33330226RF0010008 Amendment 2.pdf

(x)

33330226RF0010008

x x copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR

OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

OCON

Washington DC 20013-7012 PO Box 37012

MRC 1200

OCON

OCON

Washington DC 20013-7012 PO Box 37012

MRC 1200

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

04/21/20260002

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

04/21/2026

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

This is Amendment Number 002 to Solicitation 333302-26RF-0010008 for the Solar Arrays for

Agrivoltaics Research Project at Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC).

This Amendment formally incorporates clarifications and modifications to the Solicitation resulting from Requests for Information (RFIs). These changes shall be considered part of the Solicitation and govern proposal preparation.

1. Responses to RFI's

2. Interconnection Basis, O&M Scope Revision, and Monitoring System Clarification

3. One-line exhibit

All RFI responses issued to date are hereby incorporated into the Solicitation. In the

Continued ...

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

Christine Grant

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

2 2

CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

33330226RF0010008/0002

event of conflict, this Amendment shall take precedence. This Amendment supersedes any prior

RFI responses to the extent of any inconsistency.

THE PROPOSAL DUE DATE IS JUNE 22, 2026, AT 3:00PM

ET

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

NSN 7540-01-152-8067 OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

RFI # Category Question Final Answer

1 Permitting and Approvals Confirm whether zoning approval has already been obtained for this project, or if this will be part of the contractor’s scope?

The current status of zoning and permitting approvals is reflected in the RFP. Offerors are responsible for identifying and obtaining permits required for execution of the Work unless otherwise specified in the solicitation.

2 Interconnection and Utility Coordination Is the attached BGE conditional approval the latest and current interconnection status?

The BGE conditional approval included in the RFP represents the latest information available to the Smithsonian Institution. Final interconnection requirements remain subject to BGE review, design, and approval processes, but the contents of the attachment are expected to prevail.

3 Interconnection and Utility Coordination Has the project team selected one of the proposed BGE interconnection options?

This project will use BGE Option 2 (Attachment 2); proposals shall be developed accordingly. No other options will be considered.

4 Interconnection and Utility Coordination Are there any additional utility upgrade requirements anticipated beyond the information included in the BGE approval letter?

No additional utility upgrades beyond those identified in the BGE interconnection letter are currently known; however, the Contractor remains responsible for all interconnection requirements in accordance with the solicitation.

5 Existing Electrical Infrastructure (Site Integration) Provide any available information regarding the existing electrical infrastructure at the site, including: existing transformer quantities and sizes, main service ratings, existing switchgear or breaker configuration, proposed point of interconnection

Detailed knowledge of existing electrical infrastructure is not required for proposal preparation. Net metering aggregation will be coordinated with the serving utility. Offerors shall develop their proposals based on reasonable assumptions for system integration consistent with the RFP.

6 Performance Requirements Is there a target annual energy production in kWh for the project? The RFP does not prescribe a target annual energy production.

Offerors shall propose system performance consistent with their technical design and project objectives. The primary goal of the project is agrivolatics research and not necessarily to maximize electrical production.

7 System Design Criteria Are there any preferred or restricted module, inverter, or tracker manufacturers?

The RFP does not prescribe specific manufacturers. All proposed equipment shall comply with applicable codes, standards, and performance requirements stated in the solicitation.

8 Research / Agrivoltaics Objectives Is the intent for proposers to optimize overall system production, or to primarily follow the agrivoltaics research configurations described in the

RFP?

The project is intended to support agrivoltaics research while delivering a functional solar installation. Offerors shall propose designs that support the research objectives described in the RFP while also delivering efficient and practical electrical production.

9 Bonding and Contract Requirements Could you please confirm the bonding and insurance requirements for the project?

Payment and performance bonds for 100% of the project’s estimated cost are required for all construction projects over $100,000. Insurance requirements are in Section I.

10 Bonding and Contract Requirements Are there any expected performance guarantees related to annual system production?

The RFP does not prescribe specific performance guarantees tied to annual energy production. Offerors may propose performance approaches consistent with their technical solution.

333302-26RF-0010008 Design Build - SERC Solar Arrays for Agrivoltaics Research

11 Schedule and Coordination Is there a target construction start date and required substantial completion date?

The RFP provides anticipated project durations and requires Offerors to propose a detailed schedule as part of their submission.

The project is intended to be completed and commissioned no later than December 30, 2027.

12 Schedule and Coordination Are there any seasonal site-access restrictions or environmental limitations that proposers should consider during construction planning?

There are no seasonal site access restrictions or environmental limitations other than potential for large snow accumulation obstructing the access road.

