36C25226B0007_1.docx

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER

2. TYPE OF SOLICITATION

3. DATE ISSUED

PAGE OF PAGES

4. CONTRACT NUMBER

5. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUEST NUMBER

6. PROJECT NUMBER

7. ISSUED BY

CODE

8. ADDRESS OFFER TO

a. NAME

b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include area code) (NO COLLECT CALLS)

10. THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRES PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK DESCRIBED IN THESE DOCUMENTS (Title, identifying number, date) 12a. THE CONTRACTOR MUST FURNISH ANY REQUIRED PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BONDS?

(If "YES," indicate within how many calendar days after award in Item 12B.)

12b. CALENDAR DAYS

13. ADDITIONAL SOLICITATION REQUIREMENTS:

STANDARD FORM 1442 (REV. 8/2014)

STANDARD FORM 1442

Prescribed by GSA-FAR (48 CFR) 52.236-1(d)

SOLICITATION, OFFER,

AND AWARD

(Construction, Alteration, or Repair)

SOLICITATION

SOLICITATION

IMPORTANT - The "offer" section on the reverse must be fully completed by offeror.

9. FOR INFORMATION

CALL:

NOTE: In sealed bid solicitations "offer" and "offeror" mean "bid" and "bidder".

SEALED BID (IFB)

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

11. The Contractor shall begin performance within ____________ calendar days and complete it within calendar days after receiving award, notice to proceed. This performance period is mandatory negotiable. (See _____________________________).

YES

NO

a.

Sealed offers in original and ___________________copies to perform the work required are due at the place specified in Item 8 by _____________ (hour) local time _____________________ (date). If this is a sealed bid solicitation, offers must be publicly opened at that time. Sealed envelopes containing offers shall be marked to show the offeror's name and address, the solicitation number, the date and time offers are due.

b.

An offer guarantee is, is not required.

c.

All offers are subject to the (1) work requirements, and (2) other provisions and clauses incorporated in the solicitation in full text or by reference.

d.

Offers providing less than _______________________ calendar days for Government acceptance after the date offers are due will not be considered and will be rejected.

36C25226B0007 X 01-23-2026 550-26-2-6985-0014 550-26-131 36C252 Department of Veterans Affairs Great Lakes Acquisition Center (GLAC) 115 South 84th Street, Suite 101 Milwaukee WI 53214-1476 Department of Veterans Affairs Great Lakes Acquisition Center (GLAC) 115 South 84th Street, Suite 101 Milwaukee WI 53214-1476 Amber Jendrzejek 414-844-4887 Project 550-26-131 Exterior Repairs and Painting Building 35 and 39 at VA Illiana Healthcare System (VAIHCS), 1900 East Main Street, Danville, IL 61832-5100. Contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment, qualified supervision, and other items designated in this contract, in accordance with Statement of Work, specifications and drawings to complete Project 550-26-131 Exterior Repairs and Painting Building 35 and 39 Danville, IL 61832-5100. All work shall be completed within one hundred eighty-five (185) calendar days from the Notice to Proceed (NTP).

Project magnitude range is between $250,000 and $500,000 NAICS Code is 236220, Commercial and Institutional Building Construction, / SBA size standard: $45 Million

This procurement is an 100% set-aside for CVE Verified Service-Disable Veteran-Owned Small Business Firm (SDVOSB) per the Authority 38 U.S.C 8127 (Public Law 109-461). In accordance with VAAR 819.7003(b), at the time of the submission of Bid, and at the time of award of any contract, the bidder must represent to the contracting officer that it is a:

Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to the acquisition; and (3) Certified SDVOSB listed in the SBA certification database at https://search.certifications.sba.gov/ (see 13 CFR 128).

Submit all questions regarding the solicitation, SOW, specifications, and / or drawings in writing to the POC Amber Jendrzejek - Contract Specialist no later than February 11, 2026; 3:30PM CST.

Questions received after this deadline may not be addressed. TELEPHONE INQUIREIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!

See 52.236-27 Site Visit for information on organized site visits: One site visit is scheduled for February 4, 2026, at 10:00AM CST. Meet at Bldg. 102, in the Project Section Project Room (B102 102G) at the VA Illiana Healthcare System (VAIHCS), Danville, IL.

NOTICE: Contractors MUST acknowledge VAAR 852.219-75 by signing the certification and submitting with bid.

If certification is not included, bid will be considered non-responsive and cannot be considered for award.

See page 42 - 43 for 852.219-75 VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting - Certificate of Compliance for Service & Construction (JAN 2023) (Deviation).

If submitting as a joint-venture, officers must include a copy of the joint-venture agreement.

