Landscaping Project

This solicitation, numbered 1232SA26Q0714, is a combined synopsis and solicitation for commercial landscaping services at the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center in Madison, Wisconsin, issued under FAR Part 12 as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS Code 561730, with a small business size standard of $9.5 million, and only responsible small business concerns may submit quotations. The contract is anticipated to be awarded on a firm-fixed-price basis using a Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation methodology, where proposals must pass all mandatory compliance gates—timely submission, full compliance with solicitation requirements including all amendments, a feasible technical approach, acceptable past performance, and a fair and reasonable price—before pricing is considered. Failure on any one pass/fail criterion results in immediate disqualification. The work requires comprehensive landscaping to transform a designated area into a functional People’s Garden focused on feeding people and pollinators, including site preparation, debris removal, installation of native plants, soil and mulch, hardscaping elements such as stone walls and edging, and erosion control measures, all performed to industry standards and professional quality. The contractor must provide a one-year warranty on all new plants, and final acceptance will be granted by the Contracting Officer’s Representative after a successful site inspection in accordance with FAR 12.201-1(b)(2). The contract requires full compliance with numerous federal clauses, including those related to whistleblower rights, prohibitions on internal confidentiality agreements, combating human trafficking, accelerated payments to small business subcontractors, and unenforceability of unauthorized obligations. Offerors must submit a completed SF 1449, a transmittal letter including SAM UEI and Tax ID, a detailed technical approach developed by an authorized employee without the use of artificial intelligence, documented past performance references from federal, state, or university clients, and a fully completed Schedule of Pricing in Microsoft Excel format with all prices rounded to the nearest dollar—no cents permitted. All submissions must be emailed to Kelly Wright at kelly.wright@usda.gov with the subject line “RFQ 1232SA26Q0714” by June 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, and prices must remain firm for