13 Civil / Geotechnical Design Would the Owner/Design Team consider alternative ground improvement methods, including high-density polyurethane injection and soil densification technologies, as acceptable value-engineering alternatives to conventional over-excavation/replacement, engineered fill placement, or deep foundation systems for portions of the project where geotechnically appropriate? These methods may offer reduced excavation, reduced disturbance to active agricultural land, accelerated construction schedules, reduced imported/exported materials, and simplified long-term site restoration/decommissioning compared to traditional deep foundation systems. If acceptable for consideration, please advise what geotechnical, engineering, testing, and performance criteria would be required for evaluation of such systems as part of the design-build process?

Alternative ground improvement and foundation approaches may be considered as part of a design‑build proposal, provided they meet all applicable performance requirements, codes, and standards. Offerors are responsible for demonstrating technical suitability, constructability, and compliance as part of their design submission. Alternative methodology that would reduce disturbance to agricultural land is allowable.

14 Contract Requiments Executive Order (EO) 14603 indicates that all federal projects valued at $35 million and above will require a project labor agreement (PLA) unless a federal contracting agency expressly grants an exception. As the expected project value is under this limit, please confirm if a project labor agreement will be required on this project.

Total Estimated cost range is between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000. PLA is not required.

15 Civil / Geotechnical Design Please clarify if an existing/preliminary Geotech report is available to base structural design on. If not available, can direction be provided on assumed soil profiles and bearing pressures for design assumptions including rack mounting? Various rack mounting systems will affect project costs.

Preliminary soil composition was provided in attachment 3.

Contractor is responsible to verify soil profiles and bearing pressures.

16 Civil / Geotechnical Design In the event a Geotech is not provided by SI, will there be an opportunity to perform Geotech site investigations during the bid period?

Geotech investigation may not be performed during bid process.

Contractor is responsible to perform investigation during the design. See Attachment 3 for preliminary soil composition for site.

17 Civil / Geotechnical Design Please confirm rock excavation, contaminated soils, or other unforeseen conditions below grade should be excluded. If they are to be accounted for, please provide an allowance for all contactors to carry.

Unforeseen conditions shall be addressed in accordance with the contract provisions set forth in the solicitation.

18 Operations and Maintenance Option 1 requests a price for O&M services for one year with the opportunity to exercise further options to extend the service for up to four additional one-year periods. Is the price provided on the bid form for Option 1 intended to reflect a yearly rate?

Yes, O&M price should represent a yearly rate.

19 Interconnection and Utility Coordination BGE conditional approval was provided on 09/24/25 per Attachment 2. Has BGE been notified that Smithsonian intends to move forward with Option 2 (per C.3, pg 10 of Solicitation)? Has the 12 week period for planning, engineering, design, and pricing commenced?

BGE is aware that Option 2 is the intended interconnection approach. The 12‑week period for planning, engineering, design, and pricing has not yet commenced.

20 Interconnection and Utility Coordination BGE conditional approval (Attachment 2) expires one year from issuance on 09/24/25. The document notes that certificate of completion must be issued before expiration, however the period of performance is 474 days as noted in the Solicitation. Please confirm if the awarded offerer will need to request extensions on the BGE approval.

The Contractor shall coordinate with BGE regarding any required extensions to the interconnection approval. BGE has indicated that extensions can be granted as needed to accommodate the project schedule.

21 System Design Criteria On the Fixed Tilt array, Is the noted height minimums from the lowest panel edge, or from the height of where the panel table is secured to the racking post?

Lowest edge of the panel.

22 System Design Criteria Can we be provided with the product information regarding the farming data sensors that the racking systems must be able to accommodate and where those might be located within the arrays?

The Contractor is not responsible for furnishing or installing research sensors. Agricultural and research sensors will be provided and installed by SERC or its research partners. The Contractor shall coordinate to accommodate future installation as required.

23 System Design Criteria Where should we assume the “crop zones” will be in order to design wiring routes and equipment locations to avoid potential conflict.

Crop zones include areas beneath panels and between panel rows.

Wiring between rows or arrays shall be installed a minimum of 3 feet below grade. Equipment should be located near structural supports or at the ends of panel rows to minimize interference with agricultural use.

24 System Design Criteria Attachment 4 notes that the inverters should be placed outside of the array -is there a desired distance away from the array? Inside/outside the perimeter fence?

Inverters can be installed at end of each row, inside the fence.

Refer to RFP for details of spacing required between array and the fence.

25 Interconnection and Utility Coordination Please provide a copy of the single line diagram that was submitted to BGE in relation to the conditional approval received. If not shown on the single line diagram, can the proposed location for the customer owned pad-mounted gear and planned POI be provided on a site plan?

