Fort Buchanan Microgrid

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, seeks design-bid-build construction of an installation-level microgrid at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, with proposals due May 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. This is a General Small Business set-aside. The procurement is firm-fixed-price with a target ceiling of $45 million, NAICS 237130, estimated price range $25 million to $100 million.

Place of performance is Fort Buchanan, San Juan, Puerto Rico (140 Av. Carlos E. Chardón, San Juan, 00918). The scope consists of approximately 8 MW of new diesel generators (twelve 570 kW units, 480V output stepped to 13.2KV), a 2.5 MWh/4 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) as optional line items, nine 12,000-gallon above-ground ballistic-resistant diesel fuel tanks with fuel polishing systems for 14-day continuous operation, comprehensive microgrid control systems including paralleling switchgear, transformers, transfer switches, circuit breakers, protective relaying, and fiber optic communications, plus integration of existing 4.65 MW solar photovoltaic array and two 275 kW wind turbines. Contract duration is 1,141 calendar days from Notice to Proceed (June 18, 2026 to August 2, 2029), with mobilization required within 10 days of NTP.

Mandatory cybersecurity requirement: all contractors and subcontractors must hold current CMMC Level 2 (Self) certification at time of award and comply with NIST SP 800-171. Prospective offerors must email SFC Henry Caldera (henry.c.caldera@usace.army.mil) with CAGE Code and UEI to verify CMMC compliance and access the restricted solicitation via PIEE. Performance and payment bonds are required within 10 days of award.

Prime contractors must self-perform at least 15% of direct contract labor and demonstrate past performance on substantially complete projects within six years showing at least 2.5 MW diesel generation, 2.5 MWh/4 MW BESS, and microgrids including at least five of eight specified scope elements. Buy American Act applies: 65% domestic content for 2024–2028 deliveries, 75% for 2029 onward. Contractor must obtain all permits through Puerto Rico's Office of Permits and Licenses (OGPe) and secure approval from utility provider LUMA Energy.

Evaluation uses best-value trade-off analysis. Past Performance ranks first in importance, Technical Approach (Management Plan and Schedule Narrative equally weighted) ranks second. All non-price factors combined are considered approximately equal to price. Price evaluation follows technical evaluation. Volume I includes up to three past-performance projects and technical approach (management plan limited to eight pages, schedule narrative to five pages plus three-page bar chart). Volume II includes Standard Form 1442 price breakout, joint venture agreements if applicable, bonding and financial capability evidence, pre-award information, and CMMC Level 2 certification. The base bid (Line Item 0001) covers primary facility construction including BESS removal, civil site work, nine fuel tanks at 25% fill, generators with DEF day tanks at 90% fill. Line Item 0002 (Electrical Utility) is fixed at $5,500 with no markups. Four optional line items cover half BESS capacity (Line Item 0003), remaining BESS capacity (0004), three additional fuel tanks (0005), and fuel tank fill-ups to 90% capacity exercisable up to 12 times (0006), plus new Line Item 0007 for DEF bulk storage tank fills to 90% capacity exercisable up to three times. Offerors must price all numbered items or face disqualification.