Z2NE--544-22-115 Replace Water and Fire Piping Loop

The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to issue a firm-fixed-price construction contract for the replacement of the domestic water and fire piping loop at the Columbia VA Health Care System in Columbia, South Carolina, with an estimated construction value between $10 million and $20 million. This project includes site preparation, demolition, removal of existing structures, and installation of a new water and fire piping system designed to conform to current VA standards. The work will extend across the entire campus, with interior work focused on buildings 100 and 100A. The procurement will be conducted under FAR Part 15 using a 100% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside, with solicitation release anticipated around May 13, 2026. All solicitation documents will be available electronically on SAM.gov. The award will be based on a best value trade-off process emphasizing past performance more heavily than price, with past performance requiring detailed narratives and documentation, and price evaluated for reasonableness including a mandate that at least 15% of costs be allocated to eligible veteran-owned small business employees. Contract administration will be managed by the VISN 7 Network Contracting Office, with payments processed through the VA’s Austin Payment Center. The contract performance period begins within 10 days of award and must be completed within 687 calendar days, with all work performed at the Columbia VA facility. Special contract requirements include mandatory OSHA safety training, adherence to strict packaging, preservation, and marking standards, and necessary key personnel certifications like BICSI and RCDD. The contract contains standard FAR clauses addressing definitions, gratuities, bonding, prompt payment, and others without modifications or alternates. Proposal submissions must be electronic, in PDF format, with clear instructions provided for file sizes and delivery. The scope mandates full compliance with extensive technical and safety standards including ASTM, UL, ASME, and NFPA criteria, along with stringent inspection, acceptance procedures at origin and destination, and detailed documentation of construction processes and testing. Subcontracting is limited to a maximum of 85% for SDVOSB contracts, with provisions requiring local service facilities and rapid response capabilities to maintain continuous operational support throughout the project.