A copy of the relevant one‑line diagram is provided with the interconnection location identified. Refer to Attachment 1 for the site map showing the electrical connection location.

26 System Design Criteria Is there a required or preferred location for additional pad-mounted equipment?

This will be determined during the design.

27 Permitting and Approvals Can we please receive a copy of the Conservation Easement that is potentially impacted by this project?

Smithsonian has full approval for construction of this project for scientific research.

28 Performance Requirements Please confirm that the final production value is not guaranteed (vs.

theoretical values). Solar production will depend also on environmental factors.

The RFP does not prescribe any guaranteed final energy production value. System performance will vary based on design, site conditions, and environmental factors.

29 Interconnection and Utility Coordination Please provide BGE specific scope of work, lead times, schedule milestones and constraints that should be incorporated into the offeror's proposal.

Offerors shall reference the BGE attachment for applicable requirements and incorporate those constraints into their proposal.

Offerors may coordinate directly with BGE as needed.

30 Operations and Maintenance What type and size of vehicle would utilize the access road beyond a typical maintenance pickup truck?

Fire and emergency response vehicles and agricultural equipment, including tractors, may utilize the access road beyond standard maintenance vehicles. The access road shall be designed to accommodate these vehicle types.

31 System Design Criteria Will the SERC dictate the type of sensors to be used for soil conditions and vegetation growth performance? What type of system would be used to monitor these conditions? Is it intended that the soil and vegetation tracking data will need to be integrated into the microclimate tracking system?

Agricultural‑specific sensors and instrumentation will be provided separately by SERC or its research partners.

32 System Design Criteria What is the deepest a farming tractor is expected to dig/till? Tractor will till no deeper than 12 inches. Any electrical cabling and conduit installed will be a minimum of 3 feet subsurface.

33 Interconnection and Utility Coordination Please provide a site plan showing the proposed connection point to the BGE primary per BGE option 2 noted in Attachment 2.

A copy of the relevant one‑line diagram is provided, with the interconnection location identified. Refer to Attachment 1 for the site map showing the electrical connection location.

34 Interconnection and Utility Coordination For the BGE option 2 where SERC will own medium voltage switchgear and BGE will connect to it – will there be any accessibility issues for BGE to access the customer owned switchgear? BGE will require a single accessible disconnecting means to disconnect the entire PV system, so clear access for BGE will be required.

Reference BGE link provided for Option 2 in Attachment 2 for Medium Voltage equipment requirements. BGE will have full access.

35 Interconnection and Utility Coordination The BGE letter implies net meter aggregation. Is the intention to offset the electrical loads of the SERC buildings with the PV production? Will any excess power be exported to the grid?

The system will operate under net metering aggregation to offset SERC electrical loads; generated energy will be exported to the grid and credited against those loads.

36 System Design Criteria Will a CAB cable management system be considered for both DC and AC cables across the site? This may alleviate any concerns of farming equipment disrupting underground cables, allows for reduced cable sizing, and ease of maintenance.

Yes, CAB system may be considered if it alleviates concerns of interference with farming equipment. Any CAB system should seek to minimize maintenance due to potential degradation from UV / weather exposure.

37 System Design Criteria Is there a preference between Helioscope and PVSyst for energy modeling? The RFP does not prescribe a required software platform for energy modeling. Offerors may utilize industry‑standard tools as appropriate to support their proposed design.

38 Contract Requiments For a small business submitting as the General Contractor, can the past performance of specialty subcontractors on its team be used to fulfill the requirements of Tab 1.b.i?

Past performance is not acceptable.

39 Civil / Geotechnical Design Have any geotechnical investigations been performed on this site or any adjacent sites that could be shared with the bidders for use in the concept design development?

See attachment 3 for preliminary soil compositions. No other investigations have been performed.

40 Civil / Geotechnical Design For the concept plan included as part of the RFP submission, has a survey been performed? If not, is a survey required? Will a GIS basemap be provided?

A GIS reference is provided in Attachment 7 for planning-level use. The Contractor shall be responsible for performing any required survey, field verification, and development of final design documents as part of the design‑build scope. The provided GIS data is not based on a field survey and shall be treated as conceptual only.

41 Civil / Geotechnical Design For the concept design, what specific standards are to be followed for access road design (width, distance to panels, radii, etc.)?

Access road design for the concept shall comply with applicable NFPA 1 / International Fire Code (IFC) fire apparatus access road requirements, supplemented by AASHTO Guidelines for Low- Volume Roads and MDOT SHA standards where appropriate.

Final design shall be coordinated with the COTR. Road must be permeable (gravel) and support up to 40 tons. See details in RFP civil site work section

42 Research / Agrivoltaics Objectives What agricultural operations (crops, livestock, or other land use) have taken place on the 12-acre project parcel during the past five years? Specifically:

(a) How recently was the land actively farmed, and what was grown or raised? (b) Is farming ongoing or planned during the design and construction period, and if so, what coordination protocols will SI require? (c) Will future agricultural use on the site be dependent on the major crop and livestock practices prevalent in Anne Arundel County or Maryland broadly, or will it be driven by independent experimental research decisions made by SERC staff?

The site has been farmed in the past five years including soy and corn for animal feed. It will not be farmed during the construction period. Future farming will be informed by research needs but will be directed toward farm practices in Maryland broadly.

43 Civil / Geotechnical Design What are the existing soil conditions, drainage patterns, and known drainage infrastructure on the project parcel? Specifically: (a) Are there any areas of known saturation, seasonal high water table, or hydric soils within or adjacent to the array footprint? (b) The ERG Technical Memo (Attachment

3) identifies slopes ranging from 2–25% with Marr-Dodon Complex (HSG B/C) and Donlonton fine sandy loam (HSG D) soils — can SI confirm which of the four site alternatives in the Memo corresponds to the selected 12-acre parcel? (c) Has SI conducted soil nutrient testing on the parcel? If so, can results be made available to Offerors, as nutrient levels directly inform the selection of crops and ground cover appropriate for the agrivoltaic research

Attachment 3 has some information for soil comp and draining. SI has not conducted soil nutrient testing.

44 Civil / Geotechnical Design What stormwater best management practices (BMPs), erosion and sediment controls, or other green infrastructure measures, if any, are currently in place on or adjacent to the project parcel? Has any MDE-approved stormwater management plan previously been submitted for this site?

MDE has not approved any plans, and there are no BMPs at the moment on or adjacent to this parcel.

45 Licensing Section L of the RFP (p. 99) states that the General Contractor and all subcontractors must maintain and provide a copy of a valid Class A Contractor License in the State of Maryland. If a proposed subcontractor responsible for array design does not currently hold a Maryland Class A Contractor License, is that subcontractor ineligible to participate, or may the Offeror propose the unlicensed firm in a design-only capacity with construction work self-performed or assigned to a licensed firm?

The Designer does not need a Class A Contractor License.

46 Licensing Section L (p. 99) requires that design drawings be prepared by professional engineers registered in the State of Maryland. Is a Maryland PE registration required at the time of proposal submission, or is it sufficient for the Offeror to commit in its proposal that a Maryland-registered PE will be designated upon award? If required at proposal time, must the PE be a direct employee of the Design-Build team or may a licensed Maryland PE be engaged as a consultant?

The Maryland PE designation is not required at the time of proposal. Offerors shall identify the overall project team, including the Design Team and their qualifications, in accordance with the

RFP.

47 Interconnection and Utility Coordination The BGE conditional approval letter (Attachment 2) presents three options.

The RFP specifies a 2.0 MW DC system and includes a $600,000 BGE Reimbursable Allowance Item, which aligns with BGE Option 2 (2,000 kW AC). Can SI confirm that Offerors should base their proposals on Option 2 (2,000 kW AC, $600,000 allowance)? If Option 1 (750 kW AC) is also an acceptable basis for proposals, should Offerors price both options or select

This project will use BGE Option 2 (Attachment 2); proposals shall be developed accordingly. No other options will be considered.

48 Interconnection and Utility Coordination The BGE conditional approval letter (Attachment 2) is dated September 24, 2025, and states it expires in one calendar year (i.e., approximately September 24, 2026) unless a Certificate of Completion is submitted or a written extension is requested. Given that the proposal due date is June 22, 2026 and contract award and NTP are likely to follow, does SI intend to request a BGE extension before the conditional approval expires? Will the selected Contractor be responsible for requesting BGE extensions, or will SI manage this?

BGE has confirmed that they will extend the approval until project is complete.

49 System Design Criteria Attachment 4 specifies four array configurations (SAT 6' GCR 0.37; SAT 8' GCR 0.37; SAT 6' GCR 0.21; Fixed south 35° tilt 8' GCR 0.37), each approximately 500 kW. (a) Are Offerors required to replicate these configurations exactly, or is there scope to propose alternative designs — including adjustments to hub height, panel tilt, GCR, or row spacing — based on agrivoltaic research considerations, site topography, or cost optimization, provided the research objectives are met? (b) The attachment notes a preference for tilt capability of approximately 60 degrees for agricultural clearance and shading experiments — is this preference a firm requirement or a desired feature that will be weighted favorably in evaluation?

