Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, under the Service Contract Act. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations on contracts subject to the Service Contract Act. Bidders must use this information to ensure compliance with labor cost requirements.

• Applicable Executive Orders: Details the applicability of Executive Order 14026 ($17.75/hour minimum for 2025) and Executive Order 13658 ($13.30/hour minimum for 2025) for contracts entered into or extended after January 30, 2022.
• Geographic Scope: Covers the District of Columbia, Maryland (Charles, Prince George's counties), and Virginia (Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fauquier, Loudoun, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, Stafford counties).
• Occupational Listings: Provides a comprehensive list of occupations with corresponding minimum hourly wage rates and required fringe benefits.
• Fringe Benefits: Specifies a Health & Welfare benefit of $5.55 per hour (or $5.09 per hour under EO 13706).
• Vacation and Holidays: Outlines paid vacation (2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 5 years, 4 weeks after 15 years) and a minimum of eleven paid holidays per year.
• Special Conditions: Includes notes on hazardous pay differentials (8% for high hazard, 4% for low hazard) and uniform allowances.

This wage determination is critical for bidders to accurately estimate labor costs for their proposals. It dictates the minimum wages and benefits that must be paid to employees performing work under the contract. Failure to comply with these rates can lead to contract violations and penalties. Bidders must ensure their proposed labor rates meet or exceed these requirements for all listed occupations.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for a contract to provide a qualified Superintendent for the operations, maintenance, and management of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center's (BARC) water system. The goal is to ensure the system operates in compliance with all applicable regulations and permits.

• Supervision and Management: Provide overall supervision, operations management, and direct responsibility for BARC's six (6) Water Wells, Raw Water System, Water Treatment Plant (WTP), and Water Distribution System (WDS).

• Compliance and Reporting: Ensure full compliance with Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) regulations and permits. This includes direct responsibility for reporting to MDE, sample collection and analysis coordination, and preparation of all required reports.

• Operations and Maintenance: Oversee all aspects of system operations, maintenance (preventive, proactive, and corrective), and upkeep.

• Technical Advisory: Serve as a mentor and technical advisor to BARC operators and personnel on water systems and treatment processes.

• Coordination: Coordinate with BARC's Compliance Officer, Utilities Management Unit Manager (UMUM), Contracting Officer Representative (COR), and any contracted laboratory services.

• Emergency Response: Be available within a 2-hour notice to respond to emergencies.

• Adherence to MDE permits and regulations (State Water Appropriation and Use Permit No. PG1990G012(04), Water System No.: MD0160001).

• Timely and accurate reporting to MDE and BARC management.

• Maintenance of systems and equipment in optimal condition.

• Development and implementation of a proactive preventive maintenance program.

• Successful coordination with laboratory services for sample analysis.

• Period: 90 days, with an option for one additional 90-day period, for a total potential term of 180 days.

• Place: Entire BARC facilities in Beltsville, MD, with major facilities including the Water Treatment Plant (Building 310) and the BARC Water Distribution System (Entire BARC Campus).

• Contractor Qualifications: Minimum 7 years as a contracting company performing similar water system contracts. Superintendent must have a minimum of 5 years as a licensed superintendent and 7 years of experience operating/managing water facilities.

• Safety: Compliance with ARS security management program. OSHA "competent person" presence required. All personnel must have 10-hour OSHA Construction Safety training; supervisors require 30-hour training.

• Quality Control: A comprehensive Quality Control (QC) Plan must be submitted with the quote, outlining inspection, corrective action, documentation, and personnel responsibilities.

• Site Visit: A site visit is scheduled for January 20th, 2026, at 10 AM at Facilities Services Building, Room 205, 426 Powder Mill Rd, Beltsville, MD 20705.

• Communication: All questions must be submitted in writing via email to the Contracting Officer. Direct contact with BARC personnel is prohibited during the advertising period.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks proposals for services at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, MD. The contract is anticipated to be Firm Fixed Price (FFP) with one 90-day base period and one 90-day option period, not to exceed 180 days total. The government intends to make one award.

• Services to be performed within the entire BARC facilities, with major facilities including the Water Treatment Plant (Building 310) and the BARC Water Distribution System across the campus.

• The product or services ARE required to meet a qualification requirement, detailed in the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS) or Statement of Work (SOW).

• FOB Destination is requested for all deliverables.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price (FFP)

• Period of Performance: One 90-day base period and one 90-day option period (total not to exceed 180 days).

• Submission Deadline: January 30, 2026, at 9:00 AM PT via email to Elizabeth.Calhoun@usda.gov. Subject line must include solicitation title and number.

• Questions Deadline: January 23, 2026, at 2:00 PM PT.

• Evaluation Criteria: Award will be made to the offeror representing the best value to the Government, based on the following criteria:

  • Evaluation Criteria I – Contractor’s Technical Qualifications: Requires a Technical Proposal or Statement of Qualification (SOQ) (max 25 pages excluding resumes/licenses) demonstrating qualifications for the company (min 7 years in business, financial stability) and proposed Superintendent (min 7 years experience) and Superintendent Services Deputy (min 5 years experience). Order of importance: Subfactor B, Subfactor C, Subfactor A. An unacceptable rating in any subfactor results in an overall Unacceptable technical rating.
  • Evaluation Criteria II – Contractor’s Past Performance: Requires submission of company and individual past similar experience, with federal facility experience weighted higher. See Attachment 3 for required references.
  • Evaluation Criteria III – Price: Evaluated price is the total of base and all options. Price is less important than technical qualifications but may be controlling if proposals are otherwise equal or if a technically superior proposal is unaffordable.

• Offerors must submit pricing for all items to be considered responsive.

• Quotes are valid for at least 30 days.

• Not explicitly stated, but standard FAR clauses related to small business utilization are included.

• Technical data and supporting documentation are provided as attachments.

• FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation of Commercial Items is NOT applicable; evaluation is based on FAR 12.203 and the criteria listed above.

• Includes numerous FAR and AGAR clauses and provisions, including specific requirements for DEI compliance (AGAR 452.222-71) and contract closeout procedures (AGAR 452.204-70).

• Agency protest procedures through the USDA Ombudsman Program are detailed.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the requirements for submitting past performance information as part of a proposal. It details how the government will assess an Offeror's demonstrated record of performance to determine confidence in their ability to meet user needs.

• Number of Projects: Offerors must provide two (2) to three (3) projects.
• Project Criteria: Projects should be similar in size, scope, and complexity to the requirements in the RFQ, and recent (within the last three years).
• Required Information per Project:
  • Project title
  • Description of project, scope, and responsibilities
  • Contract/Order/BPA number
  • Contract type and period of performance
  • Government Agency/Organization
  • COR’s name, address, and phone number
  • Contracting Officer’s name, address, and phone number or email address
  • Status (e.g., complete, ongoing)
  • Brief narrative on relevance to this effort
• Prime Contractor Requirement: At least two references must be from the Offeror's performance as the prime contractor.
• Point of Contact: Ensure contact information is current, as failure to do so may impact evaluation.

This attachment is critical for proposal preparation. Bidders must carefully select and document their past performance projects according to the specified criteria. The quality and relevance of the provided past performance information, along with the accuracy of contact details, will directly influence the government's confidence in the Offeror's ability to successfully perform the required effort.