Access Walkways for the Chiller Cooling Towers

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service is procuring construction services to provide and install access walkways for the chiller cooling towers at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas. The project involves demolition and construction of an extension to the existing catwalk system around cooling towers, including hot-dip galvanized steel components, metal railings, grating treads, and associated structural work to enhance safety, accessibility, and operational efficiency for maintenance and inspection access. Contractors must attend a mandatory site visit on June 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM CT, which requires email registration to amber.sampson@usda.gov by June 13, 2025 at 1:00 PM CT and completion of a background check via https://redtailsecurity.com/corp/NBAF by the same deadline. The procurement will use a Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection methodology, evaluating offerors on technical acceptability, past performance, and price. Proposals are due July 7, 2025, with an amendment establishing that Requests for Information must be submitted by 5:00 PM Mountain Time on June 30, 2025.

This solicitation is designated as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction) with a size standard of $45.0 million. The estimated contract value ranges between $250,000 and $500,000, with no specific incumbent contractors identified in the documentation. The performance period is 365 consecutive calendar days after the Notice to Proceed, during which the contractor must furnish all labor, materials, and equipment to modify the Central Utility Plant mechanical yard. Work will be performed at the high-security National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas, requiring strict adherence to security protocols, safety regulations, and coordination with facility personnel to maintain operations during construction. The project operates under contract number 12805B23D0006, Task Order 12805B24F0208, and requires compliance with Davis-Bacon wage determinations for Riley County, Kansas.