Bid guide
How to bid on 578-26-012 Bldg 226 Replace Paralleling Gear for the VA
What the VA is buying and why it matters
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to award a sole-source contract to replace obsolete paralleling switchgear control systems in Building 226 at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois. This project involves removing old controls and installing new Schneider Electric Ethernet-based PLC processors, along with related communication hardware.
The work also includes ensuring full system integration, conducting all necessary testing, providing documentation and programming files, and offering training for operators and maintenance staff. This is a notice of intent for a sole-source award, not a request for competitive proposals.
Key dates and what happens at the deadline
This notice was published on September 08, 2026. If your firm believes this work should be competed, you must submit information by 4:00 PM Central Time on September 23, 2026. This is the deadline for firms to express interest in competing for the work, not for submitting a proposal.
The VA will not accept telephone inquiries. Any determination by the government to compete this contract based on responses to this notice is at their discretion. The VA will not be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice of intent.
Who this opportunity suits
This notice is primarily for firms that believe they can provide the specific services outlined and that the VA should not proceed with a sole-source award to Altorfer Industries Inc. The VA states that Altorfer Industries Inc. possesses proprietary engineering source code and technical data necessary for integrating the new Schneider Electric PLC processors with existing Caterpillar EMCP panels and the Eaton Foreseer EPMS.
The relevant NAICS code for this procurement is 333120, Construction Machinery Manufacturing. This opportunity is for firms with expertise in complex electrical control systems, particularly those involving proprietary integration with Caterpillar and Eaton systems.
How to respond to this notice
To view the original source of this opportunity on the portal, click the “View original source” button. If the first click takes you to the portal’s homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view documents, though for many bids this is not required.
If your firm believes the VA should not pursue this sole-source procurement with Altorfer Industries Inc., you must email your information to Shalottina Cook at [email protected] and Roniece Ambrose at [email protected] by 4:00 PM Central Standard Time on September 23, 2026.
Practical tips for preparing a competitive response
When responding to a notice of intent for a sole-source award, focus on demonstrating your firm's unique qualifications and ability to perform the work described. Clearly articulate how your company possesses the necessary expertise, proprietary information, or unique capabilities that would allow you to successfully complete the project.
Provide specific details and evidence to support your claim that you can meet all the requirements, especially those related to proprietary systems and integration. Your response should directly address why the VA's justification for a sole-source award might not apply to your firm, or why competition would be in the government's best interest. Ensure your submission is concise, well-organized, and submitted before the stated deadline.
See the live bid — deadline, agency details, and how to respond
Dates and requirements can change via addenda; always verify on the bid page and at the original source before responding.
View this bid on BiddingSimpleThis guide was prepared by BiddingSimple from the solicitation’s public posting. It is not official guidance from Veterans Affairs, Department of; the original posting controls.