1.0_RFP_376508-CD_Instructions_to_Offerors.pdf

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RFP Central Utility Building Addition and Renovation Construction, UIP Subproject 1-CUB
Solicitation number
RFP-376508-CD
Issued by
Kane County, Bartelso Village, Illinois

About this file

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC (FFDG) for construction services related to the Central Utility Building (CUB) Addition and Renovation project at Fermilab in Illinois. The project involves building an addition to and renovating the Central Utility Building, which supplies chilled water, hot water, low conductivity water, and makeup water to various laboratory buildings and systems. The scope of work requires the general contractor to furnish all supervision, labor, materials, tools, equipment, and appurtenances necessary to complete the project as detailed in drawings and technical specifications. The critical constraint is Fermilab's accelerator shutdown scheduled from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2030, during which all construction work must be completed. Key project milestones include Notice to Proceed issuance by December 30, 2027; construction start on January 3, 2028; AUP 1 CUB Extension completion by January 31, 2029; AUP 2 Existing CUB Upgrade completion by June 29, 2029; and final project completion by September 28, 2029. A virtual pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for October 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, with in-person site visits to be scheduled later. Proposals are due by 4:00 p.m. Central Time on November 17, 2026, with questions regarding RFP interpretation due by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on November 3, 2026.

The RFP uses a tradeoff source selection method with evaluation based on 70 technical points and 30 price points, with non-cost factors considered significantly more important than cost. Technical evaluation includes organizational structure and key personnel (20 points), approach/safety compliance/work plan (25 points), and past performance (25 points). Offerors must demonstrate a minimum of three comparable past projects, with at least one valued at $50 million or greater and additional projects at $35 million or more, and must include experience with large water-cooled chillers and building renovations. Pricing must be submitted as a firm fixed price, with the lowest proposal receiving maximum points and others scored proportionally up to 67 percent higher. Bid guarantees of not less than 20 percent of bid price (not exceeding $3 million) are required, along with payment bonds (100 percent of contract price if exceeding $35,000) and performance bonds (100 percent of contract price if exceeding $150,000). Offerors must provide audited financial statements for three fiscal years demonstrating a current ratio of 1.20 or greater, single-project bonding capacity equal to or greater than the proposed price, and aggregate bonding capacity of not less than $100 million. The contract is subject to Davis-Bacon Act wage and labor standards with weekly certified payroll submissions required through LCPTracker. Additional pass/fail requirements include submission of safety and quality documents, including three-year rolling safety performance data, NCCI Workers' Compensation Experience Rating worksheets, OSHA 300A Form logs, and corporate safety and quality plans demonstrating compliance with 10 CFR Part 851 and DOE Order 414.1E.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) 376508-CD

CENTRAL UTILITY BUILDING ADDITION AND

RENOVATION CONSTRUCTION, UIP SUBPROJECT 1-

CUB

September 17, 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSAL

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE AND SMALL

BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING PLAN

PRE-PROPOSAL MEETING/SITE VISIT

EXPLANATION OR INTERPRETATION OF RFP DOCUMENTS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION

DESCRIPTION OF WORK & CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE

PREPARATION, SUBMISSION, AND EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

PROPOSAL DUE DATE

EXCEPTIONS AND DEVIATIONS

LATE SUBMISSION

OFFEROR'S MODIFICATION AND WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSALS

BID GUARANTEE

DAVIS BACON ACT, CONSTRUCTION WAGES, AND CERTIFIED PAYROLL

ILLINOIS OCCUPATION AND USE TAXES

NOTICE OF BUY AMERICAN REQUIREMENT—CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

PAYMENT BOND

PERFORMANCE BOND

INSURANCE

SUBCONTRACT AWARD

SUBCONTRACTING

EXHIBITS

The following requirements must be adhered to for the Offeror’s submission of Proposals to Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC (FFDG) in support of this specific requirement.

1. INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSAL

You are invited to submit a proposal for the items specified in this Request for Proposal (RFP), by the provisions contained herein, and the terms and conditions of the proposed firm fixed price subcontract entered into as a result of this solicitation.

All questions concerning this RFP should be submitted in writing and directed to the Procurement Specialist listed below.

Procurement Specialist: Chris Daley, CPPO, CPPB Phone: (630)-840-4256 Email: cdaley@fnal.gov

Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC Procurement Department Kirk Road & Wilson Street Batavia, IL 60510-0500

2. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this solicitation is 236210, Industrial Building Construction. The small business size standard for this NAICS code is $45.0 Million.

