Increase Emergency Power

The VA Veterans Health Administration's Veterans Integrated Service Network 1 seeks construction services to increase emergency power capacity for the main hospital at the Providence, Rhode Island VA Medical Center, with proposals due December 18, 2026 at 3:30 PM EST. The procurement is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business set-aside, and per the attached solicitation summary, only awardees of the VISN 1 Construction Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC), awarded December 16, 2025 under solicitation 36C77624R0098, are eligible to submit proposals. A separate attached Justification and Approval cites FAR 6.103-1 to procure paralleling controls from Russ Electric on a firm-fixed-price basis using Non-Recurring Maintenance funds, and the J&A was signed October 23, 2026.

Place of performance is 830 Chalkstone Avenue, Providence, RI 02908. The scope includes two diesel generators with paralleling capability, distribution equipment near parking lot 8, control equipment in the Building 1 basement, and duct banks from a new Emergency Generator Control Building to Buildings 1 and T18. The Brand Name or Equal memorandum names a Caterpillar 600 kW generator as design intent and permits approved equals, with NFPA 99 and NFPA 110 Level 1 compliance. The project is classified as large-scale construction under the VHA Pre-Construction Risk Assessment, requiring excavation, dust control, crane lift, and fall protection plans, and an Infection Control Risk Assessment is required. Work must start within 10 calendar days of notice to proceed and finish within 630 calendar days, including final cleanup. Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM EST, and off-hours work requires COR approval at no additional cost to the Government.

The project magnitude is estimated between $5 million and $10 million. Offerors must provide performance and payment bonds for awards exceeding $150,000, a bid bond equal to 20% of the bid price or $3 million, whichever is less, and an offer guarantee, with a 120-day Government acceptance period. Evaluation uses a tradeoff process weighing Schedule, Management Approach, Technical Expertise, and Past Performance equally, collectively more significant than price. Proposals must include a VAAR 852.219-75 certification limiting subcontracting to a maximum of 85% of contract value paid to non-SDVOSB firms for general construction. General Decision RI20260001 wage rates apply, and Buy American requirements apply to construction materials.

A mandatory site visit occurs November 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST at the Providence VA Medical Center campus, and requests for information are due November 20, 2026 at 3:30 PM EST. Proposals are submitted by email to Contracting Specialist Andrew Merical at Andrew.Merical@va.gov. The attached Past Performance Questionnaire template lists a return date of February 9, 2023, which predates this posting and requires confirmation with the contracting specialist.