Request for Information - Sentinel Utility Infrastructure, Malmstrom Air Force Base, MT

1. NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER 

This is a Request for Information (RFI) issued solely for market intelligence and acquisition planning purposes. This announcement does not constitute a Solicitation, Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Qualifications (RFQ), or invitation for bid. No solicitation is currently available. Participation is strictly voluntary. The Government will not award any agreement or contract as a result of this RFI, nor will it reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in preparing or submitting a response. Submission of a response does not obligate the Government in any way and will not affect a firm’s ability to submit a proposal should a formal solicitation be issued in the future. 

While Other Transaction Authority is not subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or FAR-based small-business set-aside rules, the NAICS code above is provided for market-intelligence purposes to help the Government understand the size and demographics of the interested industrial base. 

2. PURPOSE 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Seattle District, is conducting market intelligence to assess industry capability, capacity, interest, and feedback regarding the potential use of Other Transaction Authority (OTA) under 10 U.S.C. § 2808a to deliver the Sentinel Utility Infrastructure Project at Malmstrom Air Force Base (MAFB) using a Construction Management at Risk (CM@Risk) approach. Responses will inform the District’s acquisition strategy, solicitation approach, agreement structure, evaluation criteria, and risk-allocation framework for a standalone OT agreement covering this critical enabling project. 

3. PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Sentinel (Ground Based Strategic Deterrent) program is modernizing the Nation’s land-based intercontinental ballistic missile force. At Malmstrom AFB, the Air Force is constructing a suite of new facilities collectively referred to as the Operations and Maintenance Complex (OMC), together with associated support facilities. The Utility Infrastructure Project is the critical enabling backbone that must be in place before the remaining Sentinel facilities can be constructed and made operational.

Scope of the Utility Infrastructure Project includes construction of a comprehensive utilities distribution system serving the entire Sentinel GBSD Complex at Malmstrom AFB. Primary elements include:

• Electrical distribution systems, including connection to / expansion of electrical substation capacity as required to serve the new campus.
• Water distribution and related appurtenances.
• Wastewater collection and connection to treatment systems.
• Natural gas service to the campus.
• Telecommunications backbone connectivity, including fiber services to Information Transfer Nodes (ITNs), electrical substation, water pump stations, and related Base utility facilities.
• Associated site work: clearing, grubbing, grading, minor demolition, drainage, utility and communications connections, access paving, parking, and walkways as applicable.

Individual OMC facility projects (Integrated Command Center, Integrated Training Center, Missile Handling Complex, Consolidated Maintenance Facility, and Operations Group Facility) will connect their building utilities to the systems provided under this project at the project boundary. Coordination with Base Communications for Government Furnished / Government Installed (GFGI) equipment in ITNs will affect service delivery timelines.

Design for the Utility Infrastructure Project is mature (near 100 percent) and is being performed by Jacobs Engineering under an existing design contract. Jacobs will remain the Designer of Record. The estimated construction magnitude is between $160 million and $200 million. The anticipated period of performance is approximately 1,278 calendar days. This project is on the critical path for the overall Sentinel beddown at Malmstrom AFB; any schedule slip cascades into every subsequent facility.

4. POTENTIAL ACQUISITION STRATEGY

The Seattle District is evaluating execution of a standalone Other Transaction Agreement under 10 U.S.C. § 2808a using a Construction Management at Risk (CM@Risk) delivery approach for the Utility Infrastructure Project.

Because design is already advanced, the anticipated CM@Risk model is expected to operate as follows:

Phase 1 – Preconstruction / Collaborative Services

• Constructor is selected primarily on qualifications, past performance, proposed approach, commercial terms and price.
• Selected constructor joins the Project Delivery Team as a collaborative advisor while design is finalized .
• Constructor provides constructability reviews, value-engineering input, long-lead item identification, supply-chain risk assessment, and open-book cost development.
• Government and constructor work collaboratively to establish a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) or equivalent commercial ceiling validated against the Independent Government Estimate (IGE).

Phase 2 – Construction Execution (At-Risk)

• Upon successful negotiation of the GMP (or equivalent), the OT Agreement is modified to authorize construction.
• Constructor assumes construction risk and is responsible for delivery within the agreed price ceiling, schedule, and performance requirements.
• Designer of Record (Jacobs) retains design liability; constructor is accountable for constructability, coordination, and execution decisions made during Phase 1.

The agreement is anticipated to be structured with flexibility for incremental funding, differing site conditions, environmental contingencies, and coordination with concurrent Sentinel facility construction. The Government anticipates that this standalone Infrastructure OT will be awarded and executed on a timeline that supports the overall program critical path.

5. RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

Interested parties are requested to submit responses by completing the online questionnaire (also listed in the Attachments/links section below) at:

https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/7Pna1mrz1x

The questionnaire is the Government's primary mechanism for obtaining detailed market intelligence and addresses industry capability, experience, technical capabilities, construction considerations, and recommended OTA and commercial practices.

If necessary, interested parties may also submit a brief capabilities statement containing relevant information not otherwise addressed in the questionnaire. Capability statements shall not exceed 5 pages in length. The Government requests that firms avoid duplicating information already provided through the questionnaire.

Supplemental capability statements are requested to be submitted via email to the individual(s) listed below no later than 10:00 AM Pacific Time on 28 August 2026. Late responses may still be considered at the Government’s discretion but are not guaranteed review prior to strategy finalization.
 

Kyla Couch, Contract Specialist
Military/Environmental/Interagency & International Services (IIS) Branch
Contracting Division, Seattle District, Northwestern Division
Email: kyla.m.couch@usace.army.mil
Subject line: “RFI Response – Sentinel Utility Infrastructure OTA CM@Risk – [Firm Name]”
 

The Government welcomes candid industry feedback and recommendations regarding commercial practices, agreement terms, project phasing, risk sharing, governance, pricing approaches, and other considerations that could improve successful execution of this project under 10 U.S.C. § 2808a.

Interested firms are encouraged to add themselves to the Interested Vendors List associated with this announcement on SAM.gov to receive future updates.