3. PRE-PROPOSAL MEETING/SITE VISIT

A virtual Pre-Proposal Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. Central Time The meeting provides an opportunity to discuss and clarify the RFP. However, nothing said or represented in the meeting shall be deemed to modify RFP requirements unless followed by a written amendment. Offerors are requested to submit questions related to the RFP in advance of the meeting so the Procurement Specialist may prepare responses. All parties interested in attending the pre-proposal conference please email Chris Daley at cdaley@fnal.gov to request login details. Offerors’ participation at this meeting is strongly recommended.

All Offeror’s may view the Central Utility Building site virtually thought the following Matterport link:

https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=AJ9WPhUXFrw

In person Site Visits will be scheduled at a later date through an Amendment to this RFP with instructions for access and limitations on the number of personnel per visit.

4. EXPLANATION OR INTERPRETATION OF RFP DOCUMENTS

The prospective offeror should examine and review the solicitation with care. Any prospective offeror desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc., must request it in writing by close of business (5:00 PM Central Time), November 3, 2026. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a subcontract will not be binding. Any information given to a prospective offeror concerning a solicitation will be furnished promptly to all other prospective offerors as an amendment to the solicitation if that information is necessary for submitting proposals or if the lack of the information would be prejudicial to other prospective offerors.

mailto:cdaley@fnal.gov https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=AJ9WPhUXFrw

5. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION

FFDG may, by amendment, modify any provision or part of this RFP at any time before the award of any resultant subcontract. All terms and conditions that are not modified remain unchanged.

An Offeror shall acknowledge receipt of any amendments to this RFP. Failure to acknowledge may result in the disqualification of an Offeror’s proposal. The acknowledgment shall be provided in one of the following ways:

• Immediately upon receipt of the amendment via email to the FFDG Procurement Specialist or

• Return the Amendment with a signature on the acknowledgment signature line or

• In the Offeror’s Proposal Letter that accompanies an Offeror’s proposal.

6. DESCRIPTION OF WORK AND CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE

This scope of work is to build an addition and renovate the Central Utility Building (CUB). The CUB supplies chilled water, hot water, low conductivity water, and makeup water to various lab buildings and systems. These systems serve both comfort cooling and heating needs, as well as process cooling and utility requirements. It is vital to Fermilab’s mission that CUB be revitalized and expanded, ensuring the ability to serve existing and future loads.

The General contractor shall furnish all required supervision, labor, materials, tools, plant and appurtenances necessary to perform diligently and fully all work as described in the drawings and technical specifications. All work includes transportation, overhead, bonding costs, safety oversight, quality control oversight, and supervision as required to construct the project described in the drawings, technical specification and the detailed description contained herein.

The critical schedule constraint for construction of this project is Fermilab’s accelerator shutdown, with an anticipated scheduled start on January 1, 2028, and anticipated end date of January 1, 2030- these dates may change depending on the needs of the Lab. The General Contractor must start their on-site efforts, and complete the construction scope under this contract, within the shutdown window

This project includes the following milestones:

Milestone 1 – Issuance of Notice to Proceed (NTP) to 30th December 2027. This milestone is intended for completion of necessary submittals and RFIs, approval of shop drawings for fabrication and procurement.

Milestone 2 – 3rd January 2028; This milestone marks the point where construction work may begin.

Milestone 3 – 31st January 2029; AUP 1 CUB Extension complete.

Milestone 4 – 29th June 2029; AUP 2 Existing CUB Upgrade complete.

Milestone 5 – 28th September 2029; Completion of CUB- including all remedial work following removal of site trailers.

7. PREPARATION, SUBMISSION, AND EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

FFDG expects to award a Subcontract to an Offeror who is deemed responsible, whose proposal conforms to this solicitation’s requirements, and whose proposal is judged to represent the best value to FFDG.

FFDG will use a Tradeoff source selection method. The best value is represented by the most advantageous proposal, price and other factors considered. Offerors are advised that a proposal meeting the solicitation requirements with the lowest evaluated price may not be selected if award to a higher evaluated price proposal is determined to be most advantageous to FFDG.

FFDG expects to award only one Subcontract as a result of this solicitation. However, FFDG may reject any or all proposals and not make any award based on this solicitation. FFDG may waive any informality or minor irregularity in proposal(s) received at its sole discretion.

