Z1DA--598-19-112 Replace Underground 15kV Feeders and Transformers-NLR

Amendment / Modification

• The deadline for the receipt of offers has been extended.

• The original deadline was not specified, but the new deadline is April 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM Central Daylight Time (CDT).

• The reason for the extension is to allow more time for the government to work on responses to Requests for Information (RFIs).

• The "HOUR & DATE for Receipt of Offers" section is affected by this amendment.

• The deadline for submitting offers is extended to 04-17-2026 10:00 AM CDT.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "Request for Information (RFI) Form" intended for use by potential offerors to submit pre-proposal inquiries regarding an opportunity. All inquiries must be submitted via email to andrew.misfeldt@va.gov using an editable version of this form.

• Company Name and Offeror
• Name of the person submitting the question
• Phone Number
• Date of Proposal Inquiry
• Proposal Inquiry (with numbered fields for RFI #1, RFI #2, RFI #3, and additional as necessary)

This form provides the official mechanism for bidders to ask clarifying questions before submitting a proposal. It outlines the required information and submission method for these inquiries, ensuring that all questions are formally documented and directed to the appropriate contact.

Forms / Attachments / Pricing Sheets

This document contains electrical drawings and details for the "Replace Underground 15KV Feeder, Separable Connectors and Transformers" project at the Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center. It provides the technical specifications and layout for the electrical work.

• Electrical General Notes: Outlines standards, contractor responsibilities, and definitions for terms like "Provide" and "Demolish."
• Electrical Abbreviations: A comprehensive list of abbreviations used throughout the electrical drawings.
• Existing Conditions and Material Notes: Details on verifying existing conditions, conduit assumptions, and conductor types.
• Phasing Notes: Instructions regarding power switching, work hours, and coordination with government personnel for outages.
• Scope of Work Notes: Specifics on transformer replacement, manhole refurbishment, and installation of sectionalizers.
• Utility Plans (Sheets E401-E406): Detailed maps showing the location of feeder loops, manholes, and transformers, indicating which items are part of the current scope and which are for reference.
• Electrical Details (Sheet E501-E502): Provides details on sectionalizer duct banks, transformer pads, grounding, and electrical one-line diagrams.
• As-Built Information Schedule (Sheet E503): A table for the contractor to document conduit and conductor penetrations for as-built records.

These drawings are critical for bidders to understand the full scope of the electrical infrastructure work, including the specific locations and types of transformers and manholes to be replaced or refurbished. They detail the technical requirements, phasing of work, and coordination necessary for successful project execution. Bidders must review these documents to accurately estimate costs and timelines.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a General Decision Number (GDN) for wage determination, specifically AR20250032, effective 09/19/2025. It pertains to Building Construction Projects in Pulaski County, Arkansas, excluding single-family homes and apartments up to four stories. The document outlines prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits for various construction trades.

It also details the applicability of Executive Orders 14026 and 13658 regarding minimum wage rates for federal contractors, specifying different minimums based on contract award and renewal dates. Information on paid sick leave under Executive Order 13706 is also included.

This document is crucial for bidders on federal construction projects in Pulaski County, Arkansas. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits that must be paid to laborers and mechanics employed on covered construction work. Bidders must use this information to accurately estimate labor costs and ensure compliance with federal labor laws, including minimum wage and paid sick leave requirements. Failure to comply can lead to penalties. The document also provides guidance on how to handle unlisted classifications and the process for appealing wage determinations.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Project #598-19-112, "Replace Underground 15kV Feeders and Transformers-NLR," located in Little Rock, AR. The project involves furnishing all labor, tools, materials, equipment, and supervision necessary for the replacement of underground 15kV feeders and transformers.

• Replacement of underground 15kV feeders and transformers.

• Adherence to all OSHA Construction Standards, Fire and Life Safety Issues, and Security Measures.

• Provision of a competent, 30-hour OSHA certified superintendent dedicated 100% to the project.

• Compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations regarding safety and health.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price.

• Estimated Magnitude: Between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000.

• Period of Performance: Begin performance within 10 calendar days after receiving notice to proceed and complete within the time specified in the award. All punch list items must be completed within this period.

• Proposals are due by 10:00 AM CDT on April 2, 2026.

• A site visit will be held on March 12, 2026, at 11 AM.

• Questions (RFIs) must be submitted in writing via email no later than noon CT 14 calendar days prior to the proposal due date.

• Proposals will be evaluated based on a "Best Value" determination, considering Factor 1 (Approach – Schedule – Quality Management), Factor 2 (Professional Qualifications & Specialized Experience), Factor 3 (Past Performance), and Factor 4 (Price). Factors 1, 2, and 3 are equal in importance and combined are approximately equal in importance to Factor 4 (Price).

• This procurement is a total Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside.

