Solicitation - Y1EZ--Construct Chiller Plant | Design Build Milwaukee, WI VAMC | 695-24-101

The Department of Veterans Affairs is soliciting design-build services for the construction of a new approximately 11,500 square foot chiller plant at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, under solicitation number 36C77626R0024. This project, classified under NAICS code 236220, involves the integrated delivery of architectural and engineering design, demolition of existing structures, utility relocation, and full construction of the chiller facility, with an estimated contract value between $50 million and $100 million. The solicitation follows a two-phase design-build approach with firm-fixed-price contract terms, and proposals must be submitted electronically by May 22, 2026. The evaluation process prioritizes non-price factors—Technical Approach, Technical Qualifications, and Past Performance—as equally important in Phase I, followed by Phase II evaluation of Technical Solution, Draft Project Schedule, Small Business Participation, and finally Price, with non-price factors significantly outweighing cost in the trade-off decision. The Government will not select the lowest bidder but will award to the offeror providing the best overall value. Contract performance is expected to last about 730 days, beginning with a Notice to Proceed issued approximately 14 days after award. Proposals must be structured into three volumes for phase two, with strict submission guidelines including searchable PDF format, a maximum of 35 pages for phase one, and 10 pages for the price volume. Electronic submission via email to designated VA points of contact is mandatory; hard copies are rejected. All contractors must comply with VA-specific administrative requirements, including adherence to construction inspection standards, mandatory electronic invoicing through the VA Financial Services Center portal, and compliance with clauses governing changes, warranties, termination, and subcontracting. Special requirements include security clearance verification for personnel, mandatory OSHA 30- and 10-hour certifications, facility badging through a Special Agreement form, prohibition on photographing VA property, and strict data handling protocols that ban access to VA IT systems or PHI/PII. Contractors must also submit UEI and CAGE codes, certify small business status if applicable, and comply with VA’s small business subcontracting plan minimums, despite no formal set-aside being utilized. Technical deliverables must align with specific construction sections and industry standards, including IPC, IBC, ASCE 7, and ASTM testing protocols, while quality control and special inspections are governed by a formally