Grounds Maintenance Services- Chicago ARTCC, Aurora, IL

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to Solicitation 697DCK-26-R-00150 makes the following changes:

• Answers to Questions: Provides responses to vendor questions in an attached document titled "Q and A - SIR 697DCK-26-R-00150- ZAU Grounds".

• Period of Performance Update: Corrects and updates all Period of Performance (POP) listings to reflect an 8-month service period from April to November annually, instead of the previously stated 6 months.

  • Base Year: April 1, 2026 - November 30, 2026
  • Option Year 1: April 1, 2027 - November 30, 2027
  • Option Year 2: April 1, 2028 - November 30, 2028
  • Option Year 3: April 1, 2029 - November 30, 2029
  • Option Year 4: April 1, 2030 - November 30, 2030

• Offer Due Date Extension: Extends the offer due date for this solicitation to March 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM CT.

• Section B - Supplies or Services/Prices (specifically the schedule for Grounds Maintenance Services at the Chicago ARTCC Aurora, IL).

• Section J - List of Documents, Exhibits and Other Attachments (Attachment J-5, Q and A document, was revised).

• The proposal submission deadline has been extended to March 12, 2026.

• Bