Federal Contract Alert: Decommission and Installation of two-way baler system. — DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEPT OF THE NAVY.USMC.MARCORP I&L.MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS CO
Marine Corps Baler System Decommission & Installation Contract – What You're Actually Looking At
This is a Navy solicitation to remove and dispose of an existing two-way baler system at a Marine Corps installation, then install a replacement unit. NAICS 333248 covers machinery manufacturing and installation for waste and recycling equipment. This is a straightforward equipment swap – not sexy, but often less competitive than you'd expect because most prime contractors don't staff it as a priority. That's your opening.
Who Can Bid
No small business set-aside applies here. This RFQ is open to all contractors meeting the NAICS code requirement. You need to be registered in SAM and hold a current CAGE code. The prime will almost certainly need to demonstrate prior baler installation experience at a federal facility or equivalent commercial site. If you're a subcontractor, get the prime to validate your role in their proposal before they submit – vague task descriptions blow deals apart later.
Key Dates You Cannot Miss
Deadline is 24 August 2026 at 10:00 AM JST (Japan Standard Time). Yes, that's JST – this work is at a Marine installation in the Pacific Theater, likely Okinawa or similar. If your team is CONUS-based, account for the time zone conversion immediately. Questions close typically 5–7 days before submission. The full statement of work should be live on SAM. Download it now and read every page, especially disposal requirements and site access restrictions.
How to Respond – Real Talk
Step one: get the government's site survey report if one exists. Ask the contracting officer whether a pre-bid site visit is available. This matters because baler decommissioning on a military base involves hazmat disposal protocols, utility cutoffs, and work permits you cannot estimate blind. Step two: price the job in three parts – removal and disposal (most variable cost), installation labor, and equipment procurement. Marine installations often have strict environmental handling requirements for decommissioned machinery; factor remediation time. Step three: build your schedule backward from the deadline. Specify your team's credentials clearly. A bid that says "experienced technicians" loses to one that names two people with three prior installations each.
If you don't have prior federal baler work, partner with someone who does rather than bid solo. The government will ask for past performance, and a blank line kills you here.
CMMC & DFARS Compliance Checklist
This is machinery installation at a DoD facility, not a IT or cybersecurity contract, so CMMC is unlikely to apply. However, the base itself is secure. Confirm whether your team needs base access badges or security clearances. Check the SOW for DFARS clause 252.204-7012 (safeguarding covered defense information). If the installation uses any connected systems for baler monitoring or maintenance scheduling, verify whether you'll interface with DoD networks. Most equipment decommissioning work doesn't trigger DFARS data protection requirements, but read the special instructions section twice. If DFARS applies, your contract administration process must document all site work with photos and reports – the government will audit it.
Three Things That Actually Matter
One: Environmental disposal certification. Verify your disposal subcontractor holds EPA and state permits for whatever fluids or components are inside the old unit. A cheap disposal vendor who cuts corners gets your company barred from future bids.
Two: Site logistics and base access. Call the installation's public works office before you bid. Understand equipment delivery windows, parking, and whether the old baler is currently operational or already down. Downtime costs money.
Three: Warranty and spare parts. Your proposal should specify what you provide in spare parts during year one. Government buyers evaluate total cost of ownership, not just installation price.
Sign Up for Weekly Curated Opportunities
Don't hunt SAM randomly. Get GovEdge Weekly – actionable federal contract opportunities filtered by NAICS code, set-aside status, and agency. Real deadlines, real requirements, no noise.