Replace EVAP Cooler in Greenhouses - St. Paul, MN

This contract solicits quotations for replacing evaporative cooling systems in greenhouses at the USDA ARS Cereal Disease Laboratory in St. Paul, Minnesota, under solicitation number 1232SA26Q0989. The acquisition is structured as a combined synopsis/solicitation under FAR Part 12 as a Request for Quotation and is exclusively set aside for small business concerns with a size standard of $19 million, classified as a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS code 238220. Participation requires mandatory attendance at a site visit, failure of which renders a quotation technically unacceptable. All quotations must be submitted as sealed physical bids by 5:00 PM EST on August 13, 2026, to the USDA ARS Acquisition and Property Division in Beltsville, Maryland. Offerors must submit a fully completed SF 1442, a bid bond using SF 24 or equivalent, and provide two recent, relevant references demonstrating direct organizational experience—subcontractor work does not qualify. The contract is awarded using the Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable method, with no trade-offs permitted between price and technical merit. Performance must occur on-site, with work limited to June 1 through September 15, 2027, and a 420-day period of performance beginning after Notice to Proceed. Contractors must comply with stringent requirements including on-site supervision by a prime contractor-employed superintendent, adherence to OSHA and NFPA standards, proper labeling and conductor color coding per ANSI and NEC guidelines, and storage of materials in weathertight, ventilated conditions per manufacturer specifications. All deliverables, including operation and maintenance manuals, test reports, warranties, and shop drawings, must be submitted post-award in electronic format with specific naming conventions. Invoicing must be completed electronically via the Treasury’s IPP platform, and contractors may be required to obtain a USDA Linc Pass badge for facility access. Compliance with numerous FAR clauses covering ethics, labor standards, small business subcontracting, Buy American restrictions, security, and environmental protections is mandatory, with failure to meet any evaluation factor resulting in an unacceptable rating and disqualification.