PR16240719: Solicitation Notice for Independence Day Event 2026

The U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi seeks proposals for a venue to host its Independence Day event on November 18, 2026, with proposals due September 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM UAE Time. The solicitation is a women-owned small business (WOSB) set-aside; questions are due September 3, 2026.

Place of performance is the United Arab Emirates. The venue must be a minimum four-star American brand hotel located within 20 kilometers of the Embassy with an indoor ballroom capable of accommodating 500–1,000 guests in cocktail-style setup. The scope of work shall be performed directly by the facility and not subcontracted except for audio and video setup.

The event runs 19:00 to 22:00 and requires comprehensive food and beverage services including traditional American finger food, two live cooking stations, two complimentary tasting rounds for up to ten Embassy representatives, adequate waitstaff and four bartenders, 80 high cocktail tables, and red, white, and blue floral arrangements. Venue requirements include 500–2,000 square meters of indoor ballroom space, a majlis area for 100 VIP guests, two breakout rooms, a stage accommodating 10–12 musicians or speakers, exclusive access one day before through 2:00 AM the following day, secure lockable storage, three high-resolution LED screens, wireless microphones, and four complimentary guest rooms. Security provisions include four walkthrough magnetometers, one X-ray machine, check-in infrastructure, ten facility security staff, one security manager, and one event manager. Parking includes complimentary valet for approximately 100 VIPs with ten valet attendants, accommodation for 400 total guest vehicles, 200 reserved Embassy spaces, buggy transport for VIPs and mobility-challenged guests, and three dedicated entry lanes.

The Government will award a Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order. CLIN 01 covers a minimum of 500 guests; CLIN 02 is a variable quantity option for guests 501–1,000 at a firm-fixed price per additional guest, exercisable with seven days' notice. Pricing must be submitted in United Arab Emirates Dirhams with Value Added Tax shown separately. Proposals must be electronically submitted in PDF format not exceeding 10 MB. Evaluation assesses vendor compliance with RFP requirements, contractor responsibility per FAR 9.1, and price. Amendment 0001, posted September 3, 2026, revised catering service requirements to specify menu options with American food and regional themes presented in cocktail style; all other terms remain unchanged.