Backup Generator System Installation for USDA ARS in Florence, SC

The USDA Agricultural Research Service is seeking contractors to install a backup generator system at their Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center in Florence, South Carolina. The project involves providing and installing a 60 kW liquid propane generator with a 10-year warranty, complete with two automatic transfer switches, a 200 amp load center, power and control wiring, and a 500-gallon propane tank with regulators to support existing seed storage units and a planned freezer area. Contractors must obtain all necessary permits, follow local, state, and federal codes, and provide detailed material specifications and project timelines with their bids. The evaluation will use a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) method to determine the winning proposal. A mandatory site visit is scheduled for September 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with all quotes due by 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 23, 2025.

This procurement is designated as a total small business set-aside with no incumbent contractors identified. The estimated project magnitude ranges between $25,000 and $100,000, with performance and payment bonds potentially required depending on the final contract value above specified thresholds of $35,000 and $150,000 respectively. The selected contractor will have 120 calendar days from the notice to proceed to complete all installation work, with bonds due within 10 days of contract award. Work must be performed Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Florence, South Carolina facility. The project falls under Department of Labor General Decision #SC20250005 dated January 3, 2025, establishing prevailing wage requirements for the construction work.