Request for Information/Market Intelligence Notice: Repair Electrical Distribution System Switchgear Stations & Addition of Redundancy Cable Use of Progressive Design Build (PDB) with Other Transaction Authority (OTA)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) / MARKET RESEARCH NOTICE: This is a request for information (RFI) for market intelligence and for informational purposes only. This announcement does not constitute a solicitation or a request for proposal (RFP), and no solicitation is currently available. Participation in this RFI is strictly voluntary. The Government will not be obligated to award any agreement or contract because of this RFI, nor will it reimburse respondents for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of information. Submitting a response will not affect a firm’s ability to submit a proposal should formal solicitation be issued in the future.

NAICS CODE: 238210 Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors

SMALL BUSINESS STANDARD: $19,000,000.00

NOTE: While Other Transaction Authority is not subject to FAR based small business regulations, this NAICS code is provided for market research to help the Government understand the size and demographics of the interested industrial base.

PROGRAM/PROJECT OVERVIEW: The 11th Contracting Squadron (11 CONS), District of Washington, has a requirement to execute the design-build upgrades, repairs, and/or replacements to the deteriorated Electrical Switching Stations located at B18 and B168 on Joint Base Anacostia Bolling (JBAB) that includes developing a solution to establish a connection by high voltage electrical redundancy cable. The Government is evaluating the feasibility of executing these requirements via Progressive Design-Build (PDB) utilizing an Other Transaction (OT) Agreement under the statutory authority of 10 U.S.C. § 2808a. 

This project summary establishes the operational requirements, technical baseline, and acquisition framework for the Progressive Design-Build (PDB) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) effort to modernize Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling’s (JBAB) primary electrical infrastructure.

Project Title

JBAB Electrical Switching Stations (ESS B18 & B168) Modernization & Grid Redundancy

Location

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), 11th Wing

Acquisition Strategy

Progressive Design-Build (PDB) via Other Transaction Authority (OTA)

Primary Objective

Engineer comprehensive design packages to repair, upgrade, and interconnect deteriorated electrical switching infrastructure

Primary Deliverables

100% executable design packages, specifications, and implementation schedules for ESS upgrades, facility hardening, cable routing, and smart-grid wireless SCADA/telemetry

Scope Breakdown by Facility & Component

ESS B18 (Switching Station Upgrade)

• Full replacement of legacy switchgear with FR3 fluid, air-insulated switchgear (per latest UFC 3-550-01)
• Life-cycle cost and sustainability integration (UFC 1-200-02)

• Thermal partition separating switchgear room from power generation bay
• Dedicated HVAC system and air conditioning ductwork
• Sized space heating units
• High-efficiency interior LED lighting

ESS B168 (Repair, Upgrade & Hardening)

• Complete switchgear replacement mirroring ESS B168b using FR3 air-insulated switchgear (UFC 3-550-01)
• Sustainable design practices (UFC 1-200-02)

• Dedicated single HVAC unit and duct system
• Interior/exterior high-efficiency LED flood/task lighting
• Raised roof profile with comprehensive crack sealing/insulation
• Foundation pillar repairs, crawl space waterproofing, and rainwater gutter system
• Motorized roll-up door, cyber/physical cypher-locked access doors, and motorized loading dock ramp with widened sidewalk

High-Voltage Redundancy Cables

• Design 4-circuit bidirectional interconnect (8 cables total) connecting ESS B18 and ESS B168
• Baseline routing derived from 2025 Engineering Study

• Mandatory underground routing preference across base footprint
• Aerial routing permitted strictly as secondary exception where subsurface obstructions prevent underground installation

Wireless SCADA & Grid Telemetry

• Air Force long-term smart-grid wireless connectivity architecture
• Cell-enabled control panels reporting directly to electric shop web interface without physical comm trunk lines

• Relay-to-control panel comm wiring for ESS B18 and ESS B168
• Additional telemetry control panel integrated into ESS B4505 (sub-station to B18) to monitor sub-station power load profiles

Key Technical Standards & Compliance Baseline

UFC 3-550-01

Exterior Electrical Power Distribution

Mandates modern FR3 biodegradable, fire-resistant fluid dielectric air-insulated switchgears, significantly mitigating environmental and thermal hazards.

UFC 1-200-02

High Performance and Sustainable Building Requirements

Governs energy efficiency, life-cycle cost effectiveness, indoor environmental quality, and durable materials integration.

PDB / OTA Authority

Prototype / Collaboration Framework

Fosters early contractor involvement during Phase 1 design, mitigating unforeseen site and subsurface risk prior to Phase 2 construction commitment.

INFORMATION REQUESTED: Interested industry partners are requested to respond to the following questions to help shape the final acquisition strategy:

Company Profile:

Q1. Business Name

Q2. Address

Q3. Point of Contract (Name, Title)

Q4. Phone Number

Q5. Email Address

Q6. Unique Entity ID

Q7. Cage Code

Q8. Socioeconomic Status (Other Than Small, Small, 8(a), SDVOSB, etc.)

Q9. Participating Role (Prime Contractor, Subcontractor, Design Firm, Other)

Other Transaction Authority (OTA) & Statutory Compliance:

Q10. OTA Experience – Describe your firm’s previous experience, if any, executing projects utilizing OTA.

Q11. What project characteristics make PDB OTA particularly advantageous or disadvantageous for this requirement?

Progressive Design-Build (PDB) / Early Contractor Involvement:

Q12. What minimum level of detail (e.g., Statement of Need, conceptual site plans, target budget) does your firm require prior to entering Phase 1 (Design/Pre-construction) to feel confident in the project's viability?

Q13.  What collaborative mechanisms (such as joint design charrettes, target-value design workshops, or phased scoping approvals) do you recommend the Government implement in the first 30-90 days to rapidly transition from a "blank page" to a mutually agreed-upon baseline?

Q14. Describe your experience executing Progressive Design-Build, Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), or other highly collaborative delivery methods where designer and builder worked collaboratively with the owner before locking in a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP).

Feedback on the Acquisition Strategy & Alternatives:

Q15. Does the proposed PDB-OTA strategy incentivize your firm to participate? Why or why not?

Q16. Are there alternative acquisition strategies, commercial phasing arrangements, or risk-sharing terms that the Government has not considered that would yield a higher quality facility, faster delivery, or lower cost?

Bonding Capability:

Q17. Specify your maximum bonding (single and aggregate) as a sole prime contractor and/or as a joint venture.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Please submit your responses by 30 November 2026 at 1000 Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Mr. Terry Agena at terry.agena.1@us.af.mil and MSgt Quortez Dorsey quortez.dorsey@us.af.mil.

The Government welcomes candid industry feedback and recommendations regarding commercial practices, agreement terms, project phasing, risk sharing, governance, pricing approaches, and other considerations that could improve successful execution of these projects under 10 U.S.C. § 2808a.

Interested firms are encouraged to add themselves to the Interested Vendors List associated with this announcement on SAM.gov to receive future updates.

Note: Do not submit proprietary trade secrets, protected technologies, or classified information in your response. All feedback received will be handled as public market research to shape the Government's final acquisition approach.