All bidders are responsible for monitoring and downloading any amendments from Contract Opportunities at the following website: https://sam.gov/content/opportunities.

***DO NOT STAPLE BID PAGES

X X 52.211-10 X 12:00pm

CST

02-25-2026 X

14. NAME AND ADDRESS OF OFFEROR

15. TELEPHONE NUMBER

16. REMITTANCE ADDRESS

CODE

FACILITY CODE

17. The offeror agrees to perform the work required at the prices specified below in strict accordance with the terms of the solicitation, if this offer is accepted by the Government in writing within __________ calendar days after the date offers are due.

AMOUNTS

18. The offeror agrees to furnish any required performance and payment bonds.

19. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS

AMENDMENT

NUMBER

DATE.

20a. NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER 20b. SIGNATURE 20c. OFFER DATE

21. ITEMS ACCEPTED:

22. AMOUNT

23. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

24. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN

ITEM

25. OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION PURSUANT TO

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)( 41 U.S.C. 3304(a) (

26. ADMINISTERED BY

27. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

PHONE:

FAX:

28. NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT

29. AWARD

Your Contractor agrees offer on this solicitation is hereby accepted as to the items listed. This to furnish and deliver all items or perform all work requirements identified award consummates the contract, which consists of (a) the Government on this form and any continuation sheets for the consideration stated in solicitation and your offer, and (b) this contract award. No further cont-this contract. The rights and obligations of the parties to this contract ractual document is necessary.

shall be governed by (a) this contract award, (b) the solicitation, and (c) the clauses, representations, certifications, and specifications incorporated by reference in or attached to this contract.

30a. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTOR OR PERSON AUTHORIZED 31a. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

TO SIGN

30b. SIGNATURE 30c. DATE 31b. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 31c. AWARD DATE

BY

OFFER

AWARD

STANDARD FORM 1442 (REV. 8/2014) BACK

(Include ZIP Code) (Include area code) (Include only if different than Item 14.)

(Insert any number equal to or greater than the minimum requirement stated in Item 13d. Failure to insert any number means the offeror accepts the minimum in Item 13d.)

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the solicitation -- give number and date of each) (Type or print) (4 copies unless otherwise specified) (Type or print) (Type or print) (Contractor is required to sign this document and return _______ copies to issuing office.)

(Contractor is not required to sign this document.)

(Must be fully completed by offeror) (To be completed by Government)

CONTRACTING OFFICER WILL COMPLETE ITEM 28 OR 29 AS APPLICABLE

36C252 Department of Veterans Affairs Great Lakes Acquisition Center - HC 115 South 84th Street, Suite 101 Milwaukee WI 53214-1476 Department of Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center PO Box 149971 Austin TX 78714-9971 Roniece Ambrose Contracting Officer

BID SCHEDULE

The contractor shall provide for and furnish all labor, supervision, materials, tools, equipment, licenses, certification, insurance, and temporary protection for exterior repairs and painting of building 35 and 39, as required by the drawings and specifications and other terms and conditions as applicable. Work includes removal and proper disposal of all existing lead-based paint from the exteriors of Buildings 35 and 39. Repair and replace any damaged siding and restore the paint on the siding to match the appearance of the existing exterior. All work shown on the accompanying Construction Plans are included in the base bid. Provide work in accordance with federal, state, and local authorities as detailed in the attached project scope of work, specifications, and drawings at the Veterans Affairs Illiana Healthcare System (VAIHCS), Danville, IL 61832.

1. BASE BID: Furnish all labor, materials, equipment, tools, supervision, and all other necessary resources required for Project 550-26-131 Exterior Repairs and Painting Building 35 and 39 in the drawings and specifications.

Work includes removal and proper disposal of all existing lead-based paint from the exteriors of Buildings 35 and 39. Repair and replace any damaged siding and restore the paint on the siding to match the appearance of the existing exterior.

BASE BID: .

PERFORMANCE PERIOD: 185 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF NOTICE TO PROCEEED.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS: Award will be made to the responsible bidder who submitted the lowest responsive bid.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS: Work shall not commence until all required submittals are approved by the Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). An approved cost-loaded, Critical Path Method (CPM) construction schedule is required prior to commencement of construction. See specifications for details. CPM schedule shall be approved by the Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer’s Representative. See specifications for details.

CONTRACTOR'S SIGNATURE:

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations Part 4, contractual documents (e.g. bids, proposals, awards, modifications, etc.) shall be completed and signed by the Contractor as follows:

(a) This solicitation & all associated bid documents are available to interested parties in electronic file format from https://sam.gov. No hard copy documents will be provided by the government.