FFDG reserves the right to award without discussions with Offerors. Accordingly, Offerors should submit their best proposals.

Each proposal shall be evaluated relative to the factors listed below in Evaluation Criteria. All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price.

Proposal Submission Format

The proposal shall be submitted in two (2) parts: Part I - Technical Proposal and Part II – Business Management and Price Proposal. In no instance shall Part I and Part II be bound together or presented in such manner as to make them not severable. The Technical Proposal shall not contain any reference to cost other than the information required in the past performance section.

Evaluation Process

Proposals will be scored in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth below. FFDG shall make a selection for award based on the principles of best value with tradeoffs.

A. Part I - Technical Proposal (70 Points)

TECHNICAL EVALUATION FACTORS AND CRITERIA

Criteria 2 and 3 are of equal importance, and both are of greater importance than Criterion 1

1) Criterion 1- Organizational Structure and Key Personnel (20 Points)

1. Offeror’s Proposal shall include the following information:

a. name of the firm,

b. names of the firm’s principal(s),

c. size of the enterprise,

d. all of the firm’s current registration/license number(s) in Illinois, and

e. length of time the firm has worked in Illinois.

2. Provide Offeror’s experience in construction management service for other governmental agencies, particularly those within Illinois or other National DOE laboratories.

3. The Offeror must provide an organization/structure chart that shows its key technical and consulting personnel, including but not limited to: Program Executive, Superintendent(s), Project Manager(s), Safety Officer, and Estimator who will be assigned to FFDG projects. Key Personnel shall not be replaced without the prior written approval of FFDG. The Offeror must provide resumes for each Key Personnel and provide at least the following information:

a. Resumes detailing each individual’s education, technical training and work experience, and professional credentials (e.g. certifications and/or licenses), including those primary team members working in a subcontracting capacity. List which team member will have primary responsibility for the FFDG account;

b. Correlation of team members to the tasks each will be performing;

c. Describe previous, related experiences and projects, particularly projects valued at

$50 million or more; and

d. Office locations of proposed team members.

4. If an Offeror is planning to joint venture, incorporate the relationship on the organization chart and provide letters of interest from those firms. Include the names and credentials of their principals and key personnel and include their resumes along with evidence of any required licenses. The Offeror should describe the roles and responsibilities of their subcontractors, including the key personnel as they relate to the Scope of Services for the RFP.

5. Detail Offeror’s and any subcontractor’s current project workloads, active bonding drawdowns, and projected backlog changes for both the prime Offeror and all major subcontractors over the next eighteen (18) months to demonstrate sufficient resource availability to absorb this project without execution delays..

2) Criteria 2 – Approach/Safety Compliance/Work Plan (25 Points)

The Offeror must provide a narrative of the project approach, and an explanation of how this approach meets FFDG objectives and requirements as specified in this RFP. In the project approach, the Offeror shall:

1. Clearly articulate how it will provide the required services as outlined in the

Statement of Work. Joint ventures shall clearly identify in the work plan the roles and responsibilities of each party to the joint venture.

2. Identify specific approaches to technical problems that may lead to cost savings for

FFDG.

3. Identify the phasing approach for installation of the chillers, MV transformers, MV switches, and construction of the new electrical room.

4. Written overview of Offeror’s concepts and approach to managing the overall cost of the project.

5. Demonstrate its scheduling platform and methods, quality management approach roles, responsibilities, and authority of the team members.

• Describe the firm’s scheduling and cost control system and methods for securing subcontractor’s adherence to schedule.

• Describe the process used to schedule the submittal and approach of drawings.

• Describe the firm’s experience in cost loading schedules.

• Attach a sample schedule with your proposal which best illustrates the firm’s overall scheduling capabilities. Include in your sample, scheduled anticipated tasks to be performed in providing these services, include the documentation which FFDG will have to provide and when they would be required.

6. Include a subcontractor plan for detailing subcontractor work packages, the type of work performed, how they will be used and to what extent.

7. A conceptual level schedule should be included as a separate page to illustrate sequencing of major elements of construction, at a minimum include all categories noted on the Measurement and Payment Schedule.

