The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has a requirement for Modernization to the Freight Elevator located at NLAE, Ames, IA. Solicitation 12505B23R0020 is issued as a Request for Proposals (RFP). The solicitation document, with the incorporated clauses and provisions, is issued in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Parts 13 and 36 and will be incorporated in the awarded firm-fixed price contract. Interested vendors should reference the solicitation documents for all terms and conditions. All interested parties are responsible for monitoring this website to ensure they have the most current information (i.e. Amendments) for the solicitation. No paper solicitation will be available. Notice of Set-Aside for Small Business Concerns: This requirement is a 100% Total Small Business Set Aside. The associated NAICS Code is 238290, Other Building Equipment Contractors. The small business size standard is $22 million. Magnitude of Construction is estimated to be between $100,000 and $250,000. Period of performance is 450 days after receipt of the Notice to Proceed to include inspection and punch list. All questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing to Melissa Grice, via email to melissa.grice@usda.gov. Questions must be submitted no later than close of business on ***August 24, 2023.***Answers to all questions received by that time will be posted as an amendment to the solicitation. No questions will be answered after this date unless determined to be in the best interest of the Government as deemed by the Contracting Officer. Telephone requests for information will not be accepted or returned. Interested offerors must be registered and active in the System for Award Management (SAM) at the time the proposal is submitted. To register go to www.sam.gov. Instructions for registering are on the web page (there is no fee for registration). The solicitation and associated information will be available onlv from the Contract Opportunities page at SAM.gov. This solicitation is NOT an invitation for bids and there will be NO formal public bid opening. All inquiries must be in writing via email to the persons specified in this solicitation. All answers will be provided in writing via posting to the web. DISCLAIMER: The official contract documents are located on the government webpage and the Government is not liable for information furnished by any other source. Amendments, if/when issued will be posted to Contract Opportunities for electronic downloading. This will normally be the only method of distributing amendments prior to closing; therefore, it is the offeror's responsibility to check the website periodically for any amendments to this solicitation. Websites are occasionally inaccessible, due to various reasons. The Government is not responsible for any loss of internet connectivity or for an offeror's inability to access the documents posted on the referenced web pages. The Government will not issue paper copies. Biobased Products: This procurement requires the use of Biobased products to the extent that such products are reasonably available, meet agency or relevant industry performance standards, and are reasonably priced. The products should first be acquired from the USDA designated product categories. All supplies and materials shall be of a type and quantity that conform to applicable Federal specifications and standards, and to the extent feasible and reasonable, include the exclusive use of biobased and recycled products. Please visit www.biopreferred.gov for more information on the USDA Biobased Program and to reference the catalog of mandatory biobased products.