U.S. Department Of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, FD, 6303 Ivy Lane, Room 616, Greenbelt, Maryland 20770-1433

C -- A-E DESIGN OF NORTHERN PLAINS AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH LABORATORY, SIDNEY, MONTANA SOL 8278-3K15-98 DUE 021798 POC Marva L. Huggins, Contracting Officer, 301-344-0258 The Agricultural Research Service, USDA, plans to enter into a contract negotiation with an Architect-Engineering (A-E) firm located within a 600-mile radius of Sidney, Montana, for the design of additions to the Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, Sidney, Montana. The new laboratory/office facility will have approximately 27,780 square feet of space, which includes a containment facility, greenhouse facilities, and additional laboratory, office, conference/library space. The design includes all the services necessary to form a fully functioning facility. The estimated cost of construction is approximately $7 million. Evaluation of firms will be made on the following criteria, each element being of equal importance: A) Professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services. The selected A-E will have professional registration (for the architect and all engineers of record) in the State of Montana. If the A-E is registered in States other than the State of Montana, then they will be required to obtain registration in the State of Montana by reciprocity or by comity for purposes of making submission of plans to State and local officials for review; B) Specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required; i.e., experiences in energy conservation, design of research laboratories, bio-containment facilities, environmental rooms or growth chambers, and greenhouses; C) Capacity to accomplish the work in the required time; D) Past performance on contracts with Government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules; E) Location in the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the locality of the project. Firms within 600 mile radius of the project site will receive consideration for this criterion, based on their proximity to the site. Firms meeting the requirements are invited to submit SF-254's and SF-255's under this Solicitation No. 8278-3K15-98 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ARS, FD, FCB, Room 616, 6303 Ivy Lane, Greenbelt, Maryland, 20770-1433, by 3 p.m. EST, February 17, 1998. Any SF-254 and SF-255 Forms received after the exact time set for receipt will be handled in accordance with Far Regulations, Paragraph 15.208. This is not a Request for Proposal. (0015)

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