8. Project-Specific Environment, Safety, Health (ES&H) and Quality Control

Execution Plan:

Provide a detailed narrative and risk matrix outlining the field-level execution strategies to ensure zero incidents and zero quality defects on the FFDG project footprint. Do not submit or cross-reference corporate safety handbooks, boilerplate policies, or historical statistics (which are evaluated separately as pass/fail items in the Business Volume). The response must explicitly address the following three subfactors:

• High-Risk Operational Safety Controls: Describe the specific field protocols, job hazard analyses (JHAs), and engineering controls the field team will enforce during the highest-risk construction phases, specifically:

• Medium-Voltage (MV) electrical safety, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and arc flash protection during the installation of MV transformers and switches.

• Heavy rigging, hoisting, and structural staging protocols required for installing the new industrial chillers and constructing the new building expansion.

• Project-Specific Quality Assurance and Field Inspections: Detail the field-level quality control methods, inspection hold-points, and testing protocols that will be deployed on-site. Clearly define the independent authority of the project’s Quality Manager to issue "Stop Work" orders for non-conforming work or materials.

• Project Risk Register: Provide a comprehensive, project-specific Risk Matrix identifying the top operational, environmental (EPA/local compliance), and technical risks inherent to this specific scope of services.

For each risk identified, quantify the probability and impact, and provide a clear, step-by-step mitigation procedure.

9. Offerors whose historical project experience caps below $50,000,000 must provide a mandatory, comprehensive Scalability and Resource Plan (not to exceed 5 pages) addressing the following five operational dimensions:

• Mobilization Logistics and Resource Deployment: Detail the operational strategy to mobilize personnel, heavy equipment, and temporary site facilities rapidly. Describe how the firm will manage initial scheduling and deployment sequencing before field operations hit a steady-state rhythm.

• Management Depth and Field Supervision: Provide an organizational matrix demonstrating that the field management team (Project Manager, Superintendent, and Safety Officer) will be 100% dedicated to this project.

Detail how corporate executive leadership will actively provide oversight, dispute resolution, and corporate reach-back to insulate the project from operational bottlenecks.

• Subcontractor Management and Coordination: Identify the core trade subcontractors (Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil) slated for this project. Detail the specific management processes, weekly coordination schedules, and progress tracking methods your firm will use to prevent cascading trade delays on a large-scale job site.

• Equipment and Supply Chain Procurement: Outline the logistical plan to secure heavy civil equipment, long-lead materials, and on-site staging logistics required for a project of this scale without impacting current, ongoing corporate projects.

3) Criteria 3 – Past Performance (25 Points)

The Offeror must provide a minimum of three (3) projects for building construction and renovations, with emphasis on building renovations that are comparable to the scope of work in this solicitation, in which at least one project must have a contract value of no less than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000.00), and each additional project must have a minimum contract value of thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000.00). Each project must also include at least four of the following components, including renovation of existing building structure.; (ii) addition of new building structure to existing; (iii) electrical; (iv) plumbing; (v) HVAC; (vi) site work to include addition of site utilities; (vii) installation of large water cooled chillers with capacity of 750 tons or greater, for which the Offeror has provided construction services for as the Prime General Contractor. The project submission shall include, at a minimum, the following:

a. Organization/Owner name, with contact information

b. Project Title and Location

c. Project date (Start/End)

d. Proposer’s role in the project (e.g., prime/lead, sub)

e. Scope of work (Brief description 1-2 sentences)

f. Total project costs

NOTE: Representative photographs and exhibits supporting the above projects are permitted as an attachment to this section.

Offerors submitting as a joint venture can combine their past performance histories to meet the contract value thresholds. The evaluation committee will aggregate the past performance of Joint Venture submittals.

If the Offeror’s largest past project is under fifty million ($50,000,00.00), they must provide a Scalability and Resource Plan as part of their Approach.

B. Part II - Business Management & Price Proposal (30 Points)

The Business Management proposal shall contain the following documents/items:

1) Price Proposal Form-

The proposed pricing shall be a firm fixed price for the work. This Price Proposal Form is required to be completed and signed.

The Cost Proposal will be comparatively ranked and scored as follows:

1. The lowest overall proposal cost, to include any chosen Bid Alternatives, will receive the maximum possible score (30 Points).

2. All other proposals will receive the score determined by the following table:

Point Range Percentage Higher than Lowest Overall Proposal

30 – 0 Points 0% up to 67% Higher 0 Points Higher than 67%

As an example of score, if Proposal A were the lowest proposal cost at $15,000, Proposal B was $17,000 ,and Proposal C was $20,000 then the cost score points for Proposal B would be calculated as follows: 30 points x {1.67 – (Proposal B Cost)/(Proposal A Cost)}/0.67 = 24.03 points; and the cost for Proposal C would be calculated as follow: 30 points x {1.67- (proposal C Cost)/(Proposal A Cost)}/0.67= 15.07.

