SJG solar/BPS/power conditioning

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Acquisitions and Grants is soliciting proposals for the design, procurement, installation, and testing of a solar photovoltaic backup power generation system with lithium-ion battery storage and power conditioning equipment at the San Juan Magnetic Observatory in Cayey, Puerto Rico. The contractor must design and install a zero-export solar-plus-battery backup power system (S+B-BPS) capable of providing sufficient power to operate 14 designated observatory buildings at full normal usage for a minimum of 72 hours during utility power outages, with automatic power transfer within 10 seconds or less when main utility power fails. Key contract requirements include maintaining a Puerto Rico contractor license, obtaining all required state, county, and local permits, complying with the International Building Code, National Electric Code, International Fire Code, and ASCE structural standards, protecting the magnetic exclusion zone from ferrous materials, and providing training to USGS facility staff on system operation and maintenance. The Government will evaluate proposals based on technical factors weighted more heavily than price, specifically considering technical capabilities and key qualifications, project schedule and plan, key personnel experience, and past performance from the past five years. The question deadline is March 6, 2026 at 12:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time, and proposals are due March 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM MDT.

This solicitation is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside with NAICS code 221114 (Solar Electric Power Generation), requiring small business concerns with no more than 500 employees. The contract is a firm fixed-price award with an anticipated value between $100,000 and $250,000, with no incumbent contractors identified. The contractor must commence work within 10 calendar days of receiving the Notice to Proceed and complete all work within 45 business days thereafter, resulting in a period of performance from April 1, 2026 through July 30, 2026. Performance and payment bonds equal to 100 percent of the contract price are required within 10 days of award, along with liability insurance including Employer's Liability of $100,000, General Liability of $500,000, and Automobile Liability of $200,000 per person. The work will be performed at the San Juan Magnetic Observatory in Cayey, Puerto Rico, with a mandatory pre-proposal site visit scheduled for February 19, 2026 at 1:30 PM Atlantic Standard Time.