RFQ Details.docx

REQUEST FOR QUOTE

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation

“Technology Showcase Facility & Support Services for ARPA-E’s COOLERCHIPS Program” RFQ Details

1. RFQ Objective/Requirements:

The Contractor will provide host site operations and support services necessary for ARPA-E to conduct the COOLERCHIPS Technology Program. The Contractor shall provide the facilities, utilities, infrastructure, engineering support, and logistical support necessary to support the technology showcase throughout the period of performance.

You are invited to submit a quote in response to this RFQ. The SOW (Attachment 1) contains a more detailed description of the services to be purchased under this RFQ.

2. Responsive Submission The quote must address (i) Technical Approach (ii) Past Performance, and (iii) Price. Price must not be mentioned in the technical approach and past performance sections.

The proposer should provide its UEI number because a UEI number is required for alternate award. It is also recommended that they provide their Tax Identification Number (TIN), and Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.

3. Incorporation of Contract Terms This solicitation includes this notice, Attachment 1 (SOW), Attachment 2 (Pricing Worksheet), and Attachment 3 (Terms & Conditions). Any resultant order from this RFQ will incorporate the terms and conditions of this solicitation.

4. Contract/Order Type and Award:

The Government intends to issue a firm-fixed-price purchase order from this RFQ.

5. Evaluation of Proposals:

The Government will use tradeoff analysis when making the best value determination and award, based on the following three factors: Evaluation Factor 1 (Technical Capability), Evaluation Factor 2 (Past Performance), and Evaluation Factor 3 (Price).

Evaluation Order of Importance – Evaluation Factor 1 (Technical Capability) is more important than Evaluation Factor 2 (Past Performance). And both Factors 1 and 2 when combined are significantly more important than Factor 3 (Price). Accordingly, the Government reserves the right to award to a higher-priced Offeror if the superior technical capability or past performance warrants the price premium.

Evaluation Element 1 – Technical Capability: The Government will consider the proposed technical capability of the offeror to meet the needs laid out in the SOW by reviewing the offeror’s technical approach, facility infrastructure, and capabilities to determine the degree to which the quote demonstrates a thorough understanding of and capability to meet the requirements in the Statement of Work noting strengths, weaknesses, and deficiencies if any exist. The Technical Capability criterion will be evaluated as exceptional, good, acceptable, marginal, and unacceptable.

Evaluation Factor 2 – Past Performance: The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s recent and relevant past performance to assess confidence in the Offeror’s ability to perform the SOW requirements successfully.

Recency & Relevance:

Recent: Performance occurring within the past six years from the date of quote submission.

Relevant: Projects of similar size, scope, and technical complexity to the requirements described in this SOW (e.g., high-density data center cooling, large-scale electrical load testing, host facility management for high-power thermal systems, fluid handling).

Evaluation Sources: The Government may evaluate past performance information provided by the Offeror, past performance information obtained from CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System), commercial databases, or any other government or private sources.

Ratings: Past Performance will be assigned a confidence/quality rating (e.g., Exceptional, Good, Acceptable, Marginal, Unacceptable). In accordance with FAR principles, an Offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably and will receive a Neutral rating.

Evaluation Element 3 – Price: The Government will evaluate the proposed total firm-fixed price for overall price reasonableness. Price reasonableness will be determined using one or more of the techniques outlined in FAR 13.106-3, including:

Comparison of proposed quotes received in response to the solicitation.

Comparison of proposed prices with market prices for similar services.

Comparison with the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE).

Completeness: The Government will evaluate whether the proposed price covers all SOW requirements (including the Site Visit and Alignment Meeting as well as all main showcase execution activities). The Government can look at costs that make up the overall price to determine completeness. Unreasonably high or unbalance/unrealistic quotes may be deemed unacceptable and rejected.

**NOTE**

Prior to issuing any award, the Government will perform a search of Active Exclusions in the System for Award Management (SAM) to ensure that the prospective awardee are not on the list of parties excluded from receiving federal contracts and sub-contracts.

8. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL:

Proposals must be received via email by Wednesday September 15th 2026, no later than 2pm.

*Proposers please note, the DOE email system will not accept attachments larger than 10MB in size. Attachments exceeding 10MB in size will be rejected by the DOE mail server. Please ensure your proposal conforms to the DOE email size restrictions. The burden of ensuring and proving timely receipt is on the proposer.