While the mathematical total score will be a primary factor, FFDG reserves the right to award the contract to an offeror whose total score is lower than the highest scorer, provided that FFDG determines that the technical superiority of the higher-ranked technical proposal justifies the price premium and represents the best overall value to FFDG and the Government.

Offerors will be evaluated on the Pass-Fail factors identified in 2 through 5 below.

2) Bid Guarantee/Bond

The offeror shall provide a bid guarantee in the amount of not less than 20 percent (not to exceed $3 million) of the bid price. Failure to furnish a bid guarantee in the proper form and amount, by the time set for the due date of the offers, may be cause for rejection of the offer. The bid guarantee shall be in the form of a firm commitment, such as a bond, postal money order, certified check, cashier's check, irrevocable letter of credit, or, under Treasury Department regulations, certain bonds, or notes of the United States.

3) Financial Capability and Letter of Bond ability

The Offeror must provide audited financial statements for the past three (3) fiscal years and a formal, signed Letter of Intent from a surety company listed on the Department of the Treasury’s Listing of Approved Sureties (Circular 570). To receive a Pass, the submittals must explicitly confirm:

a) A Current Ratio (Current Assets / Current Liabilities) of 1.20 or greater in the most recent audited fiscal year.

b) A single-project bonding capacity equal to or greater than the Offeror's proposed total price.

c) An aggregate bonding capacity of not less than $100,000,000.

d) A Current Ratio between 1.10 and 1.19 in the most recent audited fiscal year will not result in an automatic Fail, but will trigger a further financial review by the CFO office prior to a responsibility determination

e) Failure to meet the 1.10 current ratio, or failure to provide a Treasury-listed bonding letter meeting both the single-project and $100M aggregate thresholds, will result in an automatic Fail and immediate disqualification as non-responsible.

Using the audited financial statements, bonding letter, and years-in-business information submitted above, the CFO office will conduct a financial viability determination as part of FFDG’s responsibility determination. This determination will consider standard financial health indicators, including but not limited to Debt-to-Equity Ratio, Operating Cash Flow trend, and a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Failure Score obtained independently by FFDG

4) Subcontractor Annual Representations & Certifications (SARC), Form SARC

The successful Offeror’s submittal of this completed form will be incorporated in the resultant subcontract. If an offering entity is a joint venture, association, consortia, or partnership, each member entity must submit individual Representations and Certifications Forms.

5) Proposal Certifications, Form PUR-466

All appropriate sections are required to be completed and signed by a company official.

6) Safety and Quality Documents

Prior to the qualitative evaluation of technical proposals, the Procurement Officer will evaluate the required Safety and Quality submittals on a strict Pass/Fail basis. To receive a Pass and proceed to technical evaluation, the Offeror must submit all requested documentation and meet or exceed the absolute performance thresholds defined below.

Failure to submit any document, or failure to meet any individual performance threshold, will result in an immediate Fail. A rating of Fail determines the Offeror to be non-responsible, and the entire proposal will be excluded from further evaluation and award consideration without an opportunity to cure deficiencies, unless the Laboratory elects to enter into formal Discussions with all competitive offerors.

• Fermilab Subcontractor Injury & Illness Data Questionnaire: The Offeror shall submit a completed and signed Fermilab Subcontractor Injury & Illness Data Questionnaire. The Offeror shall demonstrate a three-year rolling safety performance equal to or less than 85% of the most current U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) averages for NAICS 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction) for both the Total Recordable Case (TRC) Rate and the Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) Case Rate. If the Offeror’s three-year rolling TRC or DART rates exceed 85% of the BLS industry benchmarks, the Offeror must submit a comprehensive written explanation detailing the exact contributing factors, immediate corrective actions implemented, and permanent corporate measures established to prevent recurrence. Submission of an explanation does not guarantee acceptance. The Laboratory reserves sole discretion to determine whether the explanation proves the Offeror can safely maintain a zero-incident footprint on the FFDG project site. Failure to submit the questionnaire, or failure to provide an acceptable mitigation narrative for elevated incident rates, will result in an automatic Fail.

• Construction Environmental, Safety & Health Certification (CESHC): Must be completed, signed, and indicate full, unconditional compliance with all listed Fermilab and Department of Energy (DOE) environmental and safety directives.

• National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) Workers' Compensation Experience Rating (EMR): The Offeror shall submit official NCCI Experience Modification Rating (EMR) worksheets spanning the preceding three (3) consecutive fiscal years. Safety qualification metrics will be evaluated strictly on the following tiered operational thresholds:

• Automatic Pass: A three-year rolling average EMR of 1.0 or less, with no single year exceeding 1.25.

• Conditional Review: A three-year rolling average EMR between 1.01 and 1.25, or fewer than three (3) years of corporate EMR history. To pass, the Offeror must submit an executive narrative outlining the specific workplace events driving the elevated rating, the specific safety accountability policies implemented since, and evidence of subsequent injury reduction. The Laboratory retains sole discretion to approve or reject this explanation based on risk.

• Automatic Fail: Any single fiscal year within the three-year window exceeding 1.25, will result in an automatic Fail. Offerors receiving a Fail for this requirement shall be deemed non-responsible and disqualified from advancing to the Technical Evaluation phase.

• OSHA 300A Form Logs: Must submit signed logs for the past three consecutive years. Logs must show a historically managed safety footprint consistent with the data provided in the Fermilab Questionnaire.

• Corporate Safety and Health Plan: Must be submitted and complete. The plan must explicitly state institutional compliance with 10 CFR Part 851 (Worker Safety and Health Program) and federal OSHA regulations. General or boilerplate plans that fail to reference 10 CFR Part 851 compliance will result in a Fail.

• Corporate Quality Plan: Must be submitted and complete. The plan must demonstrate an active corporate framework aligned with DOE Order 414.1E (Quality Assurance) or equivalent industry standards (e.g., ISO 9001).

• Sample Certificate of Insurance: Must be submitted and demonstrate the immediate capability to secure the mandatory minimum commercial liability, auto, and worker's compensation coverage limits specified in Section I of this RFP.

FFDG reserves the right to waive minor informalities, clerical errors, or minor omissions in the Business Management volume (such as missing signatures on administrative certifications or missing regulatory verification sheets) via administrative clarifications under FAR 15.306(a). However, the omission of a Bid Guarantee, a formal Letter of Bondability, or required audited financial data constitutes a material non-responsiveness defect that cannot be cured administratively and will result in immediate disqualification.

8. PROPOSAL DUE DATE

The offeror’s proposal is to be emailed to the Procurement Specialist no later than 4:00 PM Central Time on November 17, 2026. Partial or incomplete proposals will not be considered.

FFDG requires a minimum acceptance of one hundred-twenty (120) calendar days for acceptance of proposals. An offeror allowing less than Fermilab’s minimum acceptance period may be rejected.

FFDG reserves the right to cancel this Solicitation at any time without incurring any liability or damages associated with such cancellation.

9. EXCEPTIONS AND DEVIATIONS

Offerors taking exceptions, deviations, or conditional assumptions must identify and explain each exception/deviation, or conditional assumption taken with sufficient amplification and justification to permit evaluations. Such exceptions, deviations, or conditional assumptions will not themselves automatically cause a proposal to be deemed unacceptable to FFDG. However, a large number of exceptions or one or more significant exceptions not providing benefit to FFDG may result in the rejection of the offeror’s proposal as unacceptable.

10. LATE SUBMISSION

Proposals received by FFDG after the Submittal Date and Time indicated may not be considered. The Respondent assumes the risk of the method of dispatch chosen.

11. OFFEROR'S MODIFICATION AND WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSALS

The offeror may submit modifications to its proposals at any time before the solicitation closing date and time and may submit modifications in response to an amendment

Proposals may be withdrawn at any time before the submission deadline. Withdrawals are effective upon receipt of notice by the Procurement Specialist.

12. BID GUARANTEE/BOND

If the successful Offeror, upon acceptance of its offer by FFDG within the period specified for acceptance, fails to execute all contractual documents, or give a bonds as required by Sections 16 and 17 of the solicitation within the time specified, FFDG may execute upon the bid guarantee, or terminate for default the subcontract, if the subcontract has been executed.

In the event, that the bid guarantee is exercised, or the subcontract is terminated for default, the Offeror is liable for any cost of acquiring the work that exceeds the amount of its offer and the guarantee may be used to offset the difference.

