New Building IT Design and Build

The National Science Foundation is conducting a combined Sources Sought/Request for Information to identify qualified contractors for design and build services related to its New Building IT infrastructure initiative. The primary objective is to procure comprehensive network design and physical infrastructure build-out services, including copper cabling installation, fiber optic cabling design, network topology development, and enhanced communication equipment room construction at NSF's new headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. Key requirements include adherence to structured cabling standards (ANSI/TIA-568), design of network topologies supporting approximately 1,200 federal employees and 1,200 contractors, specification of equipment and acceptance criteria for multiple facility spaces, and installation of approximately 400 indoor and 2 outdoor wireless access points with heat mapping analysis. The evaluation will assess contractor expertise in standards compliance, experience with similar network environments, methodology for space and power requirements, bandwidth capacity and redundancy planning approaches, equipment specification considerations, and evaluation criteria beyond pricing. Responses are due by March 26, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. EST and must be submitted via email to kmprice@nsf.gov; the NSF encourages submissions from small businesses in all socioeconomic categories, including 8(a) participants, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, and Women-Owned concerns.

This pre-solicitation notice contains no set-aside designation and does not identify any incumbent contractors. The anticipated contract value aligns with a $34 million size standard under NAICS code 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services), though a specific award amount has not been disclosed at this pre-solicitation stage. The project encompasses an eight-month period of performance following contract award, with work execution during local core hours (0700-1630, Monday-Friday) at the NSF facility. Key deliverables include installation of Cat 6a minimum copper cabling to all work area outlets, design and installation of fiber optic cabling (24-strand 50-micron multimode OM4 and 12-strand single-mode), construction of an enhanced communication equipment room in the basement with redundant power and cooling systems, and build-out of communication equipment rooms across 11 floors. The project schedule spans May through December, organized into three coordinated phases covering different facility floors, with cable replacement and network design occurring in parallel with equipment installation activities to optimize project completion.