Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Sam Houston Ranger District Recreation Areas (TX) Ground Maintenance-Mowing

The USDA Forest Service, Sam Houston Ranger District, is soliciting bids for a ground maintenance-mowing contract covering recreation areas in New Waverly, Texas, under RFQ 12444026Q0049. The contract is a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) arrangement with a base period from May 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026, for the Cagle, Stubblefield, and Double Lake areas, and a shortened term ending September 15, 2026, for the Scott Ridge areas. The work involves mowing grass to a uniform height of two inches, trimming edges, removing debris, restoring damaged landscapes, and ensuring all areas are left clean and safe, performed Monday through Thursday between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, excluding federal holidays. The contract includes a base period with four option years and a possible six-month extension under FAR 52.217-8, with performance evaluated on-site through bi-monthly Quality Assurance inspections by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. The solicitation is a total small business set-aside under FAR 19.5, requiring all offerors to be small businesses as defined by the SBA, with specific clauses mandating compliance with the Nonmanufacturer Rule, limitations on subcontracting, and small business subcontracting plans. Proposals must include an executed Performance Relevancy Questionnaire, a technical synopsis detailing personnel, equipment, and subcontracting arrangements, and proof of required insurance coverage, with award going to the lowest-priced technically acceptable offeror with acceptable past performance under an LPTA methodology. Contractors must comply with numerous FAR clauses covering labor standards, ethical conduct, environmental sustainability, Buy American requirements, cybersecurity safeguards, employment eligibility verification, paid sick leave, and anti-discrimination policies, including the newly incorporated DEI compliance requirement. All work is subject to immediate rework at no cost to the government if deficiencies are identified during inspections, and full adherence to contract specifications is mandatory with no more than three non-compliance reports permitted per contract period. Solicitations are due by May 19, 2026, and submissions must be delivered electronically to the designated portal, with points of contact being Stacey Phillips and Jason Morton, the COR, via provided email and phone numbers.