The configurations shown in Attachment 4 are not prescriptive requirements. Offerors may propose alternative array configurations, including variations in hub height, tilt, GCR, and row spacing, provided the proposed design supports the project’s agrivoltaic research objectives and overall system performance.

The referenced tilt capability of approximately 60 degrees is not a mandatory requirement. Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria set forth in the solicitation.

50 Research / Agrivoltaics Objectives The RFP describes the array as a research platform for studying 'crop performance, soil health, environmental impact and economic benefits' relevant to 'farmers in Maryland and mid-Atlantic states' (Attachment 4). (a) Will the agricultural research conducted at the site be oriented primarily toward crops and practices representative of major commercial agriculture in Anne Arundel County and Maryland (e.g., corn, soybeans, small grains, vegetables, or hay)? (b) Or will SERC pursue independent experimental crop trials of its own design, potentially including non-commercial or experimental species? (c) Will the Contractor be expected to design the array to accommodate specific farming equipment (tractors, implements) of a particular size or type, or should designs assume a standard Maryland farming equipment profile as referenced in Attachment 4?

Designs should assume standard Maryland farming equipment profile as referenced in Attachment 4.

51 Research / Agrivoltaics Objectives Attachment 4 states the array will support 'collaborative research with an inter-disciplinary and inter-sector network of research partners.' (a) Does SI have an existing experimental research design for the four array configurations — including specific crop trials, plot layouts, sensor requirements, and measurement protocols — that the Design-Build Contractor will be expected to accommodate? Or is the Contractor expected to propose an experimental framework as part of its concept design submission? (b) If SI has an existing research design, can it be made available to Offerors prior to proposal submission, as it would directly affect array layout, conduit routing, sensor integration requirements, and underarray infrastructure? (c) To what extent does SI expect the Design- Build Contractor to coordinate directly with SERC researchers during the design phase to ensure the array layout, conduit routing, access pathways, and underarray infrastructure are compatible with planned crop layouts, treatment zones, and experimental management protocols? Or does SI anticipate that research operations planning will occur independently after construction is complete?

The Contractor is not expected to propose or develop an experimental research framework. Research activities and requirements will be established separately by SERC and will not impose additional design requirements or scope beyond those defined in the solicitation.

52 System Design Criteria Section C.3 requires the final design package to conform with NREL (NLR inSPIRE) agrivoltaics design guidelines. Are there specific inSPIRE guideline documents or versions that SI considers authoritative for this project? If so, can SI provide or confirm a link to the applicable documents, as the inSPIRE program has published multiple resources?

Offerors shall reference the NREL inSPIRE agrivoltaics guidelines as a general framework. No specific document or version is mandated. Equivalent design approaches that support the project objectives are acceptable.

53 Contract Requiments The RFP requires a Small Business Subcontracting Plan with a minimum of 40% of planned subcontracting dollars to small businesses and 7% to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB). Are these percentage goals applied to the total contract value or only to the subcontracted portion? Additionally, does participation by a SDVOSB as a prime contractor's subcontractor automatically satisfy the 7% SDVOSB goal, or must the SDVOSB's scope be specifically designated in the Subcontracting Plan?

The subcontracting goals apply to the total contract value.

Participation by a Service‑Disabled Veteran‑Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) as a subcontractor may count toward meeting the SDVOSB goal, provided the scope is clearly identified in the Subcontracting Plan.

54 System Design Criteria Section C.3 requires the monitoring system to be integrable into the Stem Athena platform or an equivalent clean energy management system for display on the SI network, subject to SI OCIO review and approval. (a) Has SI selected Stem Athena as the required platform, or is an equivalent system acceptable without prior SI approval? (b) Is the SI OCIO review and approval process expected to occur during design, prior to NTP, or during construction? A delay in OCIO approval could impact the commissioning schedule.

Stem Athena or an equivalent clean energy management system is acceptable. Stem Athena has been approved by SI. Any proposed equivalent system will require SI OCIO review and approval, which may occur during the design phase.

55 Schedule and Coordination Section F and the Schedule submission (p. 107) require commencement of some on-site work within 60 days of NTP while design work may still be ongoing. What categories of on-site work does SI consider acceptable to satisfy this requirement? For example: site clearing, survey/geotechnical investigation, access road work, staging area preparation, or perimeter fencing installation?

Site clearing and other early‑phase activities (e.g., survey, geotechnical investigation, and site preparation) may be considered commencement of on‑site work.

56 Permitting and Approvals Section C.3 requires the Contractor to identify trees recommended for removal at the 50% design submission and obtain SI approval before proceeding. The 50% design milestone falls at Week 8 and the 100% design at Week 12. What is the expected SI review and approval timeline for tree removal recommendations, and will SI approval of tree removals be incorporated into the design review process or handled separately? Delays in tree removal approval could affect the construction schedule.

SI approval will be provided within two weeks of receipt of the submission or request.

57 Contract Requiments Please confirm whether a design-build team may include non-U.S. affiliates, technology providers, equipment suppliers, or subcontractors, provided the prime contractor and required construction/design team members satisfy all SAM registration, licensing, Buy American Act, and prohibited foreign entity requirements.

Offerors shall comply with the requirements of the Buy American Act and all applicable contract provisions. Team composition, including use of suppliers or subcontractors, shall be consistent with these requirements.

58 Licensing Please confirm whether the Maryland Class A Contractor License requirement applies only to the General Contractor and construction subcontractors performing on-site work, or also to equipment manufacturers, EMS/software providers, technology providers, and other non-construction suppliers.

The Maryland Class A Contractor License requirement applies only to the General Contractor and construction subcontractors performing on-site work; not to equipment manufacturers, EMS/software providers, technology providers, and other non-construction suppliers.

59 Licensing Please confirm whether the named Lead Civil Engineer and Lead Electrical Engineer must be Maryland-registered Professional Engineers at proposal submission, or whether the offeror must commit that the final construction documents will be signed and sealed by Maryland-registered Professional Engineers after award.

The Lead Civil Engineer and Lead Electrical Engineer shall be licensed Professional Engineers in the State of Maryland. Offerors shall identify these individuals as part of the Design Team in their proposal, and final construction documents shall be signed and sealed by Maryland‑registered Professional Engineers

60 Contract Requiments Please identify the acceptable documentation/certification to demonstrate compliance with U.S. manufacturing, Buy American Act, and “no material assistance from a prohibited foreign entity” requirements, including whether manufacturer letters or certificates are sufficient.

Offerors shall provide manufacturer documentation and certifications demonstrating compliance with applicable U.S.

manufacturing and Buy American Act requirements as part of the submittal process.

61 Contract Requiments Please clarify which components require U.S. manufacturing / prohibited foreign entity documentation, including whether the requirement applies only to major components (modules, inverters, racking, transformers) or also to switchgear, combiner boxes, meters, monitoring equipment, EMS hardware/software, sensors, cabling, and ancillary electrical components.

Buy American Act requirements apply to all applicable construction materials and project components as defined in the solicitation. Offerors shall ensure compliance for major system components and supporting materials in accordance with contract requirements.

62 Contract Requiments Please clarify whether U.S. final assembly is sufficient for the applicable equipment requirements, or whether specific domestic manufacturing, domestic content, or supply-chain thresholds must be met.

Compliance with Buy American Act requirements shall be demonstrated in accordance with the solicitation and applicable federal provisions. Offerors shall ensure that proposed equipment meets required domestic sourcing criteria.

63 System Design Criteria Please clarify the “same manufacturer and product line” requirement for primary solar array components. Specifically, does this requirement apply within each individual array, across all four arrays, separately by component category (modules and inverters), or to both modules and inverters as a combined manufacturer requirement?

This requirement only applies within each of the four configurations. It is not required that manufacturer and product line are the same across the entire 2MW system.

64 System Design Criteria The RFP requires a 2.0 MW DC system and a DC-to-AC ratio of 1.2, subject to SI authorization. Please confirm whether offerors should design the base bid around approximately 1.67 MW AC, or whether a different AC capacity is expected.

Offerors shall base their design on a 2.0 MW DC system with a DC‑to‑AC ratio of approximately 1.2, as specified in the RFP.

Accordingly, the nominal AC system capacity should be on the order of approximately 1.67 MW AC.

65 Interconnection and Utility Coordination Please confirm whether the base bid should assume BGE’s 2,000 kW AC interconnection option requiring customer-owned medium-voltage switchgear and transformer, or whether another BGE interconnection option should be assumed for the base proposal.

Yes, option 2 will be pursued.

66 Interconnection and Utility Coordination Please clarify whether the customer-owned medium-voltage switchgear, transformer, protective relaying, metering cabinets, equipment pads, grounding, duct banks, and ancillary equipment required by BGE are included in the base bid scope outside the BGE reimbursable allowance.

Customer‑owned medium‑voltage equipment and associated infrastructure (including switchgear, transformer, and related components) required for interconnection are part of the Contractor’s base scope unless specifically identified as part of the BGE reimbursable allowance.

67 Interconnection and Utility Coordination The BGE conditional approval letter is dated September 24, 2025 and states that conditional approval expires in one calendar year unless extended.

Please confirm which party is responsible for requesting and maintaining any required BGE extension if award, design, permitting, or construction milestones extend beyond the current approval period.

BGE has confirmed that they will extend the approval until project is complete.

68 Interconnection and Utility Coordination The RFP states that no additional BGE interconnection study will be required, while also stating that the contractor is responsible for interconnection approvals, studies, upgrades, and BGE requirements. Please confirm that the contractor’s responsibility is to design in compliance with the existing BGE conditional approval, and that new studies, utility upgrades, or requirements imposed by BGE outside the contractor’s final design assumptions would be addressed through the allowance and/or

Confirmed. The Contractor shall design in accordance with the existing BGE conditional approval. Interconnection costs and requirements within the defined scope shall be addressed through the allowance; any changes required by BGE beyond those assumptions will be managed through the contract in accordance with applicable provisions.

69 Interconnection and Utility Coordination Please confirm where the $600,000 reimbursable allowance for BGE interconnection/upgrades should be shown in Attachment 5 Bid Schedule, and whether this allowance should be included in the Base Bid Total for evaluation purposes.

The $600,000 BGE allowance shall be included in Division 33 of Attachment 5 and carried in the Base Bid Total for evaluation purposes.

70 Civil / Geotechnical Design Please confirm whether SI will provide CAD, GIS, topographic survey, geotechnical, wetland/buffer, conservation easement, existing utility, tree survey, and boundary/limits-of-disturbance files to offerors before proposal submission, or whether offerors should base their proposals only on the PDF attachments provided.

Site boundary, topographic information, and environmental features are provided in Attachment 7 for use in proposal development and conceptual design. The data represents planning-level information and shall be incorporated into design assumptions. No additional data will be provided prior to proposal submission.

71 Civil / Geotechnical Design Please provide the georeferenced project boundary and expected limits of disturbance for the 12-acre agrivoltaics area, and confirm whether access road, BGE utility extension, and interconnection work may extend outside the mapped project area.

The project boundary is provided in Attachment 7 and defines the approximate project area for development. Final limits of disturbance and infrastructure may extend beyond the boundary as required for access, utility interconnection, and life safety improvements, subject to permitting and site constraints.

72 Civil / Geotechnical Design Attachment 3 evaluates multiple potential stormwater sites. Please identify which evaluated site corresponds to the final project area shown in Attachment 1 and the pre-proposal slides, or provide the updated stormwater assessment that should be used as the basis for pricing and scheduling.

Sites 1 and 2 in attachment 3 correspond to the project area.

73 Civil / Geotechnical Design Please confirm whether SI will be the applicant or co-applicant for MDE, stormwater, erosion and sediment control, wetland/buffer, tree removal, BGE, health department, and other required permits, with the contractor preparing and supporting submissions, or whether the contractor is expected to act as applicant of record where legally permitted.

The Contractor shall prepare permit applications in the name of the Smithsonian Institution and shall be responsible for obtaining all required permits.

74 Permitting and Approvals Please clarify whether permit review durations and third-party agency delays outside the contractor’s control will be treated as excusable delays, provided the contractor submits complete and timely permit packages.

Offerors shall incorporate anticipated third‑party agency review durations into their proposed project schedule. Delays associated with such reviews will be addressed in accordance with the contract terms.

75 Civil / Geotechnical Design Please disclose any known conservation easement, cultural resource, archaeological, habitat, forest conservation, seasonal tree-clearing, wetland, buffer, or other environmental restrictions that offerors should incorporate into price, schedule, tree removal assumptions, grading, trenching, fencing, access road construction, and BGE work.

Environmental constraints applicable to the site are reflected in the solicitation and associated attachments.

76 Civil / Geotechnical Design Please clarify the required access road scope, including point of origin, approximate route and length, permanent vs. construction-only access, gate locations, emergency/fire turnaround requirements, BGE vehicle access requirements, and any route restrictions created by the conservation easement, topography, wetlands, or existing utilities.

Access roads shall meet applicable life safety and emergency access requirements and the provisions of the solicitation.

Permanent access roads shall be constructed of permeable material (e.g., gravel) and may be phased with construction.

The access route should generally follow the existing road alignment along the tree line to the north of the agrivoltaic site, where practicable.

77 Interconnection and Utility Coordination Please provide the precise location and available details for the electrical point of interconnection, existing service/metering arrangement, existing transformer/service equipment, and any known BGE connection constraints that should be used for the concept design.

A copy of the relevant one‑line diagram is provided, with the interconnection location identified. Refer to Attachment 1 for the site map showing the electrical connection location.

