Y1DZ--NRM - CONSTR PROJ - 630-26-102 Design Build HVAC Bldgs. 4 and 5

This contract is a design-build solicitation issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs through the Network Contracting Office 2 for the upgrade of HVAC systems at the Manhattan Campus VA Medical Center in New York City, specifically targeting Buildings 4 and 5. The project includes the installation of three new chillers and associated cooling towers, which produce more heat than the existing equipment, along with variable frequency drive cabinets that require additional cooling. The current ventilation system is insufficient, leading to equipment shutdowns during peak summer loads, necessitating new electrical switchgear to ensure minimum cooling capacity for critical patient care areas. The solicitation is a 100% set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses under NAICS code 236220, with an estimated construction cost between $2 million and $5 million. The overall performance period does not exceed 850 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed, with design services allocated 90 days and construction 760 days, and key milestones outlined for phased completion. Response deadlines for RFIs have been extended multiple times, with the final deadline for submissions set for May 13, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Proposals must be submitted electronically by March 4, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time to designated VA email addresses and must follow a strict two-phase format: Phase I includes Technical Approach, Technical Qualifications, and Past Performance as a single PDF, while Phase II is divided into two PDFs—one covering Design Concepts, Management Approach, and Schedule, and the other containing the Price proposal. Evaluation follows a best-value tradeoff approach where technical merit collectively outweighs price, allowing award to the offeror providing the highest overall value, not necessarily the lowest-priced bid. Contract clauses incorporate mandatory federal requirements including Buy American Act compliance, wage rate adjustments, equal opportunity protections, whistleblower safeguards, and security directives. Contractors must comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1926 for excavation safety, NFPA standards for electrical systems, FGI healthcare facility guidelines, and VA-specific infection control and environmental protocols. All personnel must undergo OSHA training, a Competent Person must be present on-site at all times, and subcontractors must be certified SDVOSBs with performance limits applied. Payment must be submitted through VA’s EIPPS system using X12 EDI standards, and no paper or alternative electronic formats are permitted. Security requirements include compliance with