SAM #W9127N27QA010

USACE Market Research for Hydropower Technical Research and Knowledge Exchange Services

USACE is conducting market research for hydropower technical research and knowledge exchange services. - Government buyer: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, Northwestern Division; its hydropower research mission involves the Hydroelectric Design Center, Engineering Research and Development Center, and Hydropower R&D Advisory Committee. - OEMs and vendors: No OEMs, vendors, or specific products are named in the notice. - Potential service scope: Provide access to technical research, practical guidance, and industry operating experience for hydropower facilities and associated electrical infrastructure. - Topics include equipment practices, protection and control systems, and economic evaluation and modeling of hydropower assets. - Potential delivery methods include technical publications, research services, collaborative investigations, training, technical exchanges, and virtual or in-person conferences and workshops. - Notable requirements: Interested firms are asked to describe relevant capabilities, access and licensing terms, included versus separately priced services, and representative experience. This is market research, not a request for a proposal, quotation, or bid.

Description

1. General. This is a SOURCES SOUGHT for an upcoming Service Contract for HYDROPOWER TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE. It is for informational/market research purposes only. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, QUOTATION OR BID, NOR A SYNOPSIS OF A PROPOSED CONTRACT ACTION UNDER FAR SUBPART 5.2.

This Sources Sought is to gain knowledge of the interest, capabilities, and qualifications of industry so the government can make informed business decisions. We are seeking responses from both large and small business members of industry to include: Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Businesses to include 8(a) firms, Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) to include Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small business (SDVOSB) and Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB). All interested parties are highly encouraged to respond.

Reponses to this Sources Sought announcement will be used by the Government to make business decisions and to inform potential future solicitations.

a. The North American Industrial Classification Code (NAICS) for this requirement is:  541990 -  All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

b. The related size standard is:  $19.5M

c. Product Service Code is: R425

d. Formal Sources Sought Response Due – December 3, 2026 at 12:00pm Pacific Time.

2. Background. As the nation's leading hydropower asset owner and operator with 75 Corps owned hydropower projects across the U.S., USACE is charged with improving the capability, reliability, and safety of the Corps' hydropower infrastructure by developing or advancing state-of-the-art technology, innovative practices, and operational improvements. USACE's Hydroelectric Design Center (HDC) located in Portland, OR, Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) located in Vicksburg, MS, and the Hydropower R&D Advisory Committee (members from HDC, ERDC, HQ, and the Corps' 16 hydropower Districts) have taken the lead on managing the Hydropower R&D mission to include determining the industry needs, setting priorities, and managing the execution.

3. Project Scope.

a. USACE Hydropower is conducting market research to identify available approaches for obtaining relevant technical information and research findings, exchanging technical knowledge with other owners and operators, and addressing shared technical problems.

The government seeks access to technical research, practical guidance, and industry operating experience to support decisions concerning the design, operation, maintenance, protection, and modernization of hydropower facilities and associated electrical infrastructure.

The anticipated areas of interest are: Hydropower equipment design, operation, maintenance, and associated best practices. Protection and control systems for hydropower facilities and associated electrical infrastructure. Economic evaluation and modeling of hydropower assets to support modernization planning.

Potential approaches may include access to existing technical publications, technical exchanges, research services, collaborative investigations, training, or combinations of these services both virtually and through conference/workshop forums.

b. Anticipated Period of Performance:  January 01, 2027 – December 31, 2027

c. Number and Type of Contracts: NWP contemplates awarding one firm fixed price service contract.

4. Submission Instructions. Formal responses to this Sources Sought notice must be submitted electronically (via email) with SUBJECT: Sources Sought – Hydropower Technical Research. Please email to Nicholas Weaver, Contract Specialist, at Nicholas.E.Weaver@usace.army.mil and Contracting Officer, at nicole.a.adams@usace.army.mil before 12:00PM Pacific Time on December 03, 2026.

Interested parties’ responses to this Sources Sought shall be limited to six (6) pages and shall include the following information:

Firm's name, address, point of contact, phone number, e-mail address, CAGE and Unique Entity ID Firm's business category and size:  Large Business (include summary of small business participation metrics), Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Businesses to include 8(a) firms, Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) to include Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small business (SDVOSB) and at the subcontracting level, Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB). An explanation of the prime firm’s capabilities, special qualifications/certifications and equipment and describe the work to be self-performed as it pertains to the proposed work outlined in the Project Scope. In submitting capability statements for consideration, offers should address the following:  

             i.  Which capabilities you provide, how they are delivered, and any limitations on access or use.

             ii.  Which of the three technical subject areas they support.

             iii.  Describe available research, publications, technical exchanges, training, and research-participation opportunities.

             iv. Provide representative topics or examples sufficient to demonstrate relevance.

             v.  Explain access arrangements, licensing restrictions, and internal-sharing limitations.

            vi. Distinguish services included in a standard offering from separately priced services.

        4. Project Examples (for Joint Ventures, please include projects completed by the Joint Venture if available):

              i. To be considered for a potential set aside strategy, provide a maximum of three (3), minimum of one (1) project(s). These project examples must be similar in size, scope and complexity to the work described in paragraph 3 of this notice, with a description of each project (to include pertinent qualitative and quantitative information about featured scope elements), and include the following:

Project Title Contract Number Contract award date Customer name, phone number and email address Prime or Subcontractor Initial contract dollar value Final contract dollar value Initial contract completion date Final contract completion date Customer satisfaction

          Note: The Government may verify information in CPARS or PPIRS.

     5. Firm's Joint Venture information if applicable - existing and potential.

      6. Firm's interest and the likelihood in bidding on the solicitation when it is issued. (Refer to planned advertise and performance dates)

5. Disclaimer and Important Notes.

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this Sources Sought or any follow up information. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's capabilities to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. All interested firms must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov to have size status considered. You must remain current for the duration of the source selection process to be eligible for award of a Government contract.

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