• Offerors must be registered and certified as an SDVOSB in the SBA Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) site (https://dsbs.sba.gov/search/).

• Joint Venture Agreements must be submitted with the proposal.

• Attachments include various Exhibits (A-F), Electrical Drawings, Specifications, and the Statement of Work (SOW).

• Offerors must submit a Bid Bond. The bid guarantee amount is 20% of the bid price or $3M, whichever is less.

Statement of Work (SOW)

To improve the electrical infrastructure at the Eugene J. Towbin (EJT) Healthcare Center in North Little Rock, AR, by addressing capacity deficiencies, aged equipment, and enhancing reliability and code compliance.

• Installation of four (4) new sectionalizer cabinets in manholes.

• Replacement of existing medium-voltage cables splices in kind.

• One-for-one replacement of 28 existing utility-grade transformers.

• Installation of PME monitoring for new transformers.

• Structural repairs to manholes, including concrete crack and spall repairs, and mortar joint repointing.

• Construction of new equipment pads at transformer locations.

• Installation of bollards at new sectionalizer and transformer locations.

• Project Area: Eugene J Towbin Healthcare Center, North Little Rock, AR.

• Performance Period: Three hundred sixty-five (365) calendar days after issuance of the Notice to Proceed.

• Work hours for power disconnection are limited to Saturdays 7 AM to Sundays 7 PM.

• Mission-critical buildings will have temporary power provided by generators during outages.

• Phased replacement of transformers and splices to minimize outages, coordinated with the COR.

• Contractor must comply with VA security management program and obtain VA police permission.

• No photography of VA premises without written permission.

• Contractor will not have access to VA Desktop computers or protected Patient Health Information (PHI).

• Contractor shall provide maintenance and operating manuals, as-built drawings, and conduct factory training for VA personnel.

• Weekly progress meetings with the COR and other stakeholders.

• Contractor shall warrant work against faulty workmanship for one year from Government acceptance.

• Final cleanup and disposal of debris and containers.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Facility Standards for the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System, dated April 2020. It specifies standards for engineering, furnishing, installation, maintenance, and upkeep of equipment, utilities, and appliances.

• General Standards: Defines the scope of M&O work and notes that the document lists recurring issues needing correction in future projects.
• Products: Details specific requirements for building products, including ceiling tiles, locks and hardware, door closers, countertops, corner guards, interior and exterior doors, roofing, bathroom partitions, fire caulk, paint, and sheetrock.
• Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, Special Systems, Communications & Data, Signs & Wayfinding: These sections specify standards and preferred items for various systems and infrastructure.
• Spares: Outlines typical extra stock quantities for various work categories.
• Appendix A: Preferred Items: Lists preferred manufacturers and product models for electrical equipment, lighting, wiring devices, switchgear, panelboards, breakers, MV cable, and more.
• Appendix B: Preferred Items: Details preferred hardware and building products.

This document is crucial for bidders as it defines the specific materials, products, and standards that must be adhered to for any maintenance, repair, or construction work within the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System. It serves as a technical specification for compliance and procurement, ensuring consistency and quality across the facility. Bidders must familiarize themselves with these standards to accurately estimate costs and propose compliant solutions.

Specifications

This document contains specifications for the "Replace Underground 15kV Feeder Separable Connectors and Transformers" project at the Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center in North Little Rock, AR. The specifications cover a wide range of technical requirements for the project, including:

• General Requirements: Safety, general intentions, specifications and drawings for contractors, construction security, operations and storage areas, and alterations.

• Divisions: The document is organized into various divisions covering special sections, general requirements, existing conditions, concrete, masonry, thermal and moisture protection, electrical installations (including medium-voltage cables, grounding, coordination studies, transformers, and fusible interrupter switches), earthwork, concrete repair, joint sealants, construction waste management, sustainable construction, commissioning, site surveys, demolition, cast-in-place concrete, and epoxy injection.

• Electrical Systems: Detailed specifications for medium-voltage cables, grounding and bonding, transformers, fusible interrupter switches, and commissioning of electrical systems.

• Safety and Environmental Controls: Extensive requirements for safety, including accident prevention plans, hazard analyses, fire safety, and protection of environmental resources. It also details construction waste management and temporary environmental controls.

• Commissioning: Requirements for the commissioning process of electrical systems, including roles and responsibilities, testing procedures, and documentation.

• Testing and Quality Control: Specifications for testing laboratories, concrete mix designs, concrete repair materials, joint sealants, and quality control procedures.

• Electrical Infrastructure: Detailed requirements for medium-voltage cables, transformers, switchgear, and grounding systems.

• Safety and Environmental Compliance: Strict adherence to safety protocols, including accident prevention, hazard analysis, and environmental protection measures.

• Commissioning and Testing: Comprehensive procedures for commissioning electrical systems and testing materials to ensure compliance and proper function.

