U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks Office space in Barnwell, SC

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking office space in Barnwell, South Carolina, under solicitation number 57-45011-23-FA, with responses due by May 20, 2026. The requirement is for a lease agreement to accommodate federal operations, with all performance and delivery obligations centered at the designated location in Barnwell, SC. The solicitation outlines a comprehensive scope involving the construction and fit-out of tenant improvements, aligned with Design Intent Drawings and governed by multiple building, safety, and environmental standards including NFPA 101, IBC, ADA, ASHRAE 62.1, TSCA Title VI, and OSHA GHS. The Lessor is responsible for delivering a substantially complete facility, obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy, and ensuring compliance with fire protection, acoustic performance, indoor air quality, refrigerant management, and material reuse standards, particularly for spaces exceeding 10,000 square feet. The evaluation process does not assign numerical weights to factors but establishes clear thresholds for technical acceptability; proposals may be rejected outright if they fail to meet requirements related to efficient layout, floodplain eligibility, or seismic safety, while historic property preference may be considered in a best value tradeoff. The award could be made under either a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable or Best Value Tradeoff methodology, depending on the Local Contracting Officer’s determination. Contractual clauses incorporate mandatory representations and certifications including the Unique Entity Identifier, compliance with executive compensation reporting, small business utilization, subcontracting plans with liquidated damages for performance failures, and security protocols tied to personnel identity verification and safeguarding of government information systems. Offerors must affirmatively disclose the use or provision of covered telecommunications equipment under FAR 52.204-24, and all submissions must comply with SAM registration requirements and include proper certifications for small business status without explicit designation provided in the response. Invoicing must follow SAM guidelines, and payments are subject to contract administration requirements referencing GSAR and FAR provisions, though specific accounting codes or remittance details are not disclosed. Contact for inquiries is Stephen Paulsen, Contract Specialist, with David McPadden as an alternate. No packaging, marking, or FOB shipping terms apply as this is a real property lease, and while multiple amendments to the solicitation have occurred, no attachment list or special contract requirements unique to this acquisition are defined beyond standard federal clauses.