Triannual herbicide treatments and quarterly exterior pest control

This solicitation, numbered 1232SA26Q0599, is a Request for Quotation under FAR Part 12 for commercial services involving triannual herbicide treatments and quarterly exterior pest control at the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville, Texas. The acquisition is structured as a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS Code 561710 with a size standard of $17.5 million, and all quotations must come from responsible small business concerns. The contract is issued as a firm-fixed-price, lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) award, meaning technical acceptability is a pass/fail gate requiring strict compliance with all minimum functional and performance requirements outlined in the statement of work, including three seasonal herbicide applications targeting thistle and noxious weeds and four quarterly exterior pest control visits per year. The base period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through August 30, 2027, with four optional one-year extensions through August 30, 2031. Offers are due by July 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET and must be submitted via email with the solicitation number in the subject line. Quotations must include unit and total pricing inclusive of all costs, estimated lead times, product specifications with a “meets/does not meet” assessment, and remain valid for at least 60 days beyond the deadline. A SAM.gov Unique Entity ID is mandatory, and offerors must submit safety data sheets for all chemicals and service reports after each visit. The contracting officer is Amber M. Sampson, with administrative oversight by USDA ARS Acquisition and Property D in Beltsville, Maryland. Payment will be processed according to Block 18a of the SF-1449. The contract incorporates key FAR clauses including 52.212-4 for commercial terms, 52.222-90 addressing DEI discrimination, 52.203-17 on whistleblower rights, and 52.232-40 for accelerated payments to small business subcontractors. Additional requirements include strict compliance with Federal anti-discrimination laws, Executive Orders 14168 and 14173, and the unenforceability of any supplier terms that impose indemnification, liability for option non-exercise, or