Construct Sugarcane Research Laboratory

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service seeks construction of a sugarcane research laboratory and office building in Houma, Louisiana, with proposals due August 14, 2026. The procurement is a Total Small Business Set-Aside, foreclosing competition outside that category.

Place of performance is Houma, Louisiana (501 Bull Run Road, Schriever). The project encompasses approximately 22,500 to 23,000 gross square feet of new laboratory and office space including parking, walkway, sidewalks, and flagpole. The facility is a biosafety level 2 laboratory designed to study plant pathogens. Construction must commence within 10 calendar days of Notice to Proceed and complete within 425 consecutive calendar days. The contractor must maintain normal working hours 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with existing site buildings and roadways remaining fully operational throughout construction.

The estimated contract value is $17 million to $22 million, firm-fixed-price. Performance and payment bonds are required; bid guarantee must not be less than 20 percent of proposed price but not exceed $3 million. The NAICS code is 236220, Commercial and Institutional Building Construction, with a small business size standard of $45 million.

Key personnel include a Project Manager with 10 years' construction experience (5 years on similar projects), a superintendent with 8 years' experience (5 years on similar projects) present on-site at all times, a Quality Control Manager with relevant graduate degree and 5 years' experience, and a Site Safety and Health Officer. All on-site personnel require background checks and Real ID credentials. The project anticipates fourth quarter 2026 start with 18 months total duration (2 months preconstruction plus 16 months construction).

Offerors must submit technical approach addressing site security, project management tools, subcontracting approach, quality management, commissioning management, and project closeout; two to four references from similar federal, state, or university projects completed in the past seven years; SF 1442 and SF 24 Bid Bond; and completed Schedule of Pricing in MS Excel format. Award uses Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) methodology. Offers are technically acceptable if they meet all solicitation requirements, provide clear technical approach, include acceptable references, and demonstrate acceptable CPARS ratings and past performance data.

Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates apply, with rates ranging from $13.28 per hour (Laborer, Common or General) to $36.00 per hour plus $16.66 fringe (Electrician). Executive Order 13706 requires one hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours annually.

Amendment 0002 (posted July 27) extended the deadline from August 7 to August 14 and added RFI Questions and Answers. Amendment 0001 (posted July 8) added the Geotechnical Engineering Report. An optional site visit occurred July 15, 2026; questions closed July 22, 2026. All amendments require acknowledgment with offer submission.