Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
FCI Three Rivers-Replace Generators, Transformers, and Electrical Infrastructure
Department of Justice · Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons
More open Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons contracts
AI summaryThe Federal Bureau of Prisons seeks an 8(a) small business for construction at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Three Rivers, Texas. The work replaces two backup generators, a transformer and electrical infrastructure while the prison stays open. It is a 100 percent set-aside for 8(a) firms, meaning disadvantaged small businesses in the Small Business Administration's (SBA) program. The solicitation puts the project size at $10,000,000 to $20,000,000, with 450 calendar days to finish after the notice to proceed (the go-ahead to start). Quotes with a bid bond are due by email on November 30, 2026, 11:00 AM Eastern. More in the summary
A newer version of this notice was posted Oct 27, 2026. See the latest version.
AI summary Beta
Summary of the version posted Oct 15, 2026. The notice was amended Oct 27, 2026. Check what else changed on SAM.gov. This summary may miss requirements: 4 of 12 attachments weren't read (Attachment 7- 24Z5AU6-BASIS_OF_DESIGN_MANUAL.pdf, Attachment 6 24Z5AU6-APP_E_-_LIGHT_CALCS.pdf and 2 more). Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons seeks an 8(a) small business for construction at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Three Rivers, Texas. The work replaces two backup generators, a transformer and electrical infrastructure while the prison stays open. It is a 100 percent set-aside for 8(a) firms, meaning disadvantaged small businesses in the Small Business Administration's (SBA) program. The solicitation puts the project size at $10,000,000 to $20,000,000, with 450 calendar days to finish after the notice to proceed (the go-ahead to start). Quotes with a bid bond are due by email on November 30, 2026, 11:00 AM Eastern.
Who can bid
- Certified 8(a) small business: the buy is a 100 percent 8(a) set-aside (SBA's program for disadvantaged small businesses). Size standard for NAICS 236220 is $45.0 million average annual receipts over the preceding three fiscal years.
- Registered in SAM.gov (the federal contractor database) with up-to-date size information, which the Government reviews to confirm 8(a) size.
- Offer guarantee (bid bond, a surety-backed promise to sign the contract if awarded): 20 percent of the bid price, not more than $3,000,000, submitted with the quote.
How to submit: Email the quote to Contracting Officer Heather Buck at hbuck@bop.gov. What to include is under Full summary below. Check the solicitation's instructions on SAM.gov.
Things to watch (11)
- Serious: 8(a) firms only. Only firms in SBA's 8(a) program can quote, and the Government checks size information in SAM.gov. Other small businesses are not eligible.
- Serious: Bid bond due with the quote. The quote needs a bid bond of 20 percent of the price, up to $3,000,000. On a $10,000,000 to $20,000,000 project, a surety must approve you before the quote is due.
- Serious: Performance and payment bonds after award. Within 10 days of award you must deliver two bonds, each 100 percent of the contract price. Failing to deliver them can end the award.
Show all 11Show fewer
- Worth checking: Work inside an operating prison. The prison stays open. Outages must be planned and limited, and any outage over 24 hours needs temporary power supplied by the contractor.
- Worth checking: Every worker needs Bureau of Prisons clearance. The prime contractor submits criminal history checks for all workers, and a worker who is not cleared must be replaced. The Bureau gives no reasons for a denial.
- Worth checking: Clearance paperwork deadlines differ between documents. The statement of work says clearance documents are due within 14 days of the notice to proceed, and 14 working days before work starts. Section 3 of the solicitation says within 10 calendar days. Ask the contracting officer which governs.
- Worth checking: Site visit is optional; access paperwork is due earlier. The site visit on October 29, 2026 is not mandatory. Criminal history paperwork to attend is due October 22, 2026, 4:00 PM ET in the notice but 4:00 PM CST in the cover letter.
- Worth checking: Notice and evaluation attachment list different factors. The notice says quotes are judged on price and past performance. Attachment 2 lists five factors: technical approach, experience, project management and security, past performance, and price.
- Minor: Federal wage rates apply (Davis-Bacon). A Davis-Bacon wage determination (minimum pay for construction workers), TX20260209 Revision 1, is attached and covers Jim Wells, Live Oak and Wharton counties in Texas.
