Ground Maintenance- USDA, ARS, SHRS, Miami, Florida

The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is seeking quotations for grounds maintenance services at its Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in Miami, Florida through Request for Quotation (RFQ) 1232SA26Q0231. The contractor will provide bi-weekly maintenance services including mowing, trimming, landscaping, herbicide application, and debris removal across approximately 638,500 square feet of grounds divided into three designated areas. Key requirements include maintaining 6-foot branch clearance, 5-foot shrub heights in specified locations, removal of fallen debris and tree suckers, and herbicide treatment using only approved active ingredients (glyphosate, glufosinate-ammonium, or diquat dibromide). The Government will award to the lowest price technically acceptable offeror under FAR 12.203 evaluation criteria, requiring offerors to demonstrate technical acceptability, explain their ability to perform, and provide three relevant past performance references. The deadline for quotation submission is March 6, 2026, with questions due by March 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time; a mandatory site visit is scheduled for February 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Building 89.

This acquisition is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside with a small business size standard of $9.5 million, making it open exclusively to small business concerns. No incumbent contractor information is specified in the solicitation documents; however, interested parties may research current contractors through www.fpds.gov or www.sam.gov. The contract will be firm-fixed price with a one-year base period (March 16, 2026 through March 15, 2027) and four optional one-year renewal periods extending through March 15, 2031, for a maximum five-year duration, plus a potential six-month extension. The Government will calculate total contract value using all base and option year pricing plus the extension period at the final option year rate, though specific budget amounts are not disclosed in the solicitation. Performance will occur at the facility located at 13601 Old Cutler Road, Miami, Florida 33158, with all work conducted during normal duty hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding federal holidays), and prevailing wage rates of at least $16.99 per hour plus fringe benefits of $5.55 per hour apply under the Service Contract Labor Standards.