Z2DA--657A5-21-401, Construct New Campus Chiller Plant, MRN

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 15 seeks construction of a new campus chiller plant at Marion VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois, with proposals due August 27, 2026 and a mandatory site visit on August 5, 2026. This is an SDVOSB set-aside with an estimated magnitude between $20 million and $50 million, awarded on a firm-fixed-price basis using a Best Value Trade-Off process where non-price factors are significantly more important than price.

Performance is at the Marion VA Medical Center site, Marion, Illinois. The project encompasses construction of a new 9,574-square-foot chiller plant facility (Type II Industrial occupancy, Seismic Design Category D, fully sprinklered), three 500-ton water-cooled chillers with R-513A refrigerant, three 1,500-ton cooling towers, chilled water and condenser water pumping systems with capacities of 1,000 GPM and 1,500 GPM respectively, a new 2,000 kVA electrical transformer, BACnet MS/TP direct-digital controls with integration to existing Metasys systems, complete fire suppression systems, and demolition of the existing Building 49 chiller plant. The contractor must maintain the existing chiller plant's operation throughout construction and complete all work within 720 calendar days from Notice to Proceed during normal business hours (7:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday–Friday).

The NAICS code is 236220, Commercial and Institutional Building Construction, with a $45 million size standard. All SDVOSB contractors must be certified in the SBA Small Business Search website by the proposal due date, and the prime contractor must perform at least 15 percent of contract performance labor costs or delegate to eligible SDVOSB concerns. Technical evaluation criteria include the prime contractor's experience on 3–5 projects exceeding $15 million completed within 10 years, past performance of satisfactory or better, the mechanical subcontractor's experience on 3–5 projects exceeding $5 million within 6 years, key staffing qualifications with minimum five years experience for Project Manager, Quality Control Manager, Site Safety and Health Officer, and Site Superintendent, and a comprehensive Safety Plan addressing hospital operations and patient care. Questions are due August 11, 2026. The bid bond is 20 percent of bid price or $3 million, whichever is less. Contracting Officer: Jeanette Mathena (jeanette.mathena@va.gov); Contract Specialist: Maria Hoover (maria.hoover@va.gov).