- Minor: Submittal timing differs. The statement of work says submittals are due within 15 days of the notice to proceed. The solicitation says within 10 calendar days after work starts, or as the contracting officer sets.
- Minor: Different solicitation and project numbers appear. The cover letter subject carries a different RFQ number than the solicitation. The statement of work names project 24Z5AU6 while SF 1442 shows project 26Z5AU4. Confirm the numbers with the contracting officer.
Read from the notice and 8 attachments. 4 of 12 not read. Show which files.
- Cover Letter Request for Quote Solicitation 15BNAS27Q00000002.pdf (read)
- Attachment 3 SOW TRV 24Z5AU6.pdf (read)
- Attachment 2 EVALUATION FACTORS AND BASIS FOR AWARD.pdf (read)
- Attachment 1 - Solicitation No. 15BNAS27Q00000002.pdf (read)
- Attachment 11 Whistleblower Information- Employee Rights.pdf (read)
- Attachment 9 SF24-Bid Bond.pdf (read)
- Attachment 8 DBA TX20260209 Revision 1 Live Oak County.pdf (read)
- Attachment 10 NCIC Criminal History Check Form.pdf (read)
- Attachment 7- 24Z5AU6-BASIS_OF_DESIGN_MANUAL.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Attachment 6 24Z5AU6-APP_E_-_LIGHT_CALCS.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Attachment 5 24Z5AU6-APP_B_-_PROJECT_MANUAL.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Attachment 4 24Z5AU6-APP_A-DRAWINGS.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
Full summary
What they want
- Replace the two existing back-up generators (Generators 1 and 2), the transformer and the associated electrical infrastructure, ending in a fully operational installation per the drawings and specifications.
- Keep the prison running: submit a phasing plan for approval that limits electrical outages, and supply temporary power for any outage over 24 hours.
- Single priced line, contract line item number (CLIN) 0001, QTY 1 JB (job): all labor, supervision, engineering coordination, demolition, construction, installation, testing, commissioning, training, documentation, warranties and closeout.
- Send equipment submittals to the contracting officer's representative (COR) within 15 days of the notice to proceed, and give 5 days' notice before final system tests.
- Have the manufacturer's field representative inspect the system after installation and report before start-up.
- Work inside prison security rules: cleared workers with badges, tool inventories each day, escorts, and work hours of 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday to Friday.
- After installation and acceptance, deliver operation and maintenance manuals and train at least two Bureau of Prisons employees.
- Provide performance and payment bonds within 10 days after award, and closeout documents before final payment.
- Contract type
- Firm-fixed-price (one set price, whatever the work costs) construction contract, issued as a request for quote (RFQ) under commercial item procedures
- Period of performance
- 450 calendar days from the issuance of the Notice to Proceed; no option periods stated
- Place of performance
- FCI Three Rivers, 1700 HWY 72 WEST, Three Rivers, TX 78071
- Estimated value
- Project magnitude stated in the solicitation: between $10,000,000 and $20,000,000 (a size range, not a Government estimate)
- How they'll choose
- Best value tradeoff: the Government may pay more for a higher-rated technical offer. Factors other than price, combined, are significantly more important than price, though price matters more as offers become equal. Award may be made without discussions.
- Offers due
- November 30, 2026, 11:00 AM Eastern (from the version posted Oct 15, 2026; amended since)
- How to submit
- Email the quote to Contracting Officer Heather Buck at hbuck@bop.gov
What they'll judge offers on
- Technical Approach and Project Execution: understanding of the work, installation method, equipment integration, testing, commissioning, phasing, and plans to limit outages and provide temporary power
- Relevant Experience and Technical Capability: similar projects in size, scope and complexity (generator replacement, transformer installation, electrical distribution, work in operating facilities), plus qualified staff and equipment
- Project Management, Safety, and Security: scheduling, coordination, quality control, personnel access and clearances, tool accountability, material storage, construction and electrical safety
- Past Performance: recent, relevant contracts, using Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) reports and other sources; no record means a Neutral rating
- Price: total firm-fixed-price, judged for reasonableness and completeness
What to include when you submit
- Send all pages of the written solicitation (Attachment 1) with your complete quote.
