Status: Open. Phase 1 solution briefs due November 30, 2026, 4:30 p.m. ET.
Executive Summary
The U.S. Army runs its bases through its Installation Management Command (IMCOM). Through its contracting office, the Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC), IMCOM opened a standing way to buy commercial products and services (Commercial Solutions Opening, CSO W91QEY-27-S-C001) for Army Enterprise Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Modernization and Lifecycle Sustainment Maintenance over fiscal years 2027 to 2031.
The Army is not looking for routine repair or one-for-one equipment swaps. It wants integrated commercial approaches that fix why HVAC systems fail, starting with barracks and other soldier-occupied buildings in the continental U.S. Phase 1 solution briefs are due November 30, 2026, 4:30 p.m. ET.
Solicitation at a Glance
- Agency: U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM), through the Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC)
- Solicitation: Commercial Solutions Opening W91QEY-27-S-C001, Army Enterprise HVAC Modernization and Lifecycle Sustainment Maintenance
- Updates: Amendment A001 (Nov 2), Amendment A002 and Q&A (Nov 6), potential project list (Nov 10)
- Authority: 10 U.S.C. 3458 and RFO DFARS Subpart 212.70
- Area of Interest: AoI 1, Modernization & Lifecycle Sustainment Maintenance Plan
- Funding: No dollar amount posted
- Award type: Fixed-price commercial contracts (FAR Part 12); the Army may use an Other Transaction (OT) agreement instead
- Format: Solution brief or white paper up to 10 pages (12-point minimum) or up to 20 slides
- Due date: November 30, 2026, 4:30 p.m. ET, by email
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the November 30 deadline.
What Is the Army Enterprise HVAC CSO?
A Commercial Solutions Opening is a competitive way for the Department of War to buy commercial technologies, products and services with simpler terms than a standard contract. Companies send a short solution brief first. The Army may then ask for a presentation and a full Commercial Solution Proposal. This CSO covers the Army's heating and cooling infrastructure across its installations for FY27 to FY31.
What Problem Is the Army Trying to Solve?
The Army wants to improve HVAC performance, indoor air quality, humidity and moisture control, and soldier quality of life. It names the root causes it wants addressed: deferred maintenance, water intrusion, conditions that lead to mold and mildew, controls deficiencies and electrical capacity constraints. It also wants a proactive lifecycle maintenance structure that lowers the risk of HVAC failures across IMCOM, and ways to pay for the work beyond normal Army appropriations.
Priority Capability Areas: What the Army Is Looking For
- Immediate FY27 actions: repair, stabilization and root-cause correction at priority installations
- Near-term strategies: immediate repairs combined with broader modernization planning
- FY27 to FY31 plans: enterprise, regional, installation, barracks portfolio or hybrid modernization and lifecycle sustainment concepts
- Performance-based service: service models that guarantee indoor climate results ("conditioned air outcomes") to industry standards and Army parameters
- Financing: Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC), Utility Energy Service Contracts (UESC), third-party financing, HVAC-as-a-Service and other commercial models
- Data-driven prioritization: plans built on the Army's BUILDER building condition data (Attachment 1) and installation Brand of Choice lists (Attachment 2)
Funding and Contract Terms
The CSO posts no dollar amount, and requests for full proposals depend on available funds. The November 10 list of potential FY27 to FY31 projects is not approved or funded. The Army plans fixed-price commercial contracts and may switch to an Other Transaction agreement or another method. The Phase 1 brief must state a price and payment terms, and service pricing must include Service Contract Labor Standards wage and fringe rates.
Eligibility Requirements
- Who can submit: Traditional and nontraditional defense contractors; there is no small business set-aside
- Teams: A prime can describe teammates such as a small business subcontractor (Q&A 3)
- Before award: Registration on the federal contracting site (SAM) with a Unique Entity ID, Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) registration, and a responsibility determination
- Classification: All submissions must be unclassified
How to Submit
- Request the data: Ask for Attachments 1 and 2 through the SAM notice; MICC reviews requests within one business day
- Ask questions: Email the AoI 1 point of contact with the MICC contracting officer and contract specialist on copy (Amendment A002)
- Write one brief per concept: Each separate concept needs its own brief, and each brief must address every item in CSO paragraph 3.2.1
- Send it: Email the brief to the MICC contracting officer and contract specialist by November 30, 2026, 4:30 p.m. ET
What Happens After You Submit?
- Phase 1 review: Experts rate each brief on its own, in this order: modernization merit, lifecycle sustainment merit, economic viability, manpower efficiency, and prioritization of barracks and root causes
- Phase 2: An invited presentation, which the Army may skip
- Phase 3: An invited Commercial Solution Proposal, valid for at least 180 days
- Industry conference: The Army expects to host one; watch the SAM notice for the date
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
It fits HVAC equipment and controls makers, building automation and indoor air quality sensor companies, moisture, building envelope and mold remediation firms, energy service companies (ESCOs) and utilities, facilities maintenance and asset-management software, and HVAC-as-a-Service or building energy financing groups. Because the Army wants integrated plans, single-product startups will usually do best as part of a team with an integrator or ESCO.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For Commercial Solutions Openings like this one, we help you:
- Decide whether your product fits on its own or inside a team
- Shape a concept around the Army's root causes and barracks priorities
- Build the price and payment terms the brief requires
- Write the 10-page solution brief or 20-slide deck
- Prepare for the presentation and full proposal if invited
Plan Your Army HVAC Submission
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a dollar figure?
No. The CSO does not post a total or an award size.
When is the deadline?
November 30, 2026, 4:30 p.m. Eastern.
Can we send more than one concept?
Yes. Send one brief for each separate and distinct concept (Q&A 1).
Pages or slides?
Either: up to 10 pages in 12-point font, or up to 20 slides. The cover page does not count if it has no substantive content.
Do we need to include a price?
Yes. The Phase 1 brief states the price and desired payment terms. Detailed cost data is not required at this stage (Q&A 2).
How do we get the BUILDER data?
Request access to Attachments 1 and 2 through the SAM notice. MICC reviews requests within one business day.
Is this only for big companies?
There is no set-aside, and nontraditional contractors can win awards, but the Army wants integrated plans, so many startups will fit best on a team.
Could the contract type change?
Yes. The Army may use an Other Transaction agreement or another method based on Phase 1 responses.
Can BW&CO help with an Army HVAC CSO submission?
Yes. We help teams shape the concept, build the price, and write the solution brief and proposal. Book a call with our team.
Source: Army Enterprise HVAC CSO W91QEY-27-S-C001 on SAM.gov