Solicitation
Aerospace Power Systems Laboratory (APSL) Facility
National Aeronautics and Space Administration · Sol. 80GRC026R0010
Due in 21 days
AI summary Beta
Some details weren't available to this summary, so it may miss requirements. Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
NASA Glenn Research Center (Cleveland, Ohio) wants a design-build team to design and build a new ~34,000 sq ft Aerospace Power Systems Laboratory. This is a two-phase deal: in Phase 1, up to three teams each get a $150,000 stipend to deliver a conceptual design and technical proposal. One team is then picked in Phase 2 to complete the design and build it, with work running to about March 2030. It is full and open competition, not a small business set-aside.
Watch out for
- Large, complex hazardous-lab project. A ~34,000 sq ft facility with cryogenic and specialty gas systems, vacuum chamber integration and specialty life safety systems is a big job for a small business to take on as prime, and the $45M size standard shows it is a large construction project.
The project is complex due to the integration of specialized laboratory systems and integration of
- Full and open, no set-aside. You compete against large design-build firms with no small business preference, and the winner must still file small business subcontracting goals.
This acquisition is full and open.
- Only one of up to three teams wins the build. Phase 1 awardees compete again in Phase 2, and the up to two that lose are paid only the stipend, so most of the effort may go unrewarded beyond $150,000.
Phase 1 awardees will not receive payment until after delivery of an acceptable conceptual design.
- Key terms and prices are still TBD. Phase 2 price, liquidated damages, completion dates, incentives and the retainage amount are all 'TBD' until the Phase 2 RFP, so you cannot judge the final risk when you bid.
Liquidated Damages only apply to Phase 2 and the amounts and terms will be updated when the Phase 2 RFP
- Project Labor Agreement required. PLAs can add cost and require using union labor or union hiring halls, which many small firms do not have in place.
Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) are required for Glenn Research Center
- Facility clearance and strict safety screening. You need a facility clearance, a matching CAGE code and a clean safety record (EMR, OSHA citations, TCIR/DART) just to be considered, and clearances can take time to get.
Facilities clearance is required for this acquisition in accordance with GRC 52.237-91.
- Short fuse for questions and proposal. Questions are due October 12, 2026 and the proposal October 30, 2026, which is tight for assembling a design-build team, references, and a heavy set of forms.
Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation are due no later than October 30, 2026, at
- Government owns the design. The Government gets unlimited rights to all drawings and designs, and owns the Phase 1 conceptual design, even from firms that are not selected.
The Government will own all rights to the Phase 1 conceptual design.
- Dates do not line up. The Phase 1 period of performance starts 18 Nov 2026, but the cover letter expects award on December 16, 2026 and the Phase 2 RFP around December 21, 2026; ask the Contracting Officer which dates control.
The anticipated contract award date is December 16, 2026. The contract will be performed onsite
Read from the notice and 2 attachments.
- Solicitation - 80GRC026R0010 - APSL FRFP.pdf
- FRFP Cover Letter - 80GRC026R0010 - APSL.pdf
Full brief
What they want
- Phase 1: a conceptual design and technical proposal (design plus construction approach), for a stipend of $150,000
- Phase 2 (option, one winner only): complete design and 100% construction of a ~34,000 sq ft lab facility with site work
- Open high bay with overhead crane, configurable lab space, support spaces, and collaboration and admin areas
- Utility tie-ins plus specialty systems: liquid and gaseous nitrogen, process cooling, service air, specialty lab gases
- Specialty life safety systems and strategies to isolate hazardous test operations (for example separate structures)
- Design so Government-furnished test equipment such as vacuum chambers can be installed
- Meet a minimum green building standard (LEED Silver or two Green Globes), proposing the best achievable rating
- Team must include both a Designer of Record and construction contractor(s)
- Contract type
- Two-phase design-build, firm-fixed-price: a base CLIN plus four options (complete design, construction, and two incentive options). Up to three Phase 1 awards; one team gets its options exercised for Phase 2.
- Period of performance
- Phase 1 (base): 18 Nov 2026 to 03 May 2027. Options (Phase 2): 15 Apr 2027 to 01 Mar 2030. The notice says about 1080 calendar days after notice to proceed; the final period will come in the Phase 2 RFP.
- Place of performance
- Onsite at NASA Glenn Research Center, Lewis Field campus, Cleveland, Ohio, and offsite at the contractor's facilities
- Estimated value
- Not stated. Phase 1 stipend is $150,000 per awardee. Phase 2 design and construction amounts are 'to be negotiated' and incentive amounts are TBD.
- How they'll choose
- Phase 1: tradeoff evaluation, with price NOT evaluated. Phase 2 (among the Phase 1 awardees): best value, with price included.
- Offers due
- October 30, 2026 at 1:00 pm Eastern (the cover letter says EST; SAM.gov lists 13:00 at -04:00). Questions are due in writing by October 12, 2026.
- How to submit
- Electronic upload through NASA's Enterprise File Sharing and Sync (EFSS) Box. Questions go by email to the Contracting Officer, John Christel (john.a.christel@nasa.gov).