- Complete the Standard Form 1442 (SF 1442, the construction offer form): unique entity ID, tax ID, CAGE code and email on page 1; the offer blocks with your name, address, total price in block 17, agreement to furnish bonds, amendments acknowledged, and a signature.
- Price CLIN 0001 as one lump sum. It must include bonds, insurance, permits, overhead, profit, travel, freight, testing, commissioning and security-processing costs. No tax exemption is issued.
- Include a bid bond (Standard Form 24) as the offer guarantee: 20 percent of the bid price, not more than $3,000,000. A bid bond is not required for bids of $150,000 or less.
- Include a complete copy of your Offeror Representations and Certifications for commercial products and commercial services.
- Hold your offer open for Government acceptance for at least 90 calendar days after the offer due date, as SF 1442 block 13d reads.
- Send questions to hbuck@bop.gov; answers are posted on SAM.gov only.
After award, you must have
- Performance and payment bonds, each 100 percent of the original contract price, delivered within 10 days after award. From Attachment 1 - Solicitation No. 15BNAS27Q00000002.pdf:
(b) Performance and Payment Bonds. Within 10 days after award the contractor…
- Insurance kept during performance: workers' compensation and employer's liability $100,000; general liability $500,000 per accident or occurrence for bodily injury; auto liability $200,000 per person, $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $20,000 for property damage. From Attachment 1 - Solicitation No. 15BNAS27Q00000002.pdf:
See FAR 52.228-5, Insurance - Work on a Government Installation.
- Security clearance packages (criminal history check and related forms) for every prime and subcontractor worker, sent by the prime contractor only. From Attachment 3 SOW TRV 24Z5AU6.pdf:
Security clearance documents will only be accepted from the prime contractor.
Not in the notice text
- Not all text was read. Attachments 4 to 7 (drawings, project manual, lighting calculations, basis of design manual) are controlled documents attached on SAM.gov: request access there. The middle of Attachment 1 was also left out.
- What the quote must contain for technical approach, experience, project management and past performance (format, page limits, number of references) is not in the text read.
- Generator and transformer sizes and technical requirements are in the drawings and project manual, which were not read.
- The cover letter calls the award a task order, while the evaluation attachment and the SF 1442 describe a single firm-fixed-price contract.
Eligibility and how to respond
- Only firms in SBA's 8(a) program can bid as the prime contractor. Not in the 8(a) program? How the 8(a) program works. More open 8(a) set-asides under NAICS 236220
- How to submit, from the AI summary: Email the quote to Contracting Officer Heather Buck at hbuck@bop.gov. 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 15, 2026
- Notice type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- Office
- National Acquisitions - Co, Washington, DC
- Product/service code
- Z2NZ · Repair or Alteration of Other Utilities
- Business type
- Construction & renovation (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 236220)
- Versions
6 versions have been posted, newest first.
