12905B25Q0072 - RFI Responses Attached Solicitation USDA-ARS-PWA Replace VFDs in Pump House Maricopa AZ

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service is seeking contractors to replace two existing 15HP Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) with new 15HP ABB drives and bypass switches that service 480V pump motors at the U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center's pump house in Maricopa, Arizona. The project includes requirements for factory start-up, training, and warranty services, with all work to be performed during normal business hours between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Contractors must attend a mandatory site visit scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time and sign an on-site attendance sheet. The evaluation will use a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) method, considering technical capability, past performance, and price. All questions must be submitted via the provided RFI form to theodore.blume@usda.gov by 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, with final proposals due by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

This opportunity is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside with no incumbent contractors identified in the solicitation documents. The project value is estimated between $25,000 and $100,000, with specific bonding requirements including payment bonds for awards above $35,000 and performance bonds for awards above $150,000. The scope involves replacing only two VFDs, with the government specifying that only one VFD can be replaced at a time during water pump shutdowns to maintain operational continuity. Performance and payment bonds, if required based on the final award value, must be submitted within ten days of contract award. The work will be performed at the Agricultural Research Service facility in Maricopa, Arizona, with on-site restroom facilities available for contractor use during the project execution.