Upgrade Phase III Chiller - Athens, GA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service is soliciting bids for Phase III chiller upgrades at the USDA National Poultry Research Center in Athens, Georgia, involving the replacement of an existing 400-ton chiller and associated chilled water pump with a new 900-ton Trane chiller system. The comprehensive project includes demolition of existing equipment, installation of new mechanical and electrical systems, integration with existing control systems, and modifications to the mechanical space to ensure redundancy in the facility's chiller system. A mandatory site visit was scheduled for July 2nd, and all technical questions must be submitted in writing to the contracting officer by 4:00 PM on July 9, 2025, with responses posted on sam.gov. The contract will be awarded using a Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) methodology, evaluating technical capability, past performance based on CPARS ratings, and price. Proposals are due by August 1, 2025, and must be submitted electronically to the contracting officer.

This solicitation is designated as a 100% HUBZone set-aside for Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning Contractors with a small business size standard of $19.0 million. The project value is estimated between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000, with a performance period of 365 days from the Notice to Proceed, though the maximum performance period is specified as 180 days in the Statement of Work. Work will be performed at the Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center in Athens, Georgia, with construction restricted to Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM to minimize disruption to ongoing research operations. The contractor must maintain the facility's chilled water services with minimal disruption throughout the project, as the building will remain occupied during construction. This represents the final phase of a multi-phase chiller system upgrade program designed to improve operational efficiency and provide redundancy for the research facility.