National Laboratory of the Rockies - Landscaping Maintenance, Irrigation System Maintenance, and Irrigation System Minor Repairs

The contract for landscaping and grounds maintenance at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) in Golden, Colorado, encompasses comprehensive services across 197 acres spanning the South Table Mountain, Flatirons, and South Table Energy Park campuses. The primary objective is to preserve and enhance naturalized vegetation, support native wildlife habitats, and promote environmental sustainability through water-efficient irrigation, integrated pest management, soil health practices, and the use of climate-adapted and native plant species. The Subcontractor is responsible for routine landscaping, irrigation system maintenance and minor repairs, seasonal turf care, fertilization, weed and pest control, and adherence to strict planting standards including proper grade alignment, mulching, and irrigation protocols. Performance occurs on-site during specified seasonal windows—with irrigation winterization required between September and November and spring start-up by May 30—and must comply with NLR’s Safe Work Permit system, OSHA-equivalent PPE rules, and federal and state environmental regulations. All work is subject to on-site inspection and acceptance by NLR’s Technical Monitor, with rejected materials requiring replacement at the subcontractor’s expense. The contract has an initial 12-month base period with four optional 12-month renewals, extending the potential term to five years. Performance is governed by detailed requirements for key personnel, including the designation of two primary and two backup managers with a minimum of ten years of comparable experience, who must be available during business hours and hold active membership in recognized professional organizations. Subcontractors must submit complete organizational conflict of interest disclosures, demonstrate no conflicts with prior U.S. Government or NLR employment within the past year, and ensure all personnel, especially foreign nationals, comply with NLR’s rigorous access and security protocols requiring six-week advance notice and documentation. Compliance with federal acquisition regulations is enforced through clauses related to data rights, subcontracting, and representations, with mandatory submission of forms including EMR safety metrics, ES&H evaluation worksheets, wage determinations, and certified representations under penalty of law. Invoices must be submitted electronically to Accounts.Payable@NLR.gov in Word or PDF format, referencing the subcontract’s remittance details, without use of federal portals like WAWF. The award will follow a trade-off process prioritizing qualitative merit—particularly environmental stewardship, safety performance, and organizational integrity—substantially over price, with evaluation including EMR thresholds where rates above 1.00 trigger enhanced scrutiny. All materials, including seed and topsoil, must be delivered in original, labeled containers with