IDR 2026 - Catering Services

The Department of State is soliciting catering services for a U.S. Independence Day Reception at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, scheduled for June 30, 2026. The contractor must provide all specialized labor, materials, equipment, and professional supervision to serve approximately 1,000 guests across two service phases: 200 guests for hors d'oeuvres from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, and 1,000 total guests for reception activities from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM. The event theme is "Freedom 250 - American Excellence," and the contractor is expected to propose a menu featuring traditional American regional dishes and operate both standard beverage bars and signature cocktail bars with four theme-inspired cocktails. Evaluation will be based on the lowest-priced acceptable offer considering past performance references, years of experience, comprehension of the Statement of Work, menu presentation and originality, and the work plan/master plan. Critical deadlines include April 17, 2026, at 14:00 for question submissions, April 22, 2026, at 14:00 (Buenos Aires local time) for quotation submissions, and a pre-quotation site visit scheduled for April 16, 2026.

This solicitation does not include any set-aside designations, and no incumbent contractor information is provided. The government has declined to disclose an estimated budget or funding range, encouraging vendors to submit their best competitive pricing in USD for 1,000 guests with Value Added Tax listed separately. The contract will be firm-fixed price, and award will be made based on initial quotations without discussion. Performance will take place at the Ambassador's Residence (Bosch Palace) located at Florida 585, C1005 AAK, Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. All prospective offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to submission, and contractors must comply with security requirements including submission of worker names and identification one month prior to the event, maintenance of labor risk insurance per Argentine law, and compliance with fire prevention and smoke-free workspace policies.