(b) A bid guarantee is required in an amount not less than 20 percent of the bid price but shall not exceed $3,000,000. Failure to furnish the required bid guarantee in the proper form and amount, by the time set for opening of bids, will result in rejection of the bid in all cases except those listed in FAR 28.101-4, and may be cause for rejection even then.

(c) The bidder to whom a contract is awarded will be required to furnish a Payment Bond, on form SF 25A, and a Performance Bond, on form SF 25. Each bond shall be issued for a penal sum equal to the value of the awarded contract. Copies of forms SF 25 and 25A may be obtained from the Contracting Officer upon request.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

PROJECT 550-26-131 Exterior Repairs and Painting Building 35 and 39.

Cost Range: $250,000 and $500,000

CONTRACTING OFFICER’S SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

INQUIRIES and RFIs:

Inquiries and all correspondence concerning this solicitation document should be submitted in writing to both the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist. YOU ARE INSTRUCTED SPECIFICALLY TO CONTACT ONLY THE CONTRACT SPECIALIST ISSUING THE SOLICITATION ABOUT ANY ASPECT OF THIS REQUIREMENT.

Requests for information or clarifications to solicitation documents shall be submitted to the Contract Specialist, Amber Jendrzejek, at Amber.Jendrzejek@va.gov and for action no later than February 11, 2026, at 3:30 PM CST. All RFIs or clarifications sent to the government will have the following SUBJECT Line: RFI-36C25226B0007-[COMPANY NAME]

PRE-BID CONFERENCE:

The pre-bid conference will occur on February 04, 2026, at 10:00 AM CST. The location is at the VA Illiana Health Care System, 1900 East Main Street Danville, IL 61832. All participants will meet the Contracting Officer Representative (COR), at the main entrance of building 102.

BID DUE DATE and BID SUMBISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

No email bid submissions are accepted under any circumstances. Only submissions sent by US Mail Services that are received by the “Bid Due Date and Time” will be evaluated for consideration. Postal submissions must be addressed to the Contract Specialist, Amber Jendrzejek. After compiling all required information, submit the information in accordance with the "Bid Due Date" in Block 13 of the SF 1442. All bid submissions sent to the government will have the following SUBJECT Line: BID SUBMISSION-36C25226B0007-[COMPANY NAME]

BID OPENING:

The bid opening will be held in-person at the Great Lakes Acquisition Center (GLAC), Milwaukee, WI. Bid Opening will occur on February 25, 2026, at 12:00PM CST. Contractors will check-in at the front desk and escorted to a designated conference. It is the responsibility of all contractors to arrive prior to the Bid Opening time and bring subject bid as the Bid Opening will start promptly at the time listed above. GLAC address is as follows:

Great Lakes Acquisition Center (GLAC) 115 S. 84th Street, Suite 101 Milwaukee, WI 53214-1476

CONTRACTOR'S SIGNATURE:

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations Part 4, contractual documents (e.g. bids, proposals, awards, modifications, etc.) shall be completed and signed by the Contractor as follows:

(a) Individuals. Signed by the individual.

(b) Individual doing business as a firm. Signed by that individual, and the signature shall be followed by the individual's typed, stamped, or printed name and the words, "an individual doing business as __________________ (insert name of firm)".

(c) Partnership. Signed in the partnership name. Prior to award, provide list of all partners and designate which partners have authority to bind the partnership.

(d) Corporations. Signed in the corporate name followed by the word "by" and the signature, and title of the person authorized to sign. Prior to award, provide list of individuals who have authority to bind the corporation.

(e) Joint Ventures. Signed by each participant in the joint venture in the manner prescribed in (a) through (d) above.

(f) Agents. When an agent is to sign the contract, other than as stated in paragraph (a) through

(e) above, the agent's authorization to bind the principal must be established by evidence satisfactory to the contracting officer.

CONTRACTOR INFORMATION:

Name of Company:

Name:

Title:

Address:

Email Address:

Phone No:

Fax No:

Tax ID Number:

DUNS Number:

Past Performance PoC (within your company), include name and email address:

ADDITIONAL PRIME CONTRACTOR INFORMATION - Safety or Environmental Violations and Experience Modification Rating Information Information provided below shall be applicable to solicitation 36C25226B0007 1.) All Bidders/Offerors shall submit information pertaining to their past Safety and Environmental record. The information must contain a certification that the bidder/offeror has no more than three (3) serious, or one (1) repeat or one (1) willful OSHA or any EPA violation(s) in the past three years. If such certification cannot be made, a Bidder/Offeror shall explain why and submit as much information as possible regarding the circumstances of its past safety and environmental record, including the number of EPA violations and/or the number of serious, repeat, and/or willful OSHA violations, along with a detailed description of those violations.

