Gaborone, Botswana - 5 year Landscaping Maintenance

The contract solicitation 19GE5026Q0044 seeks comprehensive landscape and grounds maintenance services for U.S. Government properties in Gaborone, Botswana, including the U.S. Embassy and CDC facilities. The work encompasses lawn care, tree and shrub pruning, edging, weed and pest control, irrigation system maintenance, and cleaning of outdoor areas up to perimeter walls and adjacent streets, with strict performance standards such as maintaining grass at 4–6 cm, performing edging with every mow, and achieving zero monthly customer complaints. The contract is structured as a firm-fixed-price purchase order with an initial twelve-month performance period and four one-year option periods, potentially extending the total duration to five years. All work must be performed directly by the contractor’s trained employees, with subcontracting prohibited, and operations must align with local regulations, climate conditions, and the U.S. Government’s safety and security protocols, including daily irrigation completion by 10 a.m. using CDC-supplied borehole water and trimming vegetation to ensure uninterrupted electric fence function. Offerors must meet mandatory prerequisites including active SAM registration with a valid UEI, local VAT compliance where applicable, proof of authorization to operate in Botswana, submission of a detailed Grounds Maintenance Plan, and compliance with critical insurance requirements, including Defense Base Act coverage and naming the Department of State as an additional insured. Technical evaluations focus on the contractor’s capability, key personnel qualifications, and past performance in comparable international settings, while price evaluation considers total cost—including DBA insurance—in a best-value trade-off process, not necessarily the lowest bid. Proposals must be submitted electronically in two volumes: a price offer containing the completed W-14 tax form and price breakdown, and a technical offer with resumes, client references, and documentation of local licensing plans. All submissions are due by May 26, 2026, and must adhere to strict formatting, file size, and language requirements. Contractors must also comply with stringent labor and anti-trafficking standards, provide employee housing meeting minimum space requirements, ensure proper ID card management, repatriate foreign workers upon contract end, and operate within defined work hours that accommodate security constraints, including a shortened Friday schedule. Upon award, the contractor is required to submit a transition plan within seven days and insurance verification within ten days.