B302 CHP Electrical Preventative Maintenance Service
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting market research through a Sources Sought notice for Electrical Preventative Maintenance Service for the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system at the Central Plant (Building 302) in Gaithersburg, MD. This RFI aims to identify qualified businesses, including small businesses, capable of providing high and low voltage electrical equipment maintenance, repair, and testing. Responses are due June 17, 2026.
Scope of Work
NIST requires preventative maintenance, cleaning, inspection, repair, and testing services for existing high and low voltage electrical equipment within the CHP system. This includes high voltage switchgear (SG-4001), WLI, low voltage switchboard, liquid and dry type transformers, motor control center (MCC-7), electrical panel boards, batteries, and battery chargers. Services must adhere to manufacturer recommendations and the latest ANSI/NETA MTS standards, including IR scanning and potential Ultrasound for medium voltage equipment. Detailed electrical symbols, abbreviations, and maintenance tasks for the 4160 Volt Switchgear are provided in attachments.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought / Request for Information
- Anticipated Period of Performance: October 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
- Work Schedule: Services requiring electrical outage must be performed during scheduled CHP system shutdowns (Fall 2026 preferred, or Spring 2027), specifically during a 36-hour complete CHP system shutdown. Non-outage work can be performed during normal business hours.
- Response Due: June 17, 2026, 01:00 PM EST
- Published: June 8, 2026
Special Requirements & Qualifications
The testing organization must be an independent, third-party entity with NETA accreditation. Personnel, particularly crew leaders, must be certified in accordance with ANSI/NETA ETT-2022 (Level III or higher). Bidders must adhere to strict safety protocols, including appropriate PPE, lockout/tagout procedures, and incident reporting. Coordination with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) is essential during outages. Deliverables include Job Hazard Analyses, NETA certifications, work schedules, and a comprehensive final report.
Submission & Information Requested
Respondents should submit information to brandon.butler@nist.gov in Microsoft Word or PDF format, with a 10-page limit. Requested information includes:
- Company details, Unique Entity ID, and SAM.gov registration confirmation.
- Validation of company size status under NAICS 54519 (or 238210 as mentioned in the RFI header).
- Suggestions for improving the draft SOW and evaluation factors.
- Optional commercial pricing and service estimates.
- Details on the company's safety program and compliance with regulations.
- Description of capability to complete SOW tasks.
- For small businesses, confirmation of FAR 52.219-14 compliance.
- Identification of alternative NAICS codes or unduly restrictive aspects.
Eligibility / Set-Aside
NIST is conducting market research to assess the availability and capability of small businesses and other than small businesses. The agency is evaluating the market for potential small business set-asides. Respondents are encouraged to indicate their small business status.