- Oct 27, 2026 · Amendment 0005Due Nov 30, 2026
- Oct 20, 2026 · Amendment 0004Due Nov 30, 2026
- Oct 20, 2026 · Amendment 0003Due Nov 30, 2026
- Oct 19, 2026 · Amendment 0002Due Nov 30, 2026
- Oct 15, 2026 · Amendment 0001 (this version)Due Nov 30, 2026
- Oct 15, 2026 · Combined Synopsis/SolicitationDue Nov 30, 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 8(a) set-aside contracts
Terms on this notice: Solicitation, 8(a) program, Set-aside
Full notice text from SAM.gov
Modification** 10/27/2026 Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on Thursday Oct. 29, 2026- 8:00 AM CST, prior to the site visit to begin. If you are not able to attend the site visit but wanting to attend the Pre-Bid meeting, email Mrs. Buck at hbuck@bop.gov for an invite on TEAMS. ** Instructions to Offerors attached** modification 10-20-2026 **Clarification** Clarification for proposal at the bottom of this page. 10-19-2026 **Update of NCIC due date**Friday, October 23, 2026 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 12. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Modification for site visit date only** Thursday Oct. 29, 2026- 8:00 AM CST Solicitation number 15BNAS27Q00000002 is issued as a Request for Quote (RFQ). The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP), Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Three Rivers, anticipates the issuance of a solicitation for the award of a firm-fixed-price construction contract for a project titled Replace Generators, Transformers, and Electrical Infrastructure, for FCI Three Rivers located at 1700 HWY 72 WEST, Three Rivers, TX 78071. This acquisition [is] set-aside for 8a small business concerns. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov. This announcement constitutes as the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation is issued (see attached) . You are required to provide all pages of the written attached solicitation with your complete quotation. Solicitation Number: 15BNAS27Q00000002 and is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) A statement that the solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2026-1, Effective Date March 13, 2026. This is a 100 percent 8a small business set-aside. The Period of Performance for this project will be 450 Calendar Days from the issuance of the Notice to Proceed. The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services, applies to this acquisition and a statement regarding any addenda to the provision. All quotes will be evaluated based on price and past performance. All quoters are required to submit a complete copy of their Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Products and Commercial Services, with its offer. Clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Products and Commercial Services, applies to this acquisition. SCOPE OF WORK: The contractor will provide all necessary labor, materials, equipment, tools, and incidentals required to Replace Generators, Transformers, and Electrical Infrastructure, for FCI Three Rivers. See the attached Statement of Work for further detailed requirements. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code applicable to this requirement is 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction) with a corresponding small business size standard of $45.0 million average annual receipts for the firms preceding three fiscal years. The solicitation will only be distributed soley through the Contract Opportunity web-site at https://www.sam.gov. Hard copies of the solicitation will not be made available. The website provides download instructions for documents. All future information about this solicitation, including any amendments will also be distributed soley through this website. Interested parties are responsible for continuously monitoring this website to ensure that they have the most recent information about this proposed contract action. IMPORTANT: Any contractor interested in doing business with the Federal Bureau of Prisons must be registered in https://www.sam.gov. In order to qualify for award, your business size metrics information entered in your SAM registration will be reviewed by the Government to confirm your size business size meets the 8a small business size standard requirement and the U.S. Small Business Administration. All quoters are urged to double check their SAM registration and U.S. Small Business Administration and update as necessary, including the size metrics information. SITE VISIT: An organized site visit has been scheduled for Thursday - 10/29/2026 at 8:00am CST with Mr. Corey Villarreal, at FCI Three Rivers, HWY 72 WEST, Three Rivers, TX 78071. Participants are asked to meet in the lobby area. Attendance is not mandatory but highly advised. All NCIC paperwork must be submitted by 4:00-PM EST on Friday, October 23, 2026 to cvillarreal@bop.gov. Late submissions will not be accepted. Access to government property is subject to approval at the Government’s discretion. Please plan accordingly and ensure paperwork is completed ahead of time. NCIC form is Attachment 10. Questions: All questions are due November 6, 2026 by 4:00 PM EST to hbuck@bop.gov. All answers to questions will be posted on SAM.gov only. SUBMISSION OF QUOTES: All quotes will be submitted electronically via email to hbuck@bop.gov no later than November 30, 2026 at 11am EST. Clarification -- 10-19-26 Electronic copies of each quote shall be compatible with the following software products: Adobe Acrobat Reader 11 and Microsoft Office Suite 2016. Narrative portions of the proposal shall be in Adobe Acrobat portable document file (pdf) searchable text format. The Offeror shall not embed sound or video (e.g., MPEG) files into the proposal files. Electronic files shall be clearly identified for each volume, section, and item. Also see attached example of Cost Summary Spreadsheets- these can be used or something in the like format. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS 1. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL Provide sufficient detail to demonstrate your approach to performing the required construction, including: Technical/Management approach Anticipated construction schedule with milestones Key personnel Quality control and safety approach Assumptions impacting performance 2. PRICE PROPOSAL Provide a complete price proposal, including: Total proposed price Price breakdown (labor, Material, Equipment) (see attached Sample) Basis of estimate Please submit all pages of the solicitation document along with your proposal and the following: 1) Technical Proposal 2) Price Proposal 3) Signed, completed Standard Form 1442. 4) Completed Representations and Certifications.
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