S--Seasonal Mowing & Grounds Maintenance - CAVE

The contract awards seasonal mowing and grounds maintenance services at Carlsbad Caverns National Park under a firm-fixed price structure, with performance spanning from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027. The work includes mowing turf to a specified height of 3–5 inches across multiple designated areas such as the Picnic Area, Main Entrance Road and Walnut Canyon Road shoulders, and the Historic Pond, Orchard, and House Landscape, with restrictions on mowing during saturated soil conditions and in protected environmental buffer zones. All operations must occur between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and the contractor is required to coordinate closely with the National Park Service representative, submit a detailed work schedule, equipment list, traffic control plan, proof of insurance, and a Site-Specific Safety Plan prior to mobilization. The contract is a 100% total small business set-aside under NAICS code 561730, with offerors required to be certified as small businesses in SAM.gov and provide their Unique Entity Identifier and CAGE code. Pricing details are not pre-filled and must be submitted by offerors, with award based on best value through a comparative evaluation of price, technical capability, and prior experience—without using a lowest price technically acceptable approach. The contractor must strictly adhere to OSHA standards, NPS safety policies, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, with a strong emphasis on environmental protection, emergency preparedness, and workplace safety. Special requirements mandate a comprehensive safety program, including a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure plan, hazard communication protocols, confined space entry procedures, fall protection measures, and mandatory training in HAZWOPER, fire safety, and CPR for on-site personnel. Daily safety inspections, competent person designation, and incident reporting within 24 hours are required, along with immediate corrective action for deficiencies. The contract includes numerous FAR clauses related to labor standards, whistleblower rights, prohibitions on certain confidentiality agreements, combating human trafficking, paid sick leave, and DEI discrimination, with several deviations authorized under FAR 52.252-5 and 52.252-6. Invoicing must be completed electronically through the U.S. Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP), and the contract includes provisions for termination for convenience, alternate dispute resolution under federal law, and compliance with payment regulations including accelerated payments to small business subcontractors. Site visitation is scheduled for May