Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
Jennifer Brown (COW)
Department of Health and Human Services · Indian Health Service · Sol. 75H70126Q00036
Due in 21 daysSmall business
AI summary Beta
The Indian Health Service (IHS) wants a contractor to install a replacement septic system for one existing private home in Ridgefield, Clark County, Washington. This is a small construction job set aside for small businesses, with an estimated value of $25,000 to $100,000 and 30 calendar days to finish once work is ordered. Quotes are due by email on October 30, 2026 at 2:00 pm CDT, and price is the deciding factor.
Watch out for
- Permit responsibility is unclear. The scope of work says the contractor pays for all County permits and fees, but the technical specifications say the Government will get the site approvals and sewage disposal permits, so price this carefully and ask the Contracting Officer.
All County permits and fees are the responsibility of the Contractor.
- Price-only competition. Award goes on price alone, so the lowest compliant quote wins and margins may be thin on a small job.
Price is the discriminating factor for award among offers.
- Contractor takes site risk with no formal site visit. No site visit is planned, but you are responsible for investigating the site and locating utilities, so any surprises may come out of your price.
Further investigation of the site is the responsibility of the Contractor.
- Weather-dependent 30-day schedule. Work can only start after five continuous dry days and must finish within 30 days of the Notice to Proceed, which is hard in the Pacific Northwest fall.
A minimum of five days of continuous dry weather conditions is required prior commencing work, unless explicitly waived by the COR.
- Davis-Bacon paperwork. Prime and subcontractor payrolls must be submitted every week, which adds admin work on a short, small job.
The prime contractor is responsible for the correct submission of his and subcontractor payrolls.
- Contractor must clear vegetation. Brush and small trees on the drainfield are the contractor's job and are included in the price, though the homeowner removes non-vegetative debris.
Vegetative clearing is the responsibility of the Contractor, including brush and small-diameter trees.
- Full-time superintendent on site. A project superintendent must be on site whenever any work is going on, which is a staffing cost on a small job.
The contractor shall ensure that the Project Superintendent is on site at all times work is being performed
- Document inconsistency on county. The scope of work calls the home Clark County in most places but says it is under Cowlitz County's jurisdiction in one place, so confirm which County rules apply.
under the jurisdiction of Cowlitz County
Read from the notice and 8 attachments. 1 not read in full.
- A11 Pre-Solicitation SAM Notice.pdf
- B01 75H70126Q00036.pdf
- 3-Technical Specifications combined.pdf
- 1-Statement of Work.docx
- 2-DESIGN 8May2026.pdf
- 6-Measurement and Payment.pdf
- 5-Site Photos.pdf
- 7-US DOL WD WA20260099 Dated 5-18-2026.pdf
- 4-Aerial BrownJ.jpg: .jpg files aren't read yet
Full brief
What they want
- Install about 20 linear feet of 4-inch PVC solid sewer pipe and one underground two-way cleanout
- Install a 1,500-gallon concrete two-compartment septic tank with effluent filter
- Install a 1,050-gallon concrete dosing tank with one dosing effluent pump, pump vault and controls (electrical work by a Washington-licensed electrician)
- Install a subsurface drip drainfield (about 1,525 sq ft) with auto-flush headworks, about 200 ft of 2-inch supply and return line and a traffic-rated sleeve under the driveway
- Clear and grub the drainfield area of brush and small trees
- Pump out and dispose of the existing septic tank offsite
- Mobilize and demobilize, restore and seed disturbed areas, and submit product info, warranties and swing-tie record measurements
- Contract type
- Firm-fixed-price construction contract, awarded through a Request for Quotes (FAR Parts 13 and 36) on SF 1442
- Period of performance
- Start within 10 calendar days of the Notice to Proceed and finish within 30 calendar days of the Notice to Proceed; no option periods stated
- Place of performance
- 1217 N 57th Ct, Ridgefield, WA 98642 (Clark County), a private home on fee land
- Estimated value
- Between $25,000 and $100,000
- How they'll choose
- Price-only: lowest total firm fixed price among quotes that follow the terms and conditions and show required certifications
- Offers due
- October 30, 2026 at 2:00 pm CDT (SAM.gov lists 2026-10-30 14:00 at -05:00), unless changed by amendment
- How to submit
- Email a PDF quote to the Contracting Officer, Robert Miller (Robert.Miller2@ihs.gov)
What they'll judge offers on
- Total firm fixed price (price is the discriminating factor)
- Compliance with the quote requirements in Section L (completed SF 1442 blocks 14-20c, completed price schedule, amendment acknowledgments)
- Having the required certifications to do the work (Clark County certified septic installer)
- Price must be fair and reasonable
What to include when you submit
- Complete SF 1442 blocks 14 through 20c and acknowledge every amendment in Block 19
- Fill out the Section B price schedule in full (7 line items plus total firm fixed price)
- Send written questions only to the Contracting Officer, at least 7 days before the due date, with firm name, address, phone and your name and position
- Do not contact the COR or other government staff directly
- Include proof you are a Clark County certified septic installer
- Registered in SAM (System for Award Management) before award
- No bid guarantee and no payment or performance bonds are required
- Bidders also should check SAM.gov for amendments because they will change the terms
You must have
- Must be a small business; this is a total small business set-aside under NAICS 237110 (size standard $45 million average annual revenue)
The offeror must be a Small Business to be eligible for award.
- Must be a Clark County certified septic installer
Contractors need to be Clark County certified septic installers.
- Electrical work must be done by an electrician licensed in Washington State
All electrical work is the responsibility of the Contractor and must be completed by an Electrician licensed in Washington State.
- Active SAM registration is required to be considered for award
Registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) database is mandatory
- Minimum insurance: workers' compensation with at least $100,000 employer's liability, $500,000 per occurrence general liability, and automobile liability
Bodily injury liability insurance coverage written on the comprehensive form of a policy of at least $500,000 per
- Must pay Davis-Bacon (Department of Labor wage determination WA20260099) wages and submit weekly certified payrolls
Wage Determination wages shall be paid for all applicable labor categories for
Not in the notice text
- Exact system layout, pipe routes and sizes are in the design drawings (2-DESIGN 8May2026.pdf), which came through as images with almost no readable text
- The aerial photo (4-Aerial BrownJ.jpg) was not read
- Who is responsible for county permits and site approvals (the scope of work and technical specifications disagree)
- Whether the Indian Preference clauses listed in Section I (FAR 52.226-1 and HHSAR 352.226-1) will affect award
- Whether an amendment will move the due date, since the pre-solicitation said dates may change
- Date the Notice to Proceed will be issued
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 30, 2026, 7:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Oct 1, 2026
- Notice type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- Solicitation
- 75H70126Q00036
- Agency
- Department of Health and Human Services · Indian Health Service
- Office
- Div of Engineering SVCS - Seattle
- Set-aside
- Small Business Set Aside - Total
- NAICS
- 237110
- Product/service code
- Y1NZ
- Business type
- Energy, fuel & utilities
- Place of performance
- Ridgefield, WA
- Contracting contact
- Robert S. Millerrobert.miller2@ihs.gov2147678589
- Versions
- 2 (amended since first posted)
Full notice text from SAM.gov
Jennifer Brown (COW)
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