RFP Cooling Tower and Chillers

The Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 9 (90C) is requesting sealed bids for a complete upgrade of cooling tower and chiller systems at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System VA Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, under IFB Project #626-24-203, with bids due August 5, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time. This procurement is a 100 percent set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) concerns; offerors must be listed and verified in the Small Business Administration's certification registry at both offer submission and award.

The scope encompasses complete upgrade and modernization of cooling tower and chiller systems, including all labor, materials, equipment, supervision, architectural, plumbing, fire protection, controls, medical gas, mechanical, electrical power and systems work. Offerors must demonstrate relevant construction experience through completion of similar infrastructure projects at VA facilities, chiller and cooling tower modernization projects, critical space renovations, existing Building Automation System (BAS) integration, crane operations coordination, mechanical contractor coordination, roofing system replacements, and hospital infrastructure renovation. The project includes a base bid and three deductive bid alternates for selective removal of cooling tower components, condenser piping, and condenser pumps. The contract period of performance is 548 calendar days from Notice to Proceed, with final payment contingent upon system validation and full operational functionality.

The estimated contract value is between $5 million and $10 million. Evaluation uses Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) methodology, scoring three technical factors—relevant construction experience, key personnel experience, and past performance—and price. A bid guarantee of 20 percent of bid price or $3 million (whichever is less) is required. A mandatory site visit occurs July 8, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at Building D73 Conference Room. Offerors must maintain active System for Award Management (SAM) registration and comply with prevailing wage, federal equal opportunity, security, and DEI discrimination requirements. Work must accommodate facility operations including cardiac catheterization procedures and is subject to restricted work hours, mandatory safety protocols, OSHA standards, and smoke-free facility regulations.