2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony Hotel Contract

Update March 5, 2024: The Department has uploaded a document containing responses to questions recevied from interested parties. The quote due date remains unchanged.  Interested parties should review the Q&A document prior to submitting quotes.  

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice.  The solicitation for commercial services is being conducted in conjunction with FAR Part 13. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.  Solicitation NBRS-2024-Q-0001 is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ).  The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-02.  The NAICS Code is 721110, Hotels (Not Casino) and Motels, and small business size standard is $40.0M.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has a requirement to obtain hotel guest room accommodations, meeting space and related conference support services for the 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools (NBRS) Award Ceremony.  ED intends to hold the ceremony in November 2024.  The preferred dates are, listed in order of preference, are listed in the separate RFQ document.  The first option preferred dates are November 13-15, 2024.  The preferred Days of the Week for the event are Wednesday – Friday.

The entity selected to receive an offer from ED is required to register in the System for Award Management (SAM) and to maintain active registration during the life of the purchase order. SAM can be accessed at https://www.sam.gov. Quoters shall include their SAM Unique Entity ID (UEI) number in their quote. If the quoter does not have a UEI, it should contact the entity designated at www.sam.gov for UEI establishment directly to obtain one. The quoter should indicate that it is an offeror for a government contract when contacting the entity designated at www.sam.gov for establishing the UEI. The quoter selected for an offer from the Department will need to provide Offeror Representations and Certifications prior to any award.

All interested, responsible sources may submit a quote directly to the U.S. Department of Education. Any quote from a source other than the hotel or lodging venue itself must include written evidence that the quoter is currently authorized to submit binding quotes on behalf of the venue whose accommodations and/or facility are being offered. Evidence shall include a signed agreement between the vendor and the quoter. Quotes that fail to provide such evidence shall be deemed technically unacceptable and will not be considered for award. See additional subcontract-related requirements and instructions below.   

AREA OF CONSIDERATION:  The Washington, DC Metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia hotels with ready access to public transportation options offered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.  Large hotels capable of blocking 600 or more sleeping rooms, plus meeting space that can accommodate 1000 - 1200 attendees in rounds, will be considered.  The majority of lodging and conference rooms must be at the same general location.  The Department will consider hotel partnering arrangements where sleeping room accommodations within close proximity of each other are proposed.  At this time, there is no flexibility with the area of consideration.

CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS:  Submit all clarification questions concerning this solicitation in writing via E-Mail to Gary Weaver, Contracting Officer, at Gary.Weaver@ed.gov.  ED will accept clarification questions until 12:00 pm EST Tuesday, March 5, 2024.  After this date ED does not guarantee that a response will be given.

QUOTE DUE DATE:  Quotes are due by 12:00 pm EST, Monday, March 11, 2024 to Gary Weaver, Contracting Officer, at Gary.Weaver@ed.gov.  The Department will make an award decision as soon as possible after the quote due date so that a room block, space, etc. can be locked in.

PLEASE SEE THE FULL RFQ, INCLUDING APPENDICES, UPLOADED AS SEPARATE FILES FOR THE COMPLETE REQUIREMENTS (ROOMS, FOOD & BEVERAGE, A/V, ETC.), THE BASIS FOR AWARD, AND THE COMPLETE QUOTE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS.