Transformer and Substation

Ames National Laboratory, operated by Iowa State University under a Department of Energy contract, is seeking to procure transformer and substation equipment for its Metals Development 150 project. The solicitation is a Request for Proposal (RFP) No. A25-1118 using a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation method, specifically targeting equipment from Square D and Schneider Electric. The procurement includes medium-voltage switchgear, transformer sections, and low-voltage secondary switchgear with coordinated circuit breakers and metering components. Key procurement milestones include a June 10, 2025 deadline for submitting questions, with answers provided by June 12, 2025, and a proposal submission deadline of June 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM Central Time. The solicitation follows an unrestricted open competition with a NAICS code of 335311 and a small business size standard of 800 employees.

The contract is not set aside for any specific business category, though offerors are encouraged to utilize small businesses, including veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone, disadvantaged, and women-owned small businesses as sub-subcontractors. The place of performance is Ames, Iowa, with a substantial completion target of Spring 2026. Funds are available up to the Laboratory's approved budget, and the contract will be a firm fixed-price agreement. The electrical system will feature a 1500kVA transformer configured for 4160 Delta to 480Y/277V conversion, with a 2000A bus rating and total connected load of 1,716 kVA. The total system is designed to support various plasma arc and equipment power supplies, with the switchgear located in Room 241C and supplied from Transformer T-3, featuring a 65kA short circuit current rating.