Presolicitation Notice: Mechanical Electrical Plumbing A/E IDIQ

Quick Summary

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is issuing a presolicitation for a Total Small Business Set-Aside for a Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing (MEP) Architectural & Engineering (AE) Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract. This IDIQ will provide services for the maintenance, modification, and improvement of specialized facility mechanical and electrical systems at NIST's Gaithersburg, MD campus and other Montgomery County facilities. NIST intends to award up to three IDIQ contracts. The Request for Proposal Qualifications (RFP) is anticipated on or about April 30, 2026, with an anticipated award date of September 2026.

Scope of Work

This IDIQ will cover multi-disciplined AE services for both design and construction phases. It is not a design-build contract, though some construction management services may be required. Potential task orders will address:

• Facility Upgrades: Repair, replacement, modification, reconfiguration, and upgrades to NIST laboratories, offices, and industrial facilities.
• Utility Systems: Repair, replacement, modification, and reconfiguration of campus utility systems and supporting underground structures.
• Incidental Architectural Work: Including historical assessments, space planning, interior design, civil, structural, and building enclosure work.
• Design Phase Services: Surveying, investigations (e.g., hazardous material, topographical, geotechnical), studies, reports, basis of design documents, drawings, specifications, cost estimates, construction schedules, evaluation/feasibility studies, modeling/simulation, life cycle cost analysis, value engineering, and permit application preparation.
• Construction Phase Services: Material submittal reviews, Request for Information (RFI) and Change Order request response, construction schedule analysis, construction quality assurance and inspections, record drawing preparation, and commissioning support. Typical task order values will range from $75,000 to $5,000,000, with an aggregate total contract value of $9,800,000.

Contract Details

• Contract Type: Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), Firm Fixed-Price Task Orders.
• Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside.
• NAICS Code: 541330, Engineering Services ($25.5M size standard).
• Period of Performance: One base year and four (4) one-year ordering periods.
• Place of Performance: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, and other Montgomery County facilities.
• Key Personnel: Requires a Project Manager, Senior Mechanical Engineer, Senior Electrical Engineer, and Senior Plumbing/Piping Engineer. For Program of Requirements (POR) task orders, key personnel must have a minimum of Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Associate level certification.
• Data Rights: NIST will own all rights to CAD files, BIM Models, engineering calculations, and Facility Data developed.

Acquisition Schedule & Response

• RFP Release: On or about April 30, 2026.
• Anticipated Award: September 2026.
• Submission: Monitor www.Sam.gov for the RFP release. Interested vendors should click "Add Me to Interested Vendors" on the SAM.gov listing.
• Contact: Sasha Bradford, sasha.bradford@nist.gov.

Evaluation Factors

Award will be based on best value to the Government. Offerors whose qualifications represent the best value will be invited to Phase Two. Joint ventures will not be considered for award. The Contracting Officer will examine responsibility criteria per FAR 9.104-1 and definitive responsibility criteria. Task Orders will be competed among IDIQ awardees under "Fair Opportunity" as per FAR 16.507.