2.) All Bidders/Offerors shall submit information regarding their current Experience Modification Rate (EMR). This information shall be obtained from the Bidder’s/Offeror’s insurance carrier and be furnished on the insurance carrier’s letterhead. If a Bidder/Offeror’s EMR is above 1.0, Bidder/Offeror must submit a written explanation of the EMR from its insurance carrier furnished on the insurance carrier’s letterhead, describing the reasons for the elevated EMR and the anticipated date the EMR may be reduced to 1.0 or below.

3.) Self-insured contractors or other contractors that cannot provide their EMR rating on insurance letterhead must obtain a rating from the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI) by completing/submitting form ERM-6 and providing the rating on letterhead from NCCI. Note: Self-insured contractors or other contractors that cannot provide EMR rating on insurance letterhead from the states or territories of CA, DE, MI, NJ, ND, OH, PA, WA, WY, and PR shall obtain their EMR rating from their state run worker’s compensation insurance rating bureau.

4.) If the NCCI cannot issue an EMR because the Bidder/Offeror lacks insurance history, Bidder/Offeror shall submit a letter indicating so from its insurance carrier furnished on the insurance carrier’s letterhead, and include a letter from the NCCI indicating that is has assigned Bidder/Offeror a Unity Rating of 1.0.

5.) The above information, along with other information obtained from Government systems, such as the OSHA and EPA online inspection history databases, will be used to make an initial Determination of Responsibility.

6.) This requirement is applicable to all subcontracting tiers, and prospective prime contractors are responsible for determining the responsibility of their prospective subcontractors.

PRE-AWARD CONTRACTOR SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD EVALUATION FORM

Company Name: ______________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________ Telephone: ______________________ Fax: ________________________ Email: _______________________________________________________ DUNS Number: ________________________________________________ Contact: ______________________________________________________

1. Utilizing your OSHA 300 Forms, please complete the following information:

Number of man hours (jobsite and office).

Number of cases involving days away from work, restricted activity, or both (Column H and I of OSHA 300).

Days away, restricted, or transferred rate (# of days away, restricted, or transferred cases x 200,000/# of man hours) (DART Rate).

Number of serious, willful, or repeat violations from OSHA within the last 3 years. Please attach explanation for any violations.

Please attach copies of the following documents: OSHA 300 and 300a Forms. These forms can be accessed through the OSHA publications search page: http://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.html.

Illinois State Sales Tax Exemption:

The Illinois Administrative Code, 130.2075 allows construction contractors to be exempt from Retailers Occupation Tax and Use Tax within the State of Illinois when the materials are for Incorporation into real estate owned by Governmental bodies. For purposes of this authority, a Construction Contractor is defined as a General Contractor or a Subcontractor 86 Ill.Adm.Code 130.1940(a)(1). Materials, are defined as all of the tangible personal property, including fixtures, which enter into a structure or otherwise become incorporated into real estate 86 Ill.Adm.Code 130.1940(a)(5), but do not include tools, fuel, lumber for forms and other end use or consumption items which are not incorporated into the real property 86 Ill.Adm.Code 130.2075(d)(3).

Prospective offerors are notified that under 86 Ill.Adm.Code 130.2075, purchase of applicable materials within the State of Illinois to be incorporated into the real property of Danville, Veterans Affairs Illiana Healthcare System (VAIHCS), VA Medical Center may be exempt from Illinois Retailers’ Occupation Tax and Use Tax. VA will furnish a Certificate to the successful awardee under this solicitation that contains appropriate information that will allow the awardee to take advantage of this tax exemption within the State of Illinois for the project identified in this solicitation. Prime contractors may furnish the certificate to its subcontractors for use on this project. All bids received in response to this solicitation are presumed to reflect any tax benefit that may be realized upon receipt of this certificate.

INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS TO BIDDERS/OFFERORS

2.1 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (DEVIATION) (NOV 2025)

The Government contemplates award of a Firm-Fixed-Price contract resulting from this solicitation.

(End of Provision)

2.2 52.222-5 CONSTRUCTION WAGE RATE REQUIREMENTS—SECONDARY SITE OF THE WORK (MAY 2014) (a)(1) The offeror shall notify the Government if the offeror intends to perform work at any secondary site of the work, as defined in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of the FAR clause at 52.222-6, Construction Wage Rate Requirements, of this solicitation.

(2) If the offeror is unsure if a planned work site satisfies the criteria for a secondary site of the work, the offeror shall request a determination from the Contracting Officer.

(b)(1) If the wage determination provided by the Government for work at the primary site of the work is not applicable to the secondary site of the work, the offeror shall request a wage determination from the Contracting Officer.

(2) The due date for receipt of offers will not be extended as a result of an offeror's request for a wage determination for a secondary site of the work.