78 Performance Requirements The pre-proposal slides reference renewable energy generation capable of offsetting approximately 85% of SERC’s aggregate annual electricity consumption. Please confirm whether this is a target, evaluation consideration, or informational objective, and please provide the annual consumption data, meter accounts, and aggregate net metering accounts that should be used to evaluate energy offset.

The access route should generally follow the existing road alignment along the tree line to the north of the agrivoltaic site, where practicable.

79 Performance Requirements Please clarify whether SI expects any minimum annual energy production, performance ratio, availability guarantee, or production guarantee for the base system and/or the O&M option. If so, please define the weather-adjustment methodology, baseline assumptions, reporting requirements, and remedy structure.

The RFP does not prescribe specific performance guarantees tied to annual energy production. Offerors may propose performance approaches consistent with their technical solution, which should provide a best‑value outcome considering electrical production, agricultural research support, and cost.

80 System Design Criteria Attachment 4 describes four proposed configurations at approximately 500 kW each. Please clarify the acceptable capacity tolerance for each array and whether maintaining electrical separability, dedicated inverter/MPPT architecture, and research comparability is more important than equal 500 kW DC sizing for each configuration.

Maintaining research comparability across array configurations is more important than exact equal capacity for each array. Offerors shall achieve the overall required system capacity while supporting comparable research conditions across configurations.

81 System Design Criteria Please identify which agrivoltaics design parameters are mandatory versus preferred, including tracker override/manual tilt control, approximately 60-degree tilt capability, bifacial modules, hub heights, row spacing, north-south alignment, farming access pathways, and perimeter/edge buffers.

Please also provide acceptable design tolerances for these parameters.

Requirements explicitly stated in the RFP are mandatory. Features identified as preferred in Attachment 4 are not required.

The configurations shown in Attachment 4 are not prescriptive.

Offerors may propose alternative array configurations, including variations in hub height, tilt, GCR, and row spacing, provided the proposed design supports the project’s agrivoltaic research objectives and overall system performance. Designs will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria set forth in the solicitation.

82 System Design Criteria Please define the contractor-furnished sensor and instrumentation scope.

Specifically, should the contractor furnish and install weather, irradiance, soil, microclimate, crop/vegetation, and research sensors, or only provide monitoring infrastructure and capacity for future SI/research partner sensors?

The Contractor shall provide a monitoring and metering system in accordance with the solicitation requirements. The system shall support collection, display, and analysis of system performance data, including the parameters identified in the solicitation.

Agricultural and research‑specific sensors and instrumentation will be provided and installed separately by SERC or its research partners.

83 System Design Criteria For the required weather parameters in the monitoring system, please confirm the required quantity, location, accuracy, calibration, data interval, maintenance responsibility, and data format/protocol for weather stations and related measurement equipment.

The monitoring system shall include the weather‑related parameters identified in the solicitation. The solicitation does not prescribe specific requirements for the means by which these parameters are obtained, including quantity, location, accuracy, calibration, or data intervals. Agricultural and research‑specific sensors and instrumentation will be provided separately by SERC or its research partners.

84 System Design Criteria Please confirm whether clean energy management systems equivalent to Stem Athena are acceptable, and identify the minimum functional, protocol, API, cybersecurity, data retention, user access, and SI OCIO approval requirements for an equivalent platform.

Clean energy management systems equivalent to Stem Athena are acceptable, subject to SI OCIO review and approval. The monitoring system shall support system performance data and the parameters identified in the solicitation. Agricultural and research‑specific sensors will be provided separately by SERC or its research partners.

85 System Design Criteria Please clarify SI’s requirements for monitoring data ownership, hosting location, remote access method, user permissions, cybersecurity review, network connectivity, API access, historian/database structure, and long-term data retention beyond the minimum three-year storage requirement.

Monitoring systems shall comply with the requirements of the selected clean energy management platform and support the parameters identified in the solicitation. Stem Athena has been approved by SI. Any proposed equivalent system will require SI OCIO review and approval to confirm compliance with SI requirements.

86 System Design Criteria Please confirm whether offerors may include voluntary value-engineering concepts or optional technical enhancements, such as advanced EMS functionality, power quality monitoring, future-ready battery storage provisions, microgrid-ready controls, spare conduits, or resilience features, without affecting responsiveness to the base bid. If permitted, please identify where such information should be included and how pricing should be handled without placing cost information in the technical proposal.

Proposals shall include only the requirements identified in the RFP.

Voluntary value‑engineering concepts or optional technical enhancements shall not be included in the base proposal.

87 System Design Criteria Please confirm whether battery energy storage, microgrid functionality, backup/resilience capability, or future-ready storage interconnection provisions are excluded from the base bid,…