Building One Laboratory 3 Repairs, Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research, Florence, South Carolina

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides answers to questions received prior to the due date for proposals. The proposal due date has been extended to February 20, 2026, at 1 pm Central Time, to allow consideration of these answers.

• Liquidated Damages: The government has confirmed that no liquidated damages are included in this solicitation.
• Construction Duration & Notice to Proceed: The construction duration is 90 days after the notice to proceed. The government can issue the notice to proceed after preliminary submittals. If the required performance period exceeds 90 days, bidders should propose a longer period of performance. Extensions are permissible under Federal Acquisition Regulations, provided they allow for an achievable performance period.
• Plumbing Drain Line Rerouting: If a plumbing drain line runs underneath an existing fume hood and the fume hood cannot be moved, it is acceptable to reroute the drain line to avoid moving the fume hood.

This Q&A document clarifies key aspects of the solicitation, including liquidated damages, construction timelines, and specific site conditions. The proposal due date has been extended to February 20, 2026.

Statement of Work (SOW)

To renovate Building 1, Lab 3 at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center in Florence, SC.

• Demolition: Remove existing casework and counter-tops in Lab 3. Abate and dispose of asbestos-containing counter-tops according to regulations. Remove and cap gas and air lines above the ceiling.

• Painting: Prepare and paint all walls and door frames in Lab 3 with a minimum of two coats of Sherman Williams Promar 200 semi-gloss paint. Color to be selected by the owner.

• Exterior Door Weatherstripping: Replace weatherstripping, seals, and sweeps for the outside entrance door.

• Electrical: Replace existing electrical wall receptacles, light switches, and wall cover plates in Lab 3. Install ten new counter-top electrical receptacle fixtures.

• Plumbing: Replace all drain lines in Lab 3, connecting to the main sewage pipe behind Building 1. Tie in existing drain lines from Lab 4 to the new Lab 3 drain line. Install a new sink, faucet, and base cabinets along the SE wall, including three single faucets (hot/cold) and one distilled water faucet. Connect the existing milipore distilled water system to the DI water line.

• Casework and Counter-tops: Provide and install new solid hardwood casework, countertops (1" thick epoxy resin), sink, and drying rack along the SE, SW, and NW walls. New casework dimensions and configurations to match existing. New countertops to match existing dimensions (SE wall: approx. 216" L x 30" W; SW wall: approx. 199" L x 30" W, L-shaped; NW wall: approx. 180" L x 30" W). Wall-mounted cabinets on NW wall to be approx. 144" L x 16" W x 48" H, with sliding glass doors. Backsplash approx. 4" H. Drying rack approx. 60" W x 36" H. Filler piece above drying rack to ceiling approx. 60" W x 40" L. Sink approx. 24" x 15" with 8" depth, mounted under countertop. Countertop around sink to have drain grooves. Install solid, level countertop surface with epoxy sealant for a liquid-proof, chemical-resistant finish. Connect ceiling tile grid to filler piece. Install black rubber base molding around new casework. Provide casework color/stain samples.

• Location: Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center, 2611 West Lucas Street, Florence, SC 29501.

• Project completion shall not exceed 90 days from the date of notice to proceed.

• Contractor must be registered in SAM.gov prior to submitting a bid.

• Contractor must obtain all necessary permits and licenses.

• Contractor must notify and schedule utility outages at least 24 hours in advance.

• Maintain a safe work area and clearly mark danger areas.

• Secure openings from weather intrusion during demolition and installation.

• Remove all unused and demolition materials from the site.

• Contractor is responsible for any property damage incurred during construction.

• Work hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM, unless otherwise arranged.

• Utilize bio-based products where possible.

• Follow all Federal and State safety mandates.

• Contractor must provide a detailed itemized bid, including labor, materials, and equipment.

• Contractor must verify all dimensions and site conditions prior to beginning work.

• Contractor must keep work area clean and control debris.

• Contractor must manage the project and consult with the Government.

• Contractor must provide supervision of all work.

• Submittals (shop drawings, specifications) must be submitted to the Contracting Officer.

• Follow Covid federal and local protocols for site access.

