SAM #1232SA26Q0977

USDA ARS Grounds Maintenance Services – Base Year Plus Four Option Years (Kerrville, TX)

This opportunity is for comprehensive grounds maintenance services at the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville, Texas. - Government Buyer: - US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Southeast Area Acquisition Office, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory - Scope of Services: - Grounds maintenance including mowing, edging, weed eating, blowing off debris, lawn fertilization, and trimming shrubs/hedges - Excludes chemical edging and tree trimming - Contractor must provide all labor and equipment - Services scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; no weekend work - Annual schedule: 37 mowings, 38 trash pickups, 4 shrub trimmings, 2 fertilizations - Contractor responsible for trash and debris disposal - Contract Structure: - Firm-fixed price contract - One-year base period with four one-year option periods (potential total of five years) - Small business set-aside under NAICS 561730 - Requirements: - Vendors must be registered in SAM.gov - Payment via Department of the Treasury Invoice Processing Platform (IPP.gov) - Responses must include capability statement, relevant experience, and past performance - No specific OEMs or product manufacturers are referenced; this is a service-only procurement

Description

Questions and Answers.

Q1: Shrub and Hedge Trimming Frequency - Is shrub and hedge trimming limited to the four (4) scheduled annual services, or must the contractor include additional trimming, when needed, within the firm-fixed annual price?

A1: Trimming in the 4 scheduled services should suffice.

Q2: Fertilizer and Weed-Control Requirements - Is the contractor responsible for furnishing all fertilizer and weed-control products? If so, are there required product specifications, application rates, target weeds, approval requirements, or application records beyond using a combination product suitable for Bermuda and St. Augustine grass?

A2: Fertilizer is not required and weed control is covered in another contract.

Q3: Debris and Clipping Disposal: SOW Section 3.0 states the contractor is responsible for the disposal of all trash, debris, and grass clippings. Is there an established on-site area for the disposal of organic materials (clippings/limbs), or is the contractor required to haul all organic waste to an off-site commercial landfill?

A3: Contractor is required to haul oof trash debris and organic materials to large to fit in our dumpsters.

Q4: Schedule Discrepancy: The Grounds Maintenance Schedule in Section 4.0 lists 37 total mows but 38 total trash pickups, specifically showing a pickup in January when no mowing is scheduled. Is the January pickup intended to be a stand-alone site policing service, or should it coincide with other scheduled tasks?

A4: 37 total mows and trash pickups should be total. The 38th trash pickup can be removed.

Q5: Personnel Security Requirements: The facility is identified as the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory. Beyond the standard SAM registration and site visit requirements, are there specific facility-level security clearances or background checks required for on-site subcontractor personnel?

A5: The facility is secured by a fence that is operated by the front office. All work will be scheduled M-F 8am to 4pm. Contractor will call in from security box at the gate and the front office will allow access if work is scheduled. 

Description -

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Part 12.  This announcement constitutes the only solicitation.  Quotations are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. 

Solicitation number 1232SA26Q0977 is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Ground Maintenance with 4 option year.  

This acquisition  is set-aside for small business concerns.  The applicable North American Industry Classification Standard Code is 561730  The small business size standard is $9.5 Million  This acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.  All responsible sources may submit a quotation which will be considered by the agency. 

Statement of Requirement

This requirement is for Grounds Maintenance with 4 Option years in accordance with the attached Statement of Work.

Vendors are required to be active and registered in the System for Award Management at www.sam.gov when submitting a quote and at time of award (FAR 52.204-7(b)(1)). Payment will be made utilizing the Department of the Treasury Invoice Processing Platform at www.ipp.gov.

SAM.gov and IPP.gov are free, official websites of the United States government.

Quotes are due no later than 4:00 pm Central Standard Time on Friday, August 14, 2026. Quotes must be submitted electronically, e-mailed to lynn.hults@usda.gov; no faxed or hard copy quotes are allowed.

Responses must include a detailed description of the capability of providing a Grounds Maintenance with 4 option years, any relevant experience providing this type of data to other government agencies or organizations, and past performance history.  Quotes that merely offer to provide the data as described in the Statement of Work without any additional information will not receive further consideration for award.

The final day for question submission is 3:00 pm Central Standard Time on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

A site visit is scheduled for Wednesday July 29, 2026, at 10:00AM CST. Please ensure you email the name of the personnel requesting to attend with the name of the company which they represent to lynn.hults@usda.gov by Tuesday July 28, 2026, by 3:00 PM CST.

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