Building 154 Cooling Tower Media Replacement

This federal solicitation (No. 1232SA26R0048) is a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for the Building 154 Cooling Tower Media Replacement project in Ames, Iowa. Set aside entirely for small businesses under NAICS code 236220, the project's estimated magnitude is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000. The scope of work involves replacing PVC fill material in six two-cell cooling towers, replacing paneling and metalwork, repairing the fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) inner fan cylinder on one cell, and performing mechanical preventative maintenance at the MWA National Animal Disease Center. Contractors must register in the System for Award Management (SAM) and submit bids for a firm-fixed-price contract. The performance period is 180 calendar days from the notice to proceed. A mandatory site visit is scheduled for July 17, 2026, requiring pre-registration by July 16, 2026. Only U.S. citizens with REAL ID are permitted due to security protocols. The government will evaluate proposals using the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection process. Evaluation criteria include price, technical acceptability (requiring a site-specific approach and two past performance project references), and past performance history. Questions regarding the solicitation must be submitted by July 20, 2026, and proposals are due by July 30, 2026. The solicitation incorporates various standard FAR and AGAR clauses, including strict workforce integrity, personal identity verification, and anti-discrimination/DEI certification requirements.

This Statement of Work from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlines requirements for the cooling tower media replacement project at Building 154 of the National Centers for Animal Health in Ames, Iowa. The contractor must supply all labor, equipment, and materials to replace PVC fill and drift eliminators across six, two-cell cooling towers. Additional tasks include replacing casing panels and support structures with stainless steel, repairing a fiberglass reinforced polymer inner fan cylinder, and performing comprehensive mechanical preventative maintenance on each tower. To maintain facility operations, the contractor must phase the work, servicing only one tower at a time. The project has a strict timeline of 180 days from the Notice to Proceed. All installation crews must possess a minimum of ten years of experience as a Marley Factory Authorized Service entity and have attended Marley’s School of Cool. Key administrative deliverables—including a safety policy, quality control plan, construction plan, technical submittals, and a Lockout/Tagout program—must be submitted electronically within ten days of contract award. The contractor is also responsible for waste disposal, recycling documentation, and providing temporary facilities, including employee toilets. Upon completion, the contractor must provide operational test reports, fan alignment reports, and a comprehensive closeout warranty binder, including a standard one-year construction warranty and a 12-month manufacturer warranty on the fill material.

This technical specification document outlines the requirements for procuring and installing cooling tower components, specifically focusing on fill material and drift eliminators for crossflow and counterflow cooling towers. The first section details the specifications for the Marley MX75 film-type fill (or approved equal). It mandates 15-mil thick PVC construction, self-spacing sheets on 0.75-inch centers, and a flame spread rating under 25 per ASTM E-84. The fill must provide at least 51 square feet of wetted heat transfer surface per cubic foot. Suppliers are responsible for determining the total fill volume, designing structural tubing supports suspended at least 2 inches above the cold water basin, ensuring uniform water distribution, and guaranteeing thermal performance using the CTI analysis method. The second section defines specifications for Marley XCEL TU cellular-type drift eliminators (or approved equal). These must be thermoformed from 17-mil PVC, feature a triple-pass configuration, and limit drift losses to a maximum of 0.005% of the design flow rate (2,400 gpm per cell) under CTI ATC-140 testing. Additionally, the eliminators must be FM approved, support spans up to 72 inches with minimal deflection, and meet specific dimensional and discharge angle requirements.

This technical drawing document outlines a federal project by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for the "Bldg 154 Cooling Tower Media Replacement" at the National Centers for Animal Health (NCAH) in Ames, Iowa. The project involves replacing the cooling tower media and addressing structural components within the facility's cooling infrastructure. The document details two primary Marley cooling tower systems: the North Cooling Towers (Model NC-800750, Serial NC8310H2BM-04) containing cells A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, and C2, and the South Cooling Towers (Model NC-819071, Serial NC8311BM-07). In addition to mapping out cell configurations, the drawings and photographic references document specific damage and maintenance needs. This includes identifying missing sections of the fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) inner fan cylinder on North Tower Cell B2, as well as capturing internal cell conditions and the existing state of the fill media. This document serves as a critical visual reference and site overview for contractors preparing bids to perform the media replacement and associated repairs.

This federal wage determination document outlines the prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits required under the Service Contract Act (SCA) for various labor classifications. It lists specific hourly wage rates for job categories such as administrative support, automotive service, food preparation, health occupations, and heavy equipment operation. Additionally, the document details mandated fringe benefits, including minimum health and welfare payments (structured at different rates depending on whether an employer has grandfathered plans), paid vacation time based on years of service, and a minimum of twelve paid federal holidays. It also provides instructions on requesting wage determinations for unlisted classifications through the conformance process. This document serves as a regulatory standard to ensure compliance with federal compensation laws for contracted service personnel.