• COR: Jerry Martin (Jerry.H.Martin@usda.gov)

• Administrative Officer (AO): Natasha Ducey (Natasha.Ducey@usda.gov)

• Contracting Officer (CO): TBD

• Contract Specialist (CS): TBD

• Technical Point of Contact (TPOC): TBD

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for the "Building One, Laboratory 3 Repairs, Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research" project located in Florence, South Carolina. The work involves demolition of existing casework and countertops, removal and capping of air and gas lines, painting, exterior door weatherstripping, replacement of electrical receptacles and light switches, installation of electrical fixtures, replacement of drain and plumbing fixtures, and installation of new casework, countertops, sink, and drying rack. A full description of the work is detailed in the Statement of Work attachment.

• Demolition of existing casework and countertops.

• Removal and capping of air and gas lines.

• Painting of wall and door frames.

• Exterior door weatherstripping.

• Replacement of electrical receptacles and light switches.

• Installation of electrical fixtures.

• Replacement of drain lines and plumbing fixtures.

• Installation of new casework, countertops, sink, and drying rack.

• Anticipated contract type: Firm Fixed Price.

• Period of Performance: Not explicitly stated, but implies a construction timeline.

• Estimated Value: Not stated.

• Proposals are due by February 18, 2026, at 1300 local time and must be submitted via email to erin.riffey@usda.gov with the subject line "RFQ 1232SA26Q0147".

• Offerors must hold prices for 60 calendar days from the offer due date.

• Evaluation will be based on Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) methodology.

• Technical evaluation will be conducted first on the lowest priced offer.

• Offerors must submit all required documents to be considered responsive.

• Failure to acknowledge amendments will result in non-responsiveness.

• A bid guarantee of not less than 20 percent of the proposed price (not to exceed $3,000,000) is required for offers of $35,000 or more.

• This competition is set aside for Total Small Business.

• Applicable NAICS code: 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction) with a small business size standard of $45.0 Million.

• Prospective offerors must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) at the time of solicitation closing.

• Attachment 1: Statement of Work

• Attachment 2: Wage Determination

• Offerors must provide pricing information on SF 1442, Block 17.

• The contract is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "General Decision Number" for wage determination, specifically for Building Construction Projects in Darlington and Florence Counties, South Carolina. It outlines the prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits for various labor classifications that must be paid on federal or federally funded construction projects covered by the Davis-Bacon Act.

• General Decision Number: SC20260005, effective 01/02/2026.
• Geographic Area: Darlington and Florence Counties, South Carolina.
• Project Type: Building Construction Projects (excluding single-family homes or apartments up to 4 stories).
• Labor Classifications & Rates: Includes specific hourly rates and fringe benefits for trades such as Electrician, Ironworker, Pipefitter, Bricklayer, Carpenter, Cement Mason, Drywall Hanger, HVAC Mechanic, Laborer (various types), Operator (various types), Painter, Plumber, Roofer, Truck Driver, and Welders.
• Special Conditions: Notes for specific trades, such as additional pay for working at heights for Electricians.
• Executive Order (EO) 13706 (Paid Sick Leave): Applies to contracts awarded on or after January 1, 2017, requiring contractors to provide paid sick leave.
• Executive Order (EO) 13658 (Minimum Wage): Applies to contracts awarded between January 1, 2015, and January 29, 2022 (if not extended), requiring a minimum hourly wage of $13.30 (or higher if this determination is greater) for covered workers in 2025.
• Wage Determination Appeals Process: Outlines procedures for appealing wage determinations.

Bidders must use these wage rates to accurately calculate labor costs for their proposals. Failure to comply with these prevailing wage requirements can lead to contract violations. The document also highlights the applicability of federal executive orders regarding paid sick leave and minimum wage, which will impact labor costs and employee benefits.

Other / Unclassified

This document provides information regarding a recommended site visit for the "Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research" opportunity. It details the location, date, and time of the site visit, as well as the registration process and requirements for attendees.

• Site Visit: Recommended for bidders to provide an offer. Scheduled for February 11, 2026, at 2:00 PM local time at 2611 West Lucas Street, Florence, South Carolina 29501.
• Registration: Contractors must register by emailing natasha.ducey@usda.gov (cc'ing erin.riffey@usda.gov) by February 9, 2026. The email subject line must be "1232SA26Q0147 Site Visit Registration". Registration requires attendee names and company information.
• Site Visit Requirements: Unregistered contractors will not be permitted. All attendees must sign in at the front desk and present government-issued identification.
• Questions: Questions must be submitted via email to erin.riffey@usda.gov by February 12th, at 10:00 AM Central Time. The solicitation name and number should be included in the email subject line.