• Materials and Installation: Specific requirements for materials, including concrete, sealants, and electrical components, as well as detailed installation procedures.

• Waste Management: Requirements for construction waste diversion and disposal.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document package contains bid documents for the "Replace Underground 15kV Feeder Separable Connectors and Transformers" project at the Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center in North Little Rock, AR. The project, VA Project No. 598-19-112, involves replacing underground 15kV feeders, separable connectors, and transformers.

• Replacement of underground 15kV feeders, separable connectors, and transformers.

• Installation of new sectionalizers with associated concrete pads and duct banks.

• Refurbishment of existing manholes, including replacement of cable splices and structural repairs.

• New PME (Power Monitoring Equipment) devices to be provided at each transformer.

• All existing conduits and conductors are to remain.

• Grounding to be provided as indicated in specifications for all transformers and manholes.

• Specific transformer requirements include: three (3) two-position under-oil switches, Envirotemp FR3 fluid, copper windings, 200A dead-front load break wells & inserts, and surge arrestors.

• Manhole refurbishment includes replacing cable splices (straight, T's, L's, and X's) in kind and structural refurbishment.

• The project is identified as VA Project No. 598-19-112.

• The issue date for these bid documents is July 31, 2025.

• The documents provided are "BID DOCUMENTS" and include various drawings detailing the scope of work, electrical details, and site plans.

• Specific submission instructions and evaluation criteria are not detailed within this summary but would be found in the full solicitation package.

• No specific set-aside or eligibility requirements are detailed in the provided document excerpts.

• The project name was revised to reflect an approved scope change.

• Several manholes and transformers are marked with an asterisk (*) indicating they are not included in the current scope of work and are shown for reference only.

• Phasing plans and loop information are detailed across multiple enlarged plan sheets (E401-E406).

• Specific details for sectionalizer pads, pipe bollards, and concrete repairs are provided in structural and electrical detail drawings.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Exhibit E, a Surety Form, which must be completed by the surety and submitted by the Offeror as part of the Technical Proposal Package. It is intended to gather information about the Offeror's bonding capabilities and history.

• Contractor Information: Fields for Contractor Name, Address, Telephone, and Email.
• Surety Information: Fields for Surety Name, Address, Point of Contact (POC), Title, Telephone, and Email.
• Bonding History: Questions regarding how long the surety has provided bonding for the contractor, the contractor's rating, bonding limit for a single project, and aggregate bonding amount.
• Past Performance / Issues: Questions to determine if the surety has ever had to complete a project for the contractor, if liability insurance has been refused, if there have been complaints of non-payment by subcontractors/suppliers, and if the surety has had to pay subcontractors/suppliers.

Offerors must ensure this form is completed accurately by their surety and submitted with their technical proposal. The information provided in this form will likely be used to assess the Offeror's financial stability and capacity to perform the contract, which is a critical component of the technical proposal evaluation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Exhibit D, a Contractor Evaluation Form focused on Construction Safety. It requires bidders to provide specific safety-related data and documentation as part of their submission.

• Company Information: Name, Address, Telephone, Fax, Email, Contact Person.
• OSHA 300 Forms Data: Bidders must report man-hours, number of cases involving days away from work/restricted activity, and the Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) Rate for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
• OSHA Violations: Number of serious, willful, or repeat violations from OSHA within the last 3 years, with explanations required for any violations.
• Required Attachments: Copies of OSHA 300 and 300a Forms.
• Safety Program Administration: Identification of who administers the company's Safety and Health Program.
• Insurance Experience Modification Rate (EMR): Current EMR rate obtained from the insurance carrier. If the EMR is greater than 1.0, a written explanation from the insurance carrier is required, detailing the reasons and the anticipated date for reduction to 1.0 or below.

This form is critical for bidders to complete accurately and submit with their proposals. It serves as a key component of the contractor evaluation process, specifically assessing the bidder's commitment to and history of construction safety. Failure to provide complete and accurate information, including the required OSHA forms and EMR details, may impact the evaluation and selection of the offeror.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Exhibit C, a "Subcontractor Information and Consent Form." Its purpose is to obtain consent from potential subcontractors and teaming partners for the release of their past performance information to the prime contractor during the source selection process. The government requires this consent to assess the relevancy of past performance.

• Subcontractor/Teaming Partner Information: Requires the name, telephone, address, and DUNS/Cage Code of the firm acting as a subcontractor or teaming partner.
• Prime Contractor Information: Requires the name, telephone, address, and DUNS/Cage Code of the prime contractor submitting the proposal.
• Consent Statement: A declaration by the subcontractor/teaming partner granting permission to discuss their past and present performance information with the prime contractor.
• Reference List: A section for the subcontractor/teaming partner to provide details on past contracts, including contract number and title, a description of their role and work performed, and a reference point of contact (POC) with email and phone number.