(End of Provision)

2.3 52.225-10 NOTICE OF BUY AMERICAN REQUIREMENT—CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS (MAY 2014)

(a) 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).

(b) Requests for determinations of inapplicability. An offeror requesting a determination regarding the inapplicability of the Buy American statute should submit the request to the Contracting Officer in time to allow a determination before 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.

(c) Evaluation of offers.

(1) The Government will evaluate an offer requesting 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.

(2) 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, the Contracting Officer will award to the offeror that did not request an exception based on unreasonable cost.

(d) Alternate offers.

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

(2) 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 the Government has not yet determined an exception applies.

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

(i) Will be rejected as nonresponsive if this acquisition is conducted by sealed bidding; or

(ii) May be accepted if revised during negotiations.

(End of Provision)

2.4 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006)

Protests, as defined in section 33.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, that are filed directly with an agency, and copies of any protests that are filed with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), shall be served on the Contracting Officer (addressed as follows) by obtaining written and dated acknowledgment of receipt from:

Hand-Carried Address:

Department of Veterans Affairs 36C252 115 South 84th Street, Suite 101 Milwaukee WI 53214-1476 Mailing Address:

Department of Veterans Affairs 36C252 115 South 84th Street, Suite 101 Milwaukee WI 53214-1476

(b) The copy of any protest shall be received in the office designated above within one day of filing a protest with the GAO.

(End of Provision)

2.5 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.va.gov/oal/library/vaar/

(End of Provision)

2.6 VAAR 852.214-71 RESTRICTIONS ON ALTERNATE ITEM(S) (MAY 2018)

Bids on will be considered only if acceptable bids on are not received or do not satisfy the total requirement.

(End of Provision)

2.7 VAAR 852.214-72 ALTERNATE ITEM(S) (MAY 2018)

Bids on will be given equal consideration along with bids on and any such bids received may be accepted if to the advantage of the Government. Tie bids will be decided in favor of .

(End of Provision)

2.8 VAAR 852.233-70 PROTEST CONTENT/ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (OCT 2018)

(a) Any protest filed by an interested party shall—

(1) Include the name, address, fax number, email and telephone number of the protester;

(2) Identify the solicitation and/or contract number;

(3) Include an original signed by the protester or the protester’s representative and at least one copy;

(4) Set forth a detailed statement of the legal and factual grounds of the protest, including a description of resulting prejudice to the protester, and provide copies of relevant documents;

(5) Specifically request a ruling of the individual upon whom the protest is served;

(6) State the form of relief requested; and

(7) Provide all information establishing the timeliness of the protest.

(b) Failure to comply with the above may result in dismissal of the protest without further consideration.

(c) Bidders/offerors and Contracting Officers are encouraged to use alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures to resolve protests at any stage in the protest process. If ADR is used, the Department of Veterans Affairs will not furnish any documentation in an ADR proceeding beyond what is allowed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(End of Provision)

2.9 VAAR 852.233-71 ALTERNATE PROTEST PROCEDURE (OCT 2018)

(a) As an alternative to filing a protest with the Contracting Officer, an interested party may file a protest by mail or electronically with: Executive Director, Office of Acquisition and Logistics, Risk Management and Compliance Service (003A2C), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 or Email: EDProtests@va.gov.

(b) The protest will not be considered if the interested party has a protest on the same or similar issue(s) pending with the Contracting Officer.

(End of Provision)

2.10 VAAR 852.236-92 NOTICE TO BIDDERS—ADDITIVE OR DEDUCTIVE BID LINE ITEMS (APR 2019)

(a) Additive or deductive line items in the bid schedule shall be evaluated to determine the low offeror and the items to be awarded. The evaluation shall be made as follows—

(1) Prior to the opening of bids, the Government will determine the amount of funds available for the project.

(2) The low bid shall be the Bidder that—

(i) Is otherwise eligible for award; and

(ii) Offers the lowest aggregate amount for the first or base line item, plus or minus (in the order stated in the list of priorities in the bid schedule) those additive or deductive line items that provide the most features within the funds determined available.

(3) All bids shall be evaluated on the basis of the same additive or deductive line items.

(i) If adding another item from the bid schedule list of priorities would make the award exceed the available funds for all offerors, the Contracting Officer will skip that item and go to the next item from the bid schedule of priorities; and

(ii) Add that next item if an award may be made that includes that line item and is within the available funds.

(b) The Contracting Officer will use the list of priorities in the bid schedule only to determine the low offeror. After determining the low offeror, an award may be made on any combination of items if—

(1) It is in the best interest of the Government;

(2) Funds are available at the time of award; and

(3) The low offeror’s price for the combination to be awarded is less than the price offered by any other responsive, responsible offeror.

(c) Example: ‘‘The amount available is $100,000. Offeror A’s base bid and four additives (in the order stated in the list of priorities in the bid schedule) are $85,000, $10,000, $8,000, $6,000, and $4,000. Offeror B’s base bid and four additives are $80,000, $16,000, $9,000, $7,000, and $4,000. Offeror A is the low offeror. The aggregate amount of offeror A’s bid for purposes of award would be $99,000, which includes a base bid plus the first and fourth additives. The second and third additives were skipped because each of them would cause the aggregate bid to exceed $100,000.’’ (End of Clause)

2.11 VAAR 852.252-70 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS OR CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (JAN 2008) The following provisions or clauses incorporated by reference in this solicitation must be completed by the offeror or prospective contractor and submitted with the quotation or offer. Copies of these provisions or clauses are available on the Internet at the Web sites provided in the provision at FAR 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference, or the clause at FAR 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference. Copies may also be obtained from the contracting officer.

[Contracting officer shall list all FAR and 48 CFR Chapter 8 (VAAR) provisions and clauses incorporated by reference that must be completed by the offeror or prospective contractor and submitted with the quotation or offer.] (End of Provision)

GENERAL CONDITIONS

4.1 52.219-6 NOTICE OF TOTAL SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE (NOV 2020)

(a) Definition. Small business concern, as used in this clause—

(1) Means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on Government contracts, and qualified as a small business under the size standards in this solicitation.

(2) Affiliates, as used in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause, means business concerns, one of whom directly or indirectly controls or has the power to control the others, or a third party or parties control or have the power to control the others. In determining whether affiliation exists, consideration is given to all appropriate factors including common ownership, common management, and contractual relationships. SBA determines affiliation based on the factors set forth at 13 CFR 121.103.

(b) Applicability. This clause applies only to—

(1) Contracts that have been totally set aside for small business concerns; and

(2) Orders set aside for small business concerns under multiple-award contracts as described in 8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F).

(c) General.

(1) Offers are solicited only from small business concerns. Offers received from concerns that are not small business concerns shall be considered nonresponsive and will be rejected.

(2) Any award resulting from this solicitation will be made to a small business concern.

(End of Clause)

4.2 52.219-6 NOTICE OF TOTAL SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE (NOV 2020) ALTERNATE I (MAR 2020)

(a) Definition. Small business concern, as used in this clause—

(1) Means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on Government contracts, and qualified as a small business under the size standards in this solicitation.

(2) Affiliates, as used in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause, means business concerns, one of whom directly or indirectly controls or has the power to control the others, or a third party or parties control or have the power to control the others. In determining whether affiliation exists, consideration is given to all appropriate factors including common ownership, common management, and contractual relationships. SBA determines affiliation based on the factors set forth at 13 CFR 121.103.

(b) Applicability. This clause applies only to—

(1) Contracts that have been totally set aside for small business concerns; and

(2) Orders set aside for small business concerns under multiple-award contracts as described in 8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F).

(c) General.

(1) Offers are solicited only from small business concerns and Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (FPI). Offers received from concerns that are not small business concerns or FPI shall be considered nonresponsive and will be rejected.

(2) Any award resulting from this solicitation will be made to either a small business concern or FPI.

(End of Clause)

4.3 52.223-20 AEROSOLS (MAY 2024)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause— Global warming potential means how much a given mass of a chemical contributes to global warming over a given time period compared to the same mass of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide's global warming potential is defined as 1.0.

High global warming potential hydrofluorocarbons means any hydrofluorocarbons in a particular end use for which EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program has identified other acceptable alternatives that have lower global warming potential. The SNAP list of alternatives is found at 40 CFR part 82, subpart G, with supplemental tables of alternatives available at (https://www.epa.gov/snap/).

Hydrofluorocarbons means compounds that contain only hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon.

(b) Unless otherwise specified in the contract, the Contractor shall reduce its use, release, or emissions of high global warming potential hydrofluorocarbons, when feasible, from aerosol propellants or solvents under this contract. When determining feasibility of using a particular alternative, the Contractor shall consider environmental, technical, and economic factors such as—

(1) In-use emission rates, energy efficiency;

(2) Safety, such as flammability or toxicity;

(3) Ability to meet technical performance requirements; and

(4) Commercial availability at a reasonable cost.

(c) The Contractor shall refer to EPA's SNAP program to identify alternatives. The SNAP list of alternatives is found at 40 CFR part 82, subpart G, with supplemental tables available at https://www.epa.gov/snap/.

(End of Clause)

4.4 52.223-21 FOAMS (MAY 2024)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause— Global warming potential means how much a given mass of a chemical contributes to global warming over a given time period compared to the same mass of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide's global warming potential is defined as 1.0.

