Upgrade Safety Showers and Eyewash Stations - Ithaca, NY

The United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service is seeking contractors to upgrade safety showers and eyewash stations at the Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health laboratory in Ithaca, New York. The project involves comprehensive construction work including installation of exterior waste piping, central tempered water systems, vertical waste and vent stacks, and emergency showers with eyewash stations across multiple floors of the facility. Contractors must attend a mandatory site visit that occurred on July 9th, 2025, with written questions due by 4:00 PM on July 17th, 2025, submitted to david.hildebrand@usda.gov. The solicitation uses a Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection methodology, evaluating proposals based on technical acceptability factors including site visit attendance, completed forms, bid schedules, bid bonds, technical narratives, and past performance references. Proposals are due by August 5th, 2025, and must be submitted electronically to the contracting officer.

This opportunity is designated as a 100% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business set-aside under NAICS code 238220 (Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning Contractors) with a size standard of $19.0 million. Three contractors registered for the mandatory site visit: Aventus NV Inc., Iron Sword Enterprises, and Serviam Construction, indicating the competitive landscape for this procurement. The project is estimated to be valued between $500,000 and $1,000,000, with a base contract focusing on third-floor installations and three optional phases covering the second, first, and ground floors sequentially. The performance period spans 120 days from Notice to Proceed for the base contract, with additional time allocated for optional phases, and all work must be completed during normal business hours while maintaining ongoing research activities. The project location is specifically at the USDA facility in Ithaca, NY 14853, requiring contractors to coordinate closely with facility operations and comply with strict safety protocols and building codes.