13. DAVIS-BACON ACT, CONSTRUCTION WAGES, AND CERTIFIED PAYROLL

The awarded Subcontract is subject to the wage and labor standards under the Davis-Bacon Act and the related labor standards FFDG provisions that are incorporated by reference into FFDG’s General Terms and Conditions for Construction.

The wage rates set forth are the minimum rates that may be paid to the classification of laborers and mechanics designated therein according to the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276 et seq.).

FFDG does not represent that said minimum rates do now, nor that they will at any time in the future, prevail in the locality of the work for such laborers or mechanics; nor that such laborers or mechanics are or will be obtainable at said rates for work under this subcontract; nor those said rates represent the most recent wage determination by the Secretary of Labor concerning such classifications of laborers or mechanics in the locality of work.

The Subcontractor and its Subcontractors are required to submit certified payrolls and labor compliance documentation weekly as required by Federal law.

FFDG currently holds a licensing agreement with LCPTracker for weekly electronic payroll submittals by the Subcontractor and its Subcontractors. LCPTracker is a web-based system, accessed using a web browser. The Subcontractor will be given a Log-on identification (i.e., User ID) and password to access the LCPTracker system. This requirement shall flow down to every lower-tier Subcontractor. The use of this system is free.

14. ILLINOIS OCCUPATION AND USE TAXES

Any resulting contract will be exempt from Illinois Occupation and Use Taxes.

15. NOTICE OF BUY AMERICAN REQUIREMENT-CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Definitions. “Commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item,” “construction material,” “domestic construction material,” and “foreign construction material,” as used in this provision, are defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled “Buy American-Construction Materials” (Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.225-9).

Requests for determinations of inapplicability. An offeror requesting a determination regarding the inapplicability of the Buy American statute should submit the request to the Procurement Specialist in time to allow a determination before the submission of offers. The offeror shall include the information and applicable supporting data required by paragraphs (c) and (d) of the clause at FAR 52.225-9 in the request. If an offeror has not requested a determination regarding the inapplicability of the Buy American statute before submitting its offer or has not received a response to a previous request, the offeror shall include the information and supporting data in the offer.

Evaluation of offers.

FFDG will evaluate an offer requesting an exception to the requirements of the Buy American statute, based on claimed unreasonable cost of domestic construction material, by adding to the offered price the appropriate percentage of the cost of such foreign construction material, as specified in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of the clause at FAR 52.225-9.

If evaluation results in a tie between an offeror that requested the substitution of foreign construction material based on unreasonable cost and an offeror that did not request an exception, FFDG will award to the offeror that did not request an exception based on unreasonable cost.

Alternate offers.

When an offer includes foreign construction material not listed by FFDG in this solicitation in paragraph

(b) (2) of the clause at FAR 52.225-9, the offeror also may submit an alternate offer based on the use of equivalent domestic construction material.

If an alternate offer is submitted, the offeror shall submit a separate Standard Form 1442 for the alternate offer, and a separate price comparison table prepared in accordance with paragraphs (c) and (d) of the clause at FAR 52.225-9 for the offer that is based on the use of any foreign construction material for which FFDG has not yet determined an exception applies.

If FFDG determines that a particular exception requested in accordance with paragraph (c) of the clause at FAR 52.225-9 does not apply, FFDG will evaluate only those offers based on the use of the equivalent domestic construction material, and the offeror shall be required to furnish such domestic construction material. An offer based on the use of the foreign construction material for which an exception was requested—

• Will be rejected as nonresponsive; or

• May be accepted if revised during negotiations.

16. PAYMENT BOND

If the subcontract exceeds $35,000.00, the successful offeror is required to furnish FFDG with a Payment Bond in the amount of 100 percent of the original subcontract price within (10) calendar days after the effective date of the subcontract using Exhibit O, Payment Bond, FL-42 (Rev. 12-12-2022) SF25A (Rev 8/2016).

17. PERFORMANCE BOND

If the subcontract exceeds $150,000.00, the successful offeror is required to furnish FFDG with a Performance Bond in the amount of 100 percent of the original subcontract price using Exhibit P, Performance Bond, FL-40 (Rev. 12/12/2022) SF25 (Rev 8/2016).

