NIST Boulder Catering Services Base with Four Option Years for Continued Service
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting market research through a Sources Sought Notice to identify qualified small business contractors capable of providing catering services for official conferences and meetings at the NIST site in Boulder, Colorado. The contract opportunity involves an initial one-year base period with four potential one-year option periods for continued service. Services are to be delivered on an as-needed basis, either on-site or within a 50-mile radius of the Boulder campus, servicing events with attendee numbers ranging from 20 to 325 over durations of one to five days. The catering requirements are constrained by Government Travel Regulations regarding meal costs, with a capped budget of $20 per person for continental breakfasts and $22 per person for lunches, inclusive of gratuity and all service charges. This notice, issued solely for market research purposes, does not constitute a solicitation or a commitment to award a contract. NIST seeks responses from responsible small businesses under NAICS code 722320 with annual revenues of $9 million or less. Interested parties are requested to submit detailed capability statements by the stated deadline, including company information, relevant experience, socio-economic status, and applicable contract vehicles. The information collected will support the acquisition strategy and potential set-aside decisions, with a formal Request for Quotation expected in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 and contract award anticipated shortly thereafter. All submissions must comply with specified formatting requirements and be sent electronically to the designated NIST point of contact.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Boulder, CO, 80305, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE
Notice ID: NIST-MML-26-SS06
Title: NIST Boulder Catering Services Base with Four Option Years for Continued Service
GENERAL INFORMATION
This is a Sources Sought Notice ONLY and is issued for market research purposes in accordance with FAR Part 10. This notice does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), Invitation for Bids (IFB), or any commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will not pay for any information submitted in response to this notice. Submission of information is voluntary and will not result in any obligation on the part of the Government.
NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME
Requests for solicitation documents will not receive a response.
Respondents shall clearly mark any proprietary or restricted information. In the absence of such markings, NIST will assume unlimited rights to all technical data submitted.
CONTRACTING OFFICE
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Acquisition Management Division
100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 1640
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640
NAICS CODE
- NAICS: 722320 – Catering
- Small Business Size Standard: $9 Million
BACKGROUND
SEE PDF ATTACHMENTS WITH FURTHER DETAILS OF SERVICES.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/Public Affairs Office (PAO) works to help ensure strong, mutually beneficial relationships with NIST's major stakeholder groups. The Conference Program and Audiovisual Services (AV) Group of the PAO supports NIST Laboratories and major programs by providing professional conference planning and AV in a cost-effective manner and in accordance with all Government rules and regulations.
The NIST site in Boulder, CO, does not have an onsite cafeteria. The Government has a need for catering services for official conferences and meetings that will include pre-registered participants and invited guests. Attendee numbers will vary by events ranging from 20 to 325 attendees. NIST events are anticipated to be 1-5 days long, and will be held at the NIST site in Boulder, CO.
DESCRIPTION OF REQUIRED SERVICES
NIST is seeking information from contractors capable of providing the NIST is conducting market research to identify potential sources with the capability to provide catering services, on an as needed basis, for a period of performance of one year with four one-year option periods. Service may be provided on-site at the NIST campus in Boulder, CO and/or off-site, not more than 50 miles from the NIST Boulder Campus. The Contractor must be located not more than 50 miles from the NIST Boulder Campus.
Government Travel Regulations set the maximum limits for meals: Meals & Incidentals (M&IE) for Boulder, Colorado. The Government must adhere to these limitations to the maximum extent practicable.
- Continental Breakfast: $20 per person inclusive of gratuity and all service charges;
- Lunch $22 per person inclusive of gratuity and all service charges.
Required Information for the Submission
NIST is seeking responses from responsible small business sources. Small businesses are defined under the associated NAICS Code for this effort, 722320 Catering, as those document sources having annual revenues of $9.0M or less. After the results of this market research are obtained and analyzed, NIST may conduct a competitive procurement(S) and subsequently award a contract.
MARKET RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to:
- Identify responsible sources capable of performing the required services
- Determine the availability of small businesses, including socio-economic categories
- Assess industry experience with scientific data evaluation, foreign-language literature, scientific publishing workflows, and custom content management systems
Information received may be used to support acquisition strategy decisions, including potential set-aside determinations.
ANTICIPATED ACQUISITION
NIST anticipates issuing a Request for Quotation (RFQ) in the fourth quarter of FY 2026, with contract award anticipated no later than the fourth quarter of FY 2026.
RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS
Interested parties shall submit a written capability statement addressing the following:
- Company name, address, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, CAGE code, and point-of-contact information
- Business size and socio-economic status (if applicable)
- Description of company capabilities relevant to the services described above
- Description of prior experience performing similar services
- Identification of applicable contract vehicles (e.g., GSA FSS, GWACs), including contract numbers
- Any other information the Government should consider for market research purposes
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Submission Method: Email
- Email Address: Harry.Brubaker@nist.gov
- Format: Microsoft Word
- Page Limit: 12 pages maximum
- Font: Times New Roman, 11-point
- Paper Size: 8.5 x 11 inches
- Margins: Minimum 1 inch on all sides
- PDFs: Catering menus and services provided.
Header and footer information that does not contain evaluative content may be included within the margin space.