Prime contractors responding to RFP No. 36C25626R0023 are required to submit this form, completed by their major subcontractors and teaming partners, as part of their proposal's past performance volume. This form is crucial for enabling the government to assess the past performance of proposed subcontractors and teaming partners, which is an important factor in source selection.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the Past and Present Performance Questionnaire, which is to be completed by prospective offerors and their references. It serves as a tool for the government to gather information on a contractor's past performance, which is a key evaluation factor in contract awards.

• Contractor Information: To be completed by the offeror, including company name, contact details, and information about the specific contract being referenced (project title, period of performance, contract number, dollar value, description of work, and the contractor's role).
• Respondent Information: To be completed by the reference contact, including company name, contact details.
• Performance Information: A rating scale (1-6) from Unsatisfactory to Exceptional, used by the reference contact to evaluate the contractor's performance on specific criteria such as management, personnel, quality control, schedule adherence, responsiveness, and overall performance. Narrative explanations are required for ratings of 1 or 2.
• Specific Questions: Includes questions about cure/show cause notices, willingness to award another contract, and CPARS rating.
• Remarks Section: A free-form area for detailed explanations.

Bidders must ensure their references complete and submit this questionnaire accurately and by the specified deadline. The information provided by references directly impacts the evaluation of the bidder's past performance. Bidders should also complete their section of the form accurately. The questionnaire is to be submitted to Andrew Misfeldt at Andrew.misfeldt@va.gov.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, titled "EXHIBIT A PERFORMANCE RELEVANCY SURVEY," is a form for offerors to provide information about their past performance on relevant projects. This information will be considered by the government during the evaluation of proposals.

Part 1. Contract References:

• Offerors must provide details for up to five completed projects (within 5 years of solicitation issue date).
• Required information includes:
  • Project/Contract Title
  • Contract Number/Task Order Number
  • Location
  • Description of Effort (Prime or Subcontractor)
  • Original and Current/Completed Contract Value
  • Completion Status (On time, delays, liquidated damages)
  • Start and End Dates
  • CPARS availability
  • Detailed description of work performed and its relevance (Very Relevant, Relevant, Somewhat Relevant).
  • Point of Contact for the reference.
• Offerors are responsible for following up with references to ensure questionnaires are submitted before the solicitation closes.

Part 2. Not Related to Part 1:

• Requires information on liquidated damages assessed in the last five years (frequency, circumstances, severity).
• Encourages inclusion of problems encountered on relevant projects and corrective actions taken.
• Requests explanations for any marginal CPARS ratings.
• Asks for information on other past performance considerations within the last five years, including:
  • Professional/Industry awards
  • Letters of appreciation, recognition, or commendations
  • Unique skills and accomplishments
  • Technical areas considered uniquely relevant to this solicitation, including specific elements of work performed by the offeror and major subcontractors.

This form is critical for bidders to demonstrate their past performance and capability to meet the requirements of the solicitation. Completing this survey accurately and thoroughly, and providing detailed descriptions of relevant work, will be essential for a successful proposal. Bidders must ensure they gather all necessary information from their references and submit it by the specified deadline.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a pre-solicitation notice for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, for Project # 598-19-112: Replace Underground 15kV Feeders and Transformers at the North Little Rock AR VA Medical Center. The project requires the contractor to provide all labor, materials, tools, equipment, expertise, administration, supervision, and transportation necessary to perform the work as described in the project Scope of Work, Drawings, and Specifications.

• Replacement of underground 15kV feeders and transformers.

• Work includes general construction, demolition, architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, medical gas, radiation protection, fire protection, and telecommunication items as required by construction documents.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price construction contract.

• Period of Performance: 365 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed.

• Estimated Value: Between $5,000,000.00 and $10,000,000.00.

• Solicitation documents (RFP, specifications, drawings) will be available electronically on or about February 25, 2026.

• Hard copies will not be mailed.

• Offerors are responsible for obtaining amendments.

• Proposal acceptance period: 90 days.

• A bid bond must be submitted with the proposal.

• Performance and Payment bonds will be required from the awardee.

• This opportunity is exclusively available to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB).

• It is a 100% SDVOSB Set-Aside, solicited pursuant to Public Law 109-461.

• At least 15% of contract performance cost for personnel must be spent on the concern's employees or other eligible SDVOSB concerns.

• Offerors must be registered with SBA VetCert (Veteran Small Business Certification) and the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Offerors must be registered with VetCert for the assigned NAICS code (238210).

• Small business size standard: $19 million in average annual receipts for the past three years.

• This is a Pre-Solicitation Notice; questions will only be accepted after the solicitation is published.

• Interested parties are strongly encouraged to register for notification of actions, including solicitation posting and amendments.