18. INSURANCE

Certificates of insurance of the types and the amounts in accordance with Clause 15 in FFDG General Terms and Conditions and Insurance Requirements for Construction Subcontracts will be required of the successful offeror before physical work at the site commences. All policies, except for Worker’s Compensation and Professional Liability, shall provide by appropriate language that Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC, the University of Chicago, Universities Research Association, Inc., and the United States Government are additional insureds. The certificates shall state that waiver of subrogation is granted in favor of the Certificate Holder as required by written contract, that the insurance afforded by such policies is primary insurance, and that all rights of the insurer for contribution from other insurers of Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC, University of Chicago, Universities Research Association, and the United States Government are waived.

19. SUBCONTRACT AWARD

Issuance of the RFP does not compel FFDG to make an award. FFDG reserves the right to accept or reject all proposals if that is determined to be in its best interest. A decision may be made without discussion; hence, an offeror’s proposal should be submitted initially on the most favorable terms. The proposed award is based on a continuing program requirement and the issuance of obligation authority from the Procurement Department of the Laboratory. Any subsequent award issued by FFDG shall be constituted in writing by authorized representatives of the Procurement Department.

No other representatives of FFDG are authorized to issue contracts or agreements or bind FFDG to any form of agreement or understanding. The authorized Procurement Department official is the only individual who can legally commit FFDG to the expenditure of funds in connection with this proposed procurement.

20. SUBCONTRACTING

Unless otherwise specified, the successful Offeror shall be responsible for the performance of any Subcontractors that perform work under this subcontract.

The use of Subcontractors in the performance of the contract is subject to FFDG consent. The awarded offeror shall ensure that any Subcontractors abide by all terms and conditions of the subcontract.

EXHIBITS

A. Scope of Work entitled “UIP Subproject 1- CUB SOW” dated 6/3/2026 B. Construction Drawing Set, “UIP Subproject 1- New CHW Plant and CUB Upgrades” C. Specification Set- New CHW Plant and CUB Upgrades, May 30, 2025 D. Geotechnical Engineering Report, Dated 8/27/2026 E. Electrical (LV) Calculations, Dated 8/27/2026 F. Army Corp of Engineers NPR Letter, Dated 3/12/2026 G. Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC General Terms and Conditions for Construction, (08/2025).

H. Insurance Requirements for Construction Subcontracts (01/2025).

I. Statement and Acknowledgment (Standard Form 1413) J. Fermilab Subcontractor Injury & Illness Data Questionnaire (7010-F1-1, Rev 07/2018).

K. Proposal Price Form L. Subcontractor Annual Representations & Certifications (SARC), Form SARC (Rev. 8 ) .

M. Proposal Certifications Form PUR-466, Rev. 5 (10/2025) N. Bid Bond, FL-41 (Rev. 1/7/2025) / SF24 (Rev 10/2023) O. Payment Bond, FL-42 (Rev. 1/7/2025) / SF25A (Rev 8/2016) P. Performance Bond, FL-40 (Rev. 1/7/2025) / SF25 (Rev 10/2023) Q. Davis Bacon Wage Rates, General Decision, IL202600008, Building and Residential, Modification

No. 2, Publication Date 5/18/2026.

R. Sample Firm-Fixed-Price Subcontract.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSAL
2. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE
3. PRE-PROPOSAL MEETING/SITE VISIT
4. EXPLANATION OR INTERPRETATION OF RFP DOCUMENTS
5. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION
6. DESCRIPTION OF WORK AND CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE
Milestone 2 – 3rd January 2028; This milestone marks the point where construction work may begin.
Milestone 3 – 31st January 2029; AUP 1 CUB Extension complete.
Milestone 4 – 29th June 2029; AUP 2 Existing CUB Upgrade complete.
Milestone 5 – 28th September 2029; Completion of CUB- including all remedial work following removal of site trailers.
7. PREPARATION, SUBMISSION, AND EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS
1) Criterion 1- Organizational Structure and Key Personnel (20 Points)
3) Criteria 3 – Past Performance (25 Points)
8. PROPOSAL DUE DATE
9. EXCEPTIONS AND DEVIATIONS
10. LATE SUBMISSION
11. OFFEROR'S MODIFICATION AND WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSALS
12. BID GUARANTEE/BOND
13. DAVIS-BACON ACT, CONSTRUCTION WAGES, AND CERTIFIED PAYROLL
14. ILLINOIS OCCUPATION AND USE TAXES
15. NOTICE OF BUY AMERICAN REQUIREMENT-CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
16. PAYMENT BOND
17. PERFORMANCE BOND
18. INSURANCE
19. SUBCONTRACT AWARD
20. SUBCONTRACTING
EXHIBITS

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .