Solicitation
657-26-602 Create Observation Unit JC
Department of Veterans Affairs
AI summaryOnly service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) can bid on solicitation 36C25526R0162, a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) construction project to create a 3-bed observation unit in the emergency department at the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The work takes 550 calendar days, with performance and payment bonds required. Award goes to the lowest price among technically acceptable offers. The response due date is November 6, 2026, 2:00 PM Central. More in the summary
A newer version of this notice was posted Oct 26, 2026. See the latest version.
AI summary Beta
Summary of the version posted Oct 23, 2026. The notice was amended Oct 26, 2026. Check what else changed on SAM.gov. This summary may miss requirements: 1 of 12 attachments weren't read (SITE VISIT SIGN-IN SHEET 657-26-602JC.pdf). Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
Only service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) can bid on solicitation 36C25526R0162, a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) construction project to create a 3-bed observation unit in the emergency department at the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The work takes 550 calendar days, with performance and payment bonds required. Award goes to the lowest price among technically acceptable offers. The response due date is November 6, 2026, 2:00 PM Central.
Who can bid (4)
- Must be a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB); the project is a set-aside for these firms
- Contractors and joint ventures must be registered in SAM (System for Award Management) and VetBiz (the VA's veteran business registry) by the response due date
- Bonding: an original bid bond with the offer, and performance and payment bonds for 100% of the contract price after award
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- Must have filed the VETS-4212 report (annual veterans employment report) for the preceding fiscal year
How to submit: Digital proposal; physical copies of proposals are not accepted. The original bid bond goes to the contracting office, 3450 S. 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kansas 66048. What to include is under Full summary below. Check the solicitation's instructions on SAM.gov.
Things to watch (12)
- Serious: Set aside for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Only SDVOSB firms registered in SAM and VetBiz by the response due date can be awarded this contract. Check a SAM.gov registration.
- Serious: Bid bond must reach the contracting office before closing. An original paper bid bond is needed even though proposals go in digitally, and performance and payment bonds for 100% of the price follow.
- Worth checking: SAM.gov set-aside label differs from the solicitation. SAM.gov lists the set-aside as SDVOSB Sole Source (FAR 19.14), while the solicitation calls it an SDVOSB set-aside with lowest price technically acceptable evaluation.
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- Worth checking: CLIN 0002 is described two different ways. The solicitation makes CLIN 0002 guarantee period services, while the revised specification makes CLIN 0002 a deduct alternate with a 500-day period; ask the contracting officer which applies.
- Worth checking: Evaluation factor asks about an electronic key manufacturer. A bidder asked for Factor 4, which seeks an electronic key manufacturer's experience, to be revised, and the solicitation's guarantee period wording mentions elevators; the posted answers say the contracting officer will reply.
- Worth checking: Work in an operating emergency department. The medical center runs 24 hours a day, so work is phased, shutdowns are scheduled and medical gas shutdowns are allowed only at night and on weekends.
- Worth checking: Hazardous material risk is unclear. The Government says no hazardous material report is needed and points to revised sheet 01-HA-111, so who carries unexpected asbestos or lead costs should be checked there.
- Worth checking: Sprinklers are a design-build scope. The contractor must work out the sprinkler design as well as install it, with no head layout in the drawings.
- Worth checking: Davis-Bacon wages likely apply. Federal construction over $2,000 in the U.S. pays at least the Davis-Bacon wage rates in the wage determination attached to the solicitation. This summary doesn't name one: find it on SAM.gov and price your labor from it.
- Minor: Some design information is not available. The Government says a schedule for the variable air volume (VAV) boxes is not available, so some HVAC quantities must be estimated.
- Minor: Taxes must be in the price. State and local sales and use taxes on materials must be included, and no price change is allowed later for them.
- Minor: Response due date moved several times. Amendments have extended the response due date again and again; the latest one in the notice text sets November 6, 2026.
Read from the notice and 11 attachments. 1 of 12 not read. Show which files.
- S02 SOLICITATION 36C25526R0162_1.pdf (read)
- AMENDMENT 36C25526R0162 0005.pdf (read)
- AMENDMENT 36C25526R0162 0004.pdf (read)
- 36C25526R0162 AMENDMENT 0003.pdf (read)
- 36C25526R0162 AMENDMENT 0002.pdf (read)
- 36C25526R0162 AMENDMENT 0001.pdf (read)
- REVISION 1 SPECIFICATIONS 657-26-602.pdf (read)
- GOVERMENT RESPONSE TO RFIS 657-26-602JC.pdf (read)
- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO GOVERMENT 657-26-602 REVISED.pdf (read)
- 100 BID DOCUMENTS-FULL SET DRAWINGS 657-26-602.pdf (read)
- S02 ATTACHMENT COMBINED SPECS AND DRAWINGS 657-26-602.pdf (read)
- SITE VISIT SIGN-IN SHEET 657-26-602JC.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
Full summary
What they want
- CLIN 0001 (contract line item number, one priced line of the order): general construction to turn three existing emergency department rooms into a 3-bed observation unit on Building 1, Floor 01
- Renovate seven more rooms, including relocated triage rooms and a relocated reception desk
- Walls, finishes, electrical, HVAC (heating and cooling), plumbing and medical gas work, done in phases so the department keeps running
- Install sprinklers as a design-build scope, where the contractor also does the design
- Keep the construction area under negative air pressure around the clock behind infection control barriers (ICRA, infection control risk assessment)
- CLIN 0002: one year of guarantee period services (inspection and maintenance) after completion and acceptance, awarded along with CLIN 0001
- Contract type
- Construction contract; one award on CLIN 0001 (general construction) with guarantee period services
- Period of performance
- 550 calendar days after notice to proceed, then a one-year guarantee period after completion and acceptance
- Place of performance
- John Cochran Division, 915 North Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63106, Building 1, Floor 01
- Estimated value
- $500,000.00 to $1,000,000.00 (the Government's estimate of construction magnitude)
- How they'll choose
- Best value, lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA): the lowest-priced offer that meets the minimum requirements wins
- Offers due
- November 6, 2026, 2:00 PM Central (from the version posted Oct 23, 2026; amended since)
- How to submit
- Digital proposal; physical copies of proposals are not accepted. The original bid bond goes to the contracting office, 3450 S. 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kansas 66048
What to include when you submit
- Submit pricing for each CLIN, including the monthly and 12-month total for the guarantee period services
- Provide the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
- Return the signed copy of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) clause 852.219-75, the certificate about limits on subcontracting
- Deliver the original bid bond to the contracting office before the solicitation closes
- Include every document listed in the Proposal Submittal Instructions; offers without them are deemed non-responsive
- Acknowledge each amendment before the response due date
- Joint ventures must also be registered in SAM and VetBiz by the response due date
After award, you must have
- Complete VA Form 0711 and a background check for each construction worker, and wear a VA badge on site From REVISION 1 SPECIFICATIONS 657-26-602.pdf:
3. Contractor shall fill out VA Form 0711 for each…
- Medical gas work must follow VA standards and be backed by official certifications and licenses From 100 BID DOCUMENTS-FULL SET DRAWINGS 657-26-602.pdf:
CONTRACTOR TO INSTALL MEDICAL GAS PER VA TIL AND VA…
Not in the notice text
- The solicitation file was read only in part (about 33,000 of 206,000 characters), so the Proposal Submittal Instructions, evaluation factors, subcontracting rules and most clauses are attached but not read; check them on SAM.gov.
- Amendment 0006, the final answers to bidder questions and the revised bid schedule are described in the notice text, but their documents were not in the text read.
- A bidder's question mentions six evaluation factors and a three-page supplemental response limit; the contracting officer said a reply would come, so check the factors and page limits on SAM.gov.
- The revised sheet 01-HA-111 and other revised drawings were mostly not read, so hazardous material and finish details are unknown.
- The exact way to submit the digital proposal (email address or portal) is not in the text read.
- The site visit sign-in sheet is a scanned file with no text, attached but not read.
Eligibility and how to respond
- SAM.gov lists this with an SDVOSB sole-source set-aside code, but the notice asks for offers by Nov 6, 2026. Ask the contracting officer who may submit an offer. More open service-disabled veteran-owned set-asides under NAICS 236220
- How to submit, from the AI summary: Digital proposal; physical copies of proposals are not accepted. The original bid bond goes to the contracting office, 3450 S. 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kansas 66048. Check it in the notice before you send anything.
- Construction contracts over $2,000 pay at least the local Davis-Bacon wage rates, from the wage determination in the solicitation. Price your labor from it: How to price a government contract, and how Davis-Bacon differs from the Service Contract Act.
Notice details
- Posted
- Oct 23, 2026
- Notice type
- Solicitation
- Office
- 255-Network Contract Office 15 (36C255), Leavenworth, KS
- Product/service code
- Z2DA · Repair or Alteration of Hospitals and Infirmaries
- Business type
- Construction & renovation (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 236220)
- Versions
12 versions have been posted, newest first.
- Oct 26, 2026 · AmendmentDue Nov 6, 2026
- Oct 23, 2026 · Amendment 0006 (this version)Due Nov 6, 2026
- Oct 22, 2026 · AmendmentDue Nov 6, 2026 (changed)
- Oct 8, 2026 · AmendmentDue Oct 26, 2026
- Oct 6, 2026 · AmendmentDue Oct 26, 2026 (changed)
- Sep 23, 2026 · AmendmentDue Oct 14, 2026 (changed)
- Aug 27, 2026 · AmendmentDue Sep 23, 2026 (changed)
- Aug 14, 2026 · AmendmentDue Sep 1, 2026
- Aug 13, 2026 · AmendmentDue Sep 1, 2026 (changed)
- Aug 4, 2026 · AmendmentDue Aug 25, 2026
- Aug 4, 2026 · AmendmentDue Aug 25, 2026
- Jul 29, 2026 · SolicitationDue Aug 25, 2026
- Attachments
Past awards and competition
Who has won work like this before, the likely incumbent, and what similar contracts paid, from USAspending.gov.
Before you respond
- How to respond to a solicitation (8 steps)
- How to read a government solicitation
- How to price a government contract
- Open SDVOSB set-aside contracts
Terms on this notice: Solicitation, SDVOSB (service-disabled veteran-owned small business), Set-aside
Full notice text from SAM.gov
Amendment 0006 is issued. Please see amendment 0006 in attachment section and associated documents. The proposal due date is extended to 11-6-2026. Government posted Final Response to RFIs, Revised Bid Scheduled, Additional solicitatio attachents in the attachment section of this proposal. No additional questions will be accepted not answered. _________________________________________________________ Notice is issued. The government will extended the solicitation to incorporate final responses to RFIs. An Amendment will be issued on 10-22-26 by 6:00pm CST to incorporate remainng responses and extend RFP due date to 11/6/2026. The station is currently completing government's final response. _________________________________________________________ Amendment 0005 is issued. Please see amendment 0004 in attachment section and associated documents. The proposal due date remains 10-26-2026. Government posted 100 % Bid Documents Full Set Drawings in attachment section of his proposal. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amendment 0004 is issued. Please see amendment 0004 in attachment section and associated documents. The proposal due date has changed to 10-26-2026. Government response to RFIs are posted & the project specification is revised. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amendment 0003 is issued. Please see amendment 0003 in attachment section and associated documents. The proposal due date has changed to 10-14-2026. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amendment 0002 is issued. Please see amendment 0002 in attachment section and associated documents. The proposal due date has changed to 9-23-2026. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amendment 0001 is issued. Please see amendment 0001 in attachment section and associated documents. The proposal due date has changed to 9-1-2026. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8/4/2026:THE SITE VISIT LOCATION HAS BEEN UPDATED TO RERFLECT: SITE VISIT: A site visit will be conducted on 08-5-2026 at 10:00 AM CST. Location: Saint Louis VAMC Building #16, Room #B201 on the 2nd Floor at 10:00AM CST. The building is located directly across from the Emergency Room. POC: WALTER STAAS PHONE:314-652-4100 JCx58723 _______________________________________________________________________________________ PLEASE RESPOND BY THE SPECIFIED DATE AND TIME TO BE CONSIDERED FOR CONTRACT AWARD.
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