SAM #W912QR-FY28FTBLISS-OTA

USACE market research for four Fort Bliss microgrid construction projects under planned OTA agreements

USACE Louisville District is seeking industry input on a planned sole-source approach for four resilient-power microgrid projects at Fort Bliss, Texas. - Opportunity: Market research for two anticipated Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements, contemplated for Fiscal Year 2028. No final award or project schedule is provided. - Anticipated recipient: Rio Grande Electric Cooperative (RGEC), identified because it owns and operates Fort Bliss’s privatized electrical distribution infrastructure. - Projects and major equipment: - DPTMS training campus: 5,600 kW natural-gas generation, 2,000 kWdc photovoltaic generation, and 1,000 kW BESS. - McGregor Range: 4,200 kW diesel generation, 1,500 kWdc photovoltaic generation, 1,000 kW BESS, fuel storage and initial fill, and a connecting power line. - Combat Aviation Brigade: 5,600 kW natural-gas generation, 2,000 kWdc photovoltaic generation, and 1,000 kW BESS. - Marshalling and Railyard Complex: approximately 2,000 kWdc solar photovoltaic generation, 1,000 kW BESS, and 250 kW natural-gas generation. - Supporting requirements: Microgrid controls, transformers, switches or switchgear, utility and electrical-distribution connections, site improvements, communications, cybersecurity, testing, and commissioning. McGregor Range also includes air permitting and upgrades to existing combined heat and power systems. - Delivery methods: Construction Management at Risk for DPTMS and McGregor Range; Progressive Design-Build for the Combat Aviation Brigade and Marshalling and Railyard Complex. - Performance objective: Provide resilient emergency power to critical mission facilities for at least 14 consecutive calendar days during a commercial-grid outage. - Industry response: Interested firms are invited to submit a capabilities statement and the OTA questionnaire to inform whether competition is feasible. Responses should address OTA experience, technical capabilities, and access to required infrastructure. - Manufacturers and value: No equipment OEMs, brands, part numbers, or estimated contract value are stated.

Description

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Louisville District, is considering to award two (2) sole-source agreements in Fiscal Year 2028 (FY28) to the Rio Grande Electric Cooperative (RGEC), the privatized electrical utility provider for Fort Bliss.  The Government contemplates four (4) acquisitions consolidated into two (2) separate projects. The acquisitions will be executed utilizing Progressive Design-Build (PDB) or Construction Management At Risk (CM@R) delivery method under the Other Transaction Authority (OTA), as authorized by 10 U.S.C. § 2808a. Industry is encouraged to detail and submit their experience executing projects utilizing OTA via the questionnaire attachment included in this notice. Interested firms may also add themselves to the interested vendors list.

The contemplated awards require the design, integration, and construction of four (4) Power Generation and Microgrid Systems at Fort Bliss Garrison in Fort Bliss, Texas. In alignment with the Installation Energy and Water Plan (IEWP), these systems will provide continuous emergency backup power to critical mission facilities for a minimum of 14 consecutive calendar days during a commercial utility grid outage. Because RGEC owns and operates the installation's electrical distribution infrastructure, the Government anticipates that RGEC is uniquely positioned to integrate these microgrid systems without compromising system integrity, safety, or operational readiness, and sole sourcing attenuates the risk of future stranded assets. Agreement sets 1 and 2 are described below:  

Fort Bliss Agreement 1: Project Delivery Method - Construction Management at Risk 1a. Fort Bliss Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security (DPTMS) training campus The DPTMS training campus includes six mission critical facilities that will receive resilient power during electrical grid outages from the new microgrid. The project requires the construction of a microgrid that includes of 5,600KW of natural gas generators enclosed in weather housing, 2,000 KWdc Photovoltaic (PV) arrays, a 1,000KW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), microgrid, transformers, controls, and switches. The project will also include utilities, site improvements and communication infrastructure. Modification to the privatized utility system owner’s existing infrastructure is required to accommodate the tie in of the microgrid system. 1b.Fort Bliss McGregor Range Construct a microgrid consisting of 4,200 kW of diesel power generation enclosed in weather housing, 1,500 kW(dc) of photovoltaic power generation, a 1,000 kW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), fuel storage with initial fill, and a power line connecting the generators to the microgrid. The project will provide microgrid controls, transformers, switches, commissioning and testing, and cybersecurity. Supporting facilities include electric service, site improvements, information systems, environmental air permitting, software and other upgrades to the existing combined heat and power systems, and an interconnection agreement. Modifications to the privatized utility system owner’s existing infrastructure to accommodate the tie in of the government’s microgrid is included and will be funded as a privatized utility connection and service fee. The McGregor Range has an average electrical demand of 1,330KW and a total peak critical load demand of 2,850KW. The proposed project will provide resilient backup power for 100% of the critical loads for the McGregor Range.

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Fort Bliss Agreement  2 Project Delivery Method - Progressive Design Build 2a.Fort Bliss Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) Construct a microgrid that includes a total of 5,600KW of natural gas generators enclosed in weather housing, 2,000KWdc Photovoltaic (PV) arrays, a 1,000KW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), microgrid, transformers, controls, and switches. This project will also include utilities, site improvements and communication infrastructure. The intended power generation system will provide resilient power for all the peak critical loads for the Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) on Biggs Army Airfield during utility outages.

  2b. Fort Bliss Railyard Construct a microgrid serving the Fort Bliss Marshalling and Railyard Complex. The project includes approximately 2,000dc kW of solar photovoltaic generation, a 1,000 kW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), and 250 kW of natural-gas generation. Provide a microgrid control system, paralleling switchgear, sectionalizing switches, fiber-optic communications, and electrical-distribution improvements necessary to serve the Rail Operations Building, Engine Maintenance Facility Deployment Readiness Reaction Facility, latrine buildings, and railyard lighting, at construction completion the microgrid system will connect the microgrid to the privatized electrical utility system. The construction project includes cybersecurity, utility connections, site improvements, system testing, and commissioning. The purpose of this Notice of Intent is to advise industry of the Government's intended acquisition strategy. Moreover, the Government is utilizing this notice to conduct market intelligence to verify whether any other responsible industry sources possess the technical capability  and infrastructure access required to successfully execute this requirement and ascertain industry’s experience with OTA. Any information received will  be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether a competitive procurement is feasible for these acquisitions. Furthermore, this notice does not constitute a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) or a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation. The Government will not be obligated to award any agreement because of this Notice of Intent, nor will it reimburse respondents for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of information.

Interested firms may send a capabilities statement and completed OTA Questionnaire NO LATER THAN 11:00AM EDT on 11 November 2026.

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