-price award with FOB destination delivery terms. Invoicing must be submitted electronically through the Invoice Processing Platform, and vendors must enroll prior to submission. Key personnel performing work must undergo personal identity verification consistent with HSPD-12 and USDA directives; contractors are required to maintain a list of verified employees and immediately replace any personnel deemed ineligible by the government without additional cost. Payment will be processed through a remittance address in Poplarville, and no specific contract value is provided due to uninvoiced pricing data, though the wage rate for HVAC mechanics is listed at $29.89 per hour. Failure to meet any mandatory requirement, including license validity, experience documentation, or compliance with security and workforce integrity provisions, will render a quotation non-responsive.