Landscaping/Grounds Services - US Embassy Kingston

The U.S. Department of State, through its Acquisitions - AQM Momentum office, is soliciting bids for comprehensive landscaping and grounds maintenance services at the U.S. Embassy Compound in Kingston, Jamaica, and Colin Powell Plaza under solicitation number 19AQMM26R0340. This contract is a Small Business Set-Aside with a NAICS code of 561730 and is structured as a firm-fixed-price arrangement with a 12-month base period and four additional 12-month option periods, potentially extending performance to five years. The total estimated value of the contract, including all options, is up to $50,000, with each year—base and options—funded at a lump sum of $10,000 that bundles both landscaping services and DBA insurance. Work must be performed Monday through Friday, 7:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding U.S. and Jamaican holidays, with all services delivered on-site at the embassy compound and plaza. The contractor is responsible for all labor, materials, equipment, and management required to maintain lawns, gardens, walkways, parking areas, sports courts, swimming pools, fish ponds, and trash zones to strict performance standards, including grass height between 4–6 cm, daily debris removal, weekly irrigation checks, monthly pruning, and annual tree trimming. The contract imposes significant operational, security, and administrative obligations. Contractors must submit a transition plan within 10 days of award and a grounds maintenance plan, personnel list, and quality control plan within 30 days. All proposed staff must be immediately available to minimize transition risk, and key personnel must demonstrate relevant experience. Strict security protocols require submission of police clearance reports not older than three months at award, with bi-annual re-vetting throughout the contract term. U.S. citizens and third-country nationals must hold MRPT certification, while local nationals require RSO vetting. Approved personnel must wear issued U.S. Government ID cards at all times while on-site and return them upon departure. Overtime is prohibited without prior written approval from the Contracting Officer’s Representative or the Contracting Officer, depending on hours, and no additional funding is available without formal modification. Insurance requirements are mandated under FAR 52.228-3, -4, and -5, with policies naming the Department of State as additional insured and meeting minimum coverage standards as required by local law. The government retains