What they'll judge offers on
- Phase 1: Technical Qualifications (design and construction) and Relevant Experience and Past Performance are about equal, and both are more important than Technical Approach
- Phase 1: Price is not a factor, and no pricing is to be submitted
- Phase 2: Technical Approach is more important than Price; Price is about equal to Relevant Experience and Past Performance
- Phase 2: Technical Approach and Experience/Past Performance combined are significantly more important than Price
What to include when you submit
- Submit three items for Phase 1: Technical Approach (design and construction execution, without detailed design), Technical Qualifications (design and construction), and Relevant Experience and Past Performance
- Do not submit any pricing with the Phase 1 proposal
- Fill out the attached forms: Offeror Information Form, Safety Questionnaire, Financial Questionnaire and Sample Qualification Summary (key personnel); Attachment 1 explains how to set up a Box account
- Ask each past-performance reference to send the Past Performance Questionnaire directly to the Contracting Officer (and Aaron Olmsted) before the due date; a CPARS report or reference can be used instead of the questionnaire
- Offeror must have a CAGE code matching the corporate address on the proposal
- Listing in SAM, the VETS-4212 database and a UEI is expected
- The cover letter says Sections L and M take precedence over its summary list; those sections were not in the text provided
You must have
- The team must include both a Designer of Record (architect/engineer) and a construction contractor, so you need a design partner or a design-build capability
consist of both Designer of Record and construction contractor(s).
- A CAGE code that matches the corporate address on the proposal
Offerors are required to have a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code that
- A facility clearance is required; for a joint venture, the clearance must be in the JV's name
Facilities clearance is required for this acquisition in accordance with GRC 52.237-91.
- Active registration in SAM, the Department of Labor VETS-4212 reporting database and a Unique Entity ID
Potential offerors should ensure their company is listed in the online databases for the
- Must have a worker injury prevention program; answering 'No' on the Safety Questionnaire disqualifies you. The questionnaire also asks for OSHA citations, EMR, TCIR and DART rates for several years
answer is grounds for disqualification.
- Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) apply to this project, so union labor agreements may be needed
Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) are required for Glenn Research Center
- The Phase 2 awardee must submit small business subcontracting goals (the competition is full and open, with no set-aside)
submit small business goals.
- Performance and payment bonds clause is included in the contract (52.228-15) and the offer form has a bonds line; bond amounts and timing were not in the text provided
The offeror agrees to furnish any required performance and payment bonds.
- Financial and past performance disclosures: financial statements, bankruptcy history, default terminations, claims, debarments and prior Davis-Bacon violations
Not in the notice text
- Sections L (proposal instructions) and M (evaluation) were in the middle of the main solicitation PDF, which was cut off in the text provided; page limits, volume format, sub-factor details and proposal content rules were not seen
- Page limits for the Phase 1 submissions
- Whether bonds are required in Phase 1, in Phase 2, or both, and the amounts (the form fields were blank)
- Offer acceptance period and any other offer guarantee requirement
- Phase 2 price, incentive amounts and terms, liquidated damages, completion dates, and the retainage amount
- Budget or construction cost range for the facility
- Which of the listed attachments (for example the Offeror Information Form and RFI) are due with the Phase 1 proposal
- Whether an incumbent or earlier design work exists (none mentioned)
Is this a fit for your business?
Create a free accountFedReady checks notices like this against your business profile, tracks deadlines, and alerts you to new matches. Creating an account is free.
Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 30, 2026, 5:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Sep 25, 2026
- Notice type
- Solicitation
- Solicitation
- 80GRC026R0010
- Agency
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Office
- NASA Glenn Research Center
- Set-aside
- No Set aside used
- NAICS
- 236220
- Product/service code
- Y1HB
- Business type
- Construction & renovation
- Place of performance
- OH, 44135
- Contracting contact
- John Christeljohn.a.christel@nasa.gov216-433-8828
Full notice text from SAM.gov
See attachments.
Similar open opportunities
- Barillas Peak & Encino Vista Lookout Tower Restoration, Santa Fe NFThe U.S. Forest Service (Southwest) wants quotes to design and replace the cab (the room at the top) of the Barillas Lookout Tower on the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico,…
- Trade and Cargo AcademyThe Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District wants a contractor to build a Trade and Cargo Academy and a Cargo Security and Seized Property Training Facility at the Federal…
- FCKY UEPH Barracks CM@RiskThe Army Corps of Engineers (Louisville District) is doing market research for construction of Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing (barracks) at Fort Campbell, KY, using a…
- Lease Fit-Out Construction in Nuuk, Greenland - Sources Sought/Market ResearchThe U.S. Department of State (Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations) is doing market research for a construction contract to fit out three floors of a leased, occupied building…
- Fort Lee Vehicle Recovery RangeThe Army Corps of Engineers (Norfolk District) wants a contractor to build 24 concrete turning pads with site drainage and road alignment and repair at Fort Lee, Virginia.