Dept of Military-Install Solar PV-Range Road Armory, Rapid City, SD

The South Dakota Department of the Military is seeking a design-build contractor to install a 25 KW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) array at the Range Road Armory located in Rapid City, Pennington County. This procurement is a design-build services contract with solicitation number CFMO 466405, requiring the selected vendor to complete both the design and installation of the solar array. Bidders must provide comprehensive design and construction documents in compliance with state laws and applicable codes. An optional pre-bid conference is scheduled for August 14, 2024, at 10:00 AM MT at the project site, and sealed bids are due by 4:00 PM MT on August 22, 2024. The project will be awarded on a "best value" selection basis, evaluating qualitative, management, and price proposals. Bidders must submit bid security of 5% for proposals over $100,000 and have a valid South Dakota contractor's excise tax license. The successful design-builder will be required to substantially complete the project within 196 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed, with an additional 14 days allowed for final completion.

The contract opportunity does not specify explicit set-aside designations for disadvantaged businesses. Bidders must comply with Buy America, Buy American (BABA) requirements, ensuring all products used in the solar PV installation meet domestic procurement standards. The project will be funded by the State of South Dakota, with electrical power provided by Black Hills Energy under Rate Schedule 20 (SD720), which includes a Demand Capacity Charge of $8/kW. While no incumbent vendor is mentioned, the contract requires integration with existing electrical infrastructure at the Range Road Armory. Bidders must provide both performance and payment bonds, with liquidated damages of $575 per day for substantial completion delays and $300 per day for final completion delays. Though a specific budget range is not disclosed, the project involves a 25 KW DC solar array installation, suggesting a potential contract value in the mid-to-high six-figure range, depending on design complexity and installation requirements.