USDA National Centers for Animal Health Rooftop Unit Replacement and Fuel Conversion Iowa

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service seeks quotations for replacement of a rooftop unit and conversion of Building 174 from liquefied propane to natural gas at the USDA National Centers for Animal Health in Ames, Iowa, with proposals due September 22. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS 238220, restricting competition to small business concerns with a size standard of $19 million.

Work encompasses removal and replacement of an existing 4-ton rooftop unit on a 24-inch metal curb, installation of four gas-fired radiant tube heaters, removal of one radiant heater, installation of one gas-fired unit heater rated at 150,000 BTU, and installation of approximately 67 feet of 2-inch HDPE gas piping (fusion-welded below ground, threaded above ground) with two cast iron plug valves, anode-less riser, regulators, and a diaphragm-type gas meter with Johnson Controls BACnet controller integration to the Metasys building automation system. The contractor must also install ductwork insulation meeting Iowa Energy Code requirements and sight-proof air-transfer door grills. All work must comply with NFPA standards, SMACNA guidelines, OSHA requirements, and applicable federal, state, and local building codes.

Key personnel must include an OSHA-certified competent person with 30 hours of training as job superintendent; all employees require minimum 10 hours of OSHA training. Work hours are 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Work is weather-dependent and must be performed when outdoor temperatures exceed 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Contractor personnel working in animal holding areas must wear Tyvek suits with mandatory USDA decontamination (50/50 bleach solution with one-hour contact time) before equipment removal.

The contractor is responsible for all utility locates and underground obstruction identification via hydro-vac excavation. USDA will shut off natural gas for tie-in work and coordinate with Alliant Energy; no new-service requests or utility coordination are required from the contractor. Deliverables include as-built drawings in PDF format, warranty documentation, and operations and maintenance data. A one-year warranty applies to all work.

Prevailing wage rates apply per General Decision IA20260074, with rates ranging from $18.87/hour (roofers) to $56.30/hour (elevator mechanics) plus applicable fringe benefits. Submission by email to bradley.martin2@usda.gov in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF format. Site visit RSVP is required by 1:00 PM CT September 11 to thomas.walker@usda.gov. Amendment 0001 posted Questions and Answers on September 18.