High global warming potential hydrofluorocarbons means any hydrofluorocarbons in a particular end use for which EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program has identified other acceptable alternatives that have lower global warming potential. The SNAP list of alternatives is found at 40 CFR part 82, subpart G, with supplemental tables of alternatives available at https://www.epa.gov/snap/.

Hydrofluorocarbons means compounds that contain only hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon.

(b) Unless otherwise specified in the contract, the Contractor shall reduce its use, release, and emissions of high global warming potential hydrofluorocarbons and refrigerant blends containing hydrofluorocarbons, when feasible, from foam blowing agents, under this contract. When determining feasibility of using a particular alternative, the Contractor shall consider environmental, technical, and economic factors such as—

(1) In-use emission rates, energy efficiency, and safety;

(2) Ability to meet performance requirements; and

(3) Commercial availability at a reasonable cost.

(c) The Contractor shall refer to EPA's SNAP program to identify alternatives. The SNAP list of alternatives is found at 40 CFR part 82, subpart G, with supplemental tables available at https://www.epa.gov/snap/.

(End of Clause)

4.5 52.225-9 BUY AMERICAN—CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS (OCT 2022)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause— Commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item—

(1) Means any item of supply (including construction material) that is—

(i) A commercial product (as defined in paragraph (1) of the definition of ‘‘commercial product’’ at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101;

(ii) Sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace; and

(iii) Offered to the Government, under a contract or subcontract at any tier, without modification, in the same form in which it is sold in the commercial marketplace; and

(2) Does not include bulk cargo, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 40102(4), such as agricultural products and petroleum products.

Component means any article, material, or supply incorporated directly into construction material.

Construction material means an article, material, or supply brought to the construction site by the Contractor or a subcontractor for incorporation into the building or work. The term also includes an item brought to the site preassembled from articles, materials, or supplies. However, emergency life safety systems, such as emergency lighting, fire alarm, and audio evacuation systems, that are discrete systems incorporated into a public building or work and that are produced as complete systems, are evaluated as a single and distinct construction material regardless of when or how the individual parts or components of those systems are delivered to the construction site. Materials purchased directly by the Government are supplies, not construction material.

Cost of components means—

(1) For components purchased by the Contractor, the acquisition cost, including transportation costs to the place of incorporation into the end product (whether or not such costs are paid to a domestic firm), and any applicable duty (whether or not a duty-free entry certificate is issued); or

(2) For components manufactured by the Contractor, all costs associated with the manufacture of the component, including transportation costs as described in paragraph (1) of this definition, plus allocable overhead costs, but excluding profit. Cost of components does not include any costs associated with the manufacture of the construction material.

Critical component means a component that is mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States and deemed critical to the U.S. supply chain. The list of critical components is at FAR 25.105.

Critical item means a domestic construction material or domestic end product that is deemed critical to U.S. supply chain resiliency. The list of critical items is at FAR 25.105.

Domestic construction material means—

(1) For construction material that does not consist wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both—

(i) An unmanufactured construction material mined or produced in the United States; or

(ii) A construction material manufactured in the United States, if—

(A) The cost of its components mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States exceeds 60 percent of the cost of all its components, except that the percentage will be 65 percent for items delivered in calendar years 2024 through 2028 and 75 percent for items delivered starting in calendar year 2029. Components of foreign origin of the same class or kind for which nonavailability determinations have been made are treated as domestic. Components of unknown origin are treated as foreign; or

(B) The construction material is a COTS item; or

(2) For construction material that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, a construction material manufactured in the United States if the cost of foreign iron and steel constitutes less than 5 percent of the cost of all components used in such construction material. The cost of foreign iron and steel includes but is not limited to the cost of foreign iron or steel mill products (such as bar, billet, slab, wire, plate, or sheet), castings, or forgings utilized in the manufacture of the construction material and a good faith estimate of the cost of all foreign iron or steel components excluding COTS fasteners. Iron or steel components of unknown origin are treated as foreign. If the construction material contains multiple components, the cost of all the materials used in such construction material is calculated in accordance with the definition of ‘‘cost of components’’.

Fastener means a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. Examples of fasteners are nuts, bolts, pins, rivets, nails, clips, and screws.

Foreign construction material means a construction material other than a domestic construction material.

Foreign iron and steel means iron or steel products not produced in the United States. Produced in the United States means that all manufacturing processes of the iron or steel must take place in the United States, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings, except metallurgical processes involving refinement of steel additives. The origin of the elements of the iron or steel is not relevant to the determination of whether it is domestic or foreign.

Predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both means that the cost of the iron and steel content exceeds 50 percent of the total cost of all its components. The cost of iron and steel is the cost of the iron or steel mill products (such as bar, billet, slab, wire, plate, or sheet), castings, or forgings utilized in the manufacture of the product and a good faith estimate of the cost of iron or steel components excluding COTS fasteners.

Steel means an alloy that includes at least 50 percent iron, between 0.02 and 2 percent carbon, and may include other elements.

United States means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas.

(b) Domestic preference.

(1) This clause implements 41 U.S.C. chapter 83, Buy American, by providing a preference for domestic construction material. In accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1907, the domestic content test of the Buy American statute is waived for construction material that is a COTS item, except that for construction material that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, the domestic content test is applied only to the iron and steel content of the construction materials, excluding COTS fasteners. (See FAR 12.505(a)(2)). The Contractor shall use only domestic construction material in performing this contract, except as provided in paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this clause.

(2) This requirement does not apply to information technology that is a commercial product or to the construction materials or components listed by the Government as follows:

[Contracting Officer to list applicable excepted materials or indicate ‘‘none’’]

(3) The Contracting Officer may add other foreign construction material to the list in paragraph (b)(2) of this clause if the Government determines that—

(i) The cost of domestic construction material would be unreasonable.

(A) For domestic construction material that is not a critical item or does not contain critical components.

(1) The cost of a particular domestic construction material subject to the requirements of the Buy American statute is unreasonable when the cost of such material exceeds the cost of foreign material by more than 20 percent;

(2) For construction material that is not a COTS item and does not consist wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, if the cost of a particular domestic construction material is determined to be unreasonable or there is no domestic offer received, and the low offer is for foreign construction material that is manufactured in the United States and does not exceed 55 percent domestic content, the Contracting Officer will treat the lowest offer of foreign construction material that exceeds 55 percent domestic content as a domestic offer and determine whether the cost of that offer is unreasonable by applying the evaluation factor listed in paragraph (b)(3)(i)(A)(1) of this clause.

(3) The procedures in paragraph (b)(3)(i)(A)(2) of this clause will no longer apply as of January 1, 2030.

(B) For domestic construction material that is a critical item or contains critical components.

(1) The cost of a particular domestic construction material that is a critical item or contains critical components, subject to the requirements of the Buy American statute, is unreasonable when the cost of such material exceeds the cost of foreign material by more than 20 percent plus the additional preference factor identified for the critical item or construction material containing critical components listed at FAR 25.105.

(2) For construction material that does not consist wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, if the cost of a particular domestic construction material is determined to be unreasonable or there is no domestic offer received, and the low offer is for foreign construction material that does not exceed 55 percent domestic content, the Contracting Officer will treat the lowest foreign offer of construction material that is manufactured in the United States and exceeds 55 percent domestic content as a domestic offer, and determine whether the cost of that offer is unreasonable by applying the evaluation factor listed in paragraph (b)(3)(i)(B)(1) of this clause.

(3) The procedures in paragraph (b)(3)(i)(B)(2) of this clause will no longer apply as of January 1, 2030.

(ii) The application of the restriction of the Buy American statute to a particular construction material would be impracticable or inconsistent with the public interest; or

(iii) The construction material is not mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of a satisfactory quality.

(c) Request for determination of inapplicability of the Buy American statute.

(1)(i) Any Contractor request to use foreign construction material in accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of this clause shall include adequate information for Government evaluation of the request, including—

(A) A description of the foreign and domestic construction materials;

(B) Unit of measure;

(C) Quantity;

(D) Price;

(E) Time of delivery or availability;

(F) Location of the construction project;

(G) Name and address of the proposed supplier; and

(H) A detailed justification of the reason for use of foreign construction materials cited in accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of this clause.

(ii) A request based on unreasonable cost shall include a reasonable survey of the market and a completed price comparison table in the format in paragraph (d) of this clause.

(iii) The price of construction material shall include all delivery costs to the construction site and any applicable duty (whether or not a duty-free certificate may be issued).

(iv) Any Contractor request for a determination submitted after contract award shall explain why the Contractor could not reasonably foresee the need for such determination and could not have requested the determination before contract award. If the Contractor does not submit a satisfactory explanation, the Contracting Officer need not make a determination.

(2) If the Government determines after contract award that an exception to the Buy American statute applies and the Contracting Officer and the Contractor negotiate adequate consideration, the Contracting Officer will modify the contract to allow use of the foreign construction material. However, when the basis for the exception is the unreasonable price of a domestic construction material, adequate consideration is not less than the differential established in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this clause.

(3) Unless the Government determines that an exception to the Buy American statute applies, use of foreign construction material is noncompliant with the Buy American statute.

(d) Data. To permit evaluation of requests under paragraph (c) of this clause based on…