RFQ Replace EVAP Cooler in Greenhouses

The USDA Agricultural Research Service is soliciting bids for the replacement of evaporative cooling systems in greenhouses at the Cereal Disease Laboratory in St. Paul, Minnesota, under RFQ 1232SA26Q0989, with responses due August 13, 2026 and a mandatory site visit on July 23 at 1:00 PM CST. This is a 100 percent total small business set-aside restricted to firms classified under NAICS 238220 (Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors).

The scope is the replacement of existing evaporative coolers in Building B401 at 1551 Lindig Street, with optional replacement of coolers in Building B400. Work impacting greenhouse growing operations must be performed between June 1 and September 15. The contractor must complete all work within 420 days after the Notice to Proceed. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027.

All offerors must attend the mandatory site visit (registration required by 5:00 PM CST on July 22). Submissions must be emailed to david.hildebrand@usda.gov and must include a transmittal letter, completed SF 1442, a bid bond (minimum 20 percent of proposed price, capped at $400,000), and two references demonstrating experience on similar projects. All offerors must maintain active SAM.gov registration at submission.

Award will be made on a firm fixed-price basis to the lowest-priced technically acceptable offeror using LPTA evaluation. Evaluation factors include mandatory site-visit attendance, completion of all required forms and bonds, documented relevant experience through references, and acceptable CPARS ratings. The awardee must furnish performance and payment bonds, maintain a site superintendent, comply with construction wage requirements, and provide daily quality control records and progress payment documentation. The contractor must include state taxes in the proposed price; the government will not consider equitable-adjustment requests based on state tax requirements. The government reserves the right to award no contract depending on fund availability.