Tornado Damage Repairs at the USDA-ARS U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Ft. Pierce, Florida

THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL NOTICE ONLY

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), has a requirement for tornado damage repairs at the USDA-ARS U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Ft. Pierce, Florida. The Contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, and materials and perform all required work in accordance with the specifications and drawings. 

The USDA-ARS U.S. Horticulture Research Laboratory in Ft Pierce, Florida will be renovated / repaired after recent tornado damage affected multiple sites and buildings. There are three sites that were affected: the USDA-ARS U.S Horticulture Laboratory in Ft. Pierce, the Picos Farm in Ft. Pierce, and Whitmore Farm in Leesburg.

The project will be phased to allow for continued use during construction to allow for the transition of research projects to different greenhouses. The total estimated area is 48,000 sq ft of greenhouses (27 standard greenhouses at approximately 1,750 sq ft each and 4 conditioned greenhouses at approximately 240 sq ft each) with an additional 20,000 sq ft of hallways, vents, and intake screening.  Option pricing may also be utilized in this procurement.

The work at USDA-ARS U.S Horticulture Laboratory is anticipated to be solicited in the following phases. 

• Phase 1 will consist of demolishing and replacing 9 standard greenhouses, a corridor, vents, and intake screening totaling approximately 20,500 sq ft and repairs to the roofing of the main building. These greenhouses are the most damaged from the tornado damage and currently are unable to be occupied and used.
• Phase 2 will consist of demolishing and replacing 8 standard greenhouses, 4 conditioned greenhouses, corridors, vents, and intake screening totaling approximately 24,000 sq ft and replacing mechanical units on two storage buildings adjacent to the greenhouses.
• Phase 3 will consist of demolishing and replacing 4 standard greenhouses, corridor, vents, and intake screening totaling approximately 11,000 sq ft.
• Phase 4 will consist of demolishing and replacing 6 standard greenhouses, vents, and intake screening totaling approximately 12,500 sq ft.

Picos Farm has 1 greenhouse and 1 hoophouse that will be fully demolished and reconstructed in the same locations. This will be approximately 3,350 sq ft of new structures on the research section of Picos Farm. The other section of the Picos Farm site is near the pond. Three prefabricated, open sided, steel structures with metal roofs that meet current Florida codes for wind resistance will be placed on existing slabs over pumps and mechanical systems to adequately protect them.

Whitmore Farm in Leesburg, Florida, has two existing greenhouses that will be fully demolished including the slabs. A third greenhouse will be fully reskinned and repaired as there is significant damage to the facade system. A new prefabricated pesticide storage building will be built on an existing slab on the west side of the site and the existing small storage structure on the side of an existing building demolished. Two existing pump house structures will be demolished and the disturbed area leveled out with the existing grade.

All greenhouse systems will contain new microgrow control systems, be brought up to Florida containment requirements, and have venting systems properly meshed.

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 36.204 the magnitude of this construction project is more than $10,000,000.00.

USDA will issue a Firm Fixed Price construction contract.  The Request for Proposal (RFP), 1232SA26R0020, may be issued on or around April 30, 2026. The NAICS Code is anticipated to be 236220 Commercial and Institutional Building Construction with a size standard of $45 Million. Completion timeframe for the resulting contract is to be determined. The RFP will be accessible via sam.gov in the “Contracting Opportunities” section.

Potential Offerors are responsible for monitoring this site for release of the RFP package and any amendments. No status inquiries or requests for additional information will be answered prior to posting.  All offerors shall be registered with the System for Award Management Registration per FAR Clause 52.204-7 and 52.204-8. No paper copies of the solicitation will be mailed and telephone requests will not be honored.