Accelerated Project Management

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE A SOLE SOURCE AWARD IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice of intent to issue a sole source award is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This procurement will be processed pursuant to FAR part 15. No solicitation will be issued. The contract has been previously awarded using FAR 6.302-2 Unusual and Compelling Urgency. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. No telephone calls are being accepted.

This Justification and Approval (J&A) authorizes and approves the award of a new, sole-source, 12-month, firm-fixed-price contract for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF).

ARS NBAF has an unusual and compelling urgent need for Program Management; Project and Construction Management; Commissioning; Performance Verification; and Preparation of key approval documentation that will allow NBAF to receive the required certification to operate as a Bio-Safety Level 3 and Bio-Safety Level 4 facility. The new contract will support the commissioning of NBAF as a Bio-Safety Level 3 and Bio-Safety Level 4 Facility.

These services must begin by August 30, 2025, to meet critical deadlines required for the certification and for the performance of mission-critical research with the commissioning report being required by August 6, 2026. As further described in section 5 below, Merrick & Company is the only company that can perform these services in the required timeframe. Please e-mail all inquiries regarding this notice to Joshua Keadle at Joshua.keadle@usda.gov. All inquiries are due no later than October 15, 2025 at 5:00pm.