U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, FD, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mail Stop 5124, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-5100

Y -- CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FACILITIES AT THE NORTHERN PLAINS AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH LABORATORY, SIDNEY, MONTANA SOL 8325-3K15-00 DUE 120999 POC Marva L. Huggins, Contracting Officer, 301-504-1165, FAX 301-504-1187 Presolicitation Notice and Sources Sought to determine small business interest and capability in bidding on the construction of new facilities for the Northern Plains Agricultural Research Center located in Sidney, Montana. The Government intends to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for construction of a 21,800 square foot laboratory/office building utilizing a pre-engineered building frame and metal roof panel system. A 6,975 square foot biocontainment building with attached head house will be constructed adjacent to the lab/office building. The work includes site/civil work and structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and fire protections systems as required. Features of the biocontainment building include special structural concrete work, direct digital controls with room pressurization requirements, HEPA filtration systems, a liquid decontamination system, a contained glass house, and specialty finishes and sealing requirements. The estimated cost range for the project is between $5,000,000 and $8,000,000. The time for completion of construction is 460 calendar days or 15 months after Notice-to-Proceed is issued. A pre-proposal conference will be scheduled midway through the bid/offer phase. The design is in metric. Small business firms must have a minimum of 5 years experience in related work activities and similar size construction projects. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code for this acquisition is 1542. Solicitation may be set aside for small business concerns. Firms meeting the small business requirements are invited to submit a one-page letter citing interest, bonding capability, and experience in limilar size and/or type of work under Solicitation No. 8325-3K15-00 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ARS, FD, FCB, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mail Stop 5124, Beltsville, MD 20705-5124, by 3 p.m. EST, December 9, 1999. Information must include project and title, dollar amount, date completed, name and telephone number of contracting officer, contract number, and whether you were the prime or a subcontractor. Sets of plans and specifications will be available for a nonrefundable charge -- fee to be determined. Anticipate release of solicitation on or about December 20, 1999, with proposals due on or about January 20, 2000. Proposals will be requested in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation. No formal bid opening will be conducted. Offers will be evaluated on the basis of technical and cost as specified in the solicitation. The Government reserves the right to award without discussions. This is NOT a request for proposal. Posted 11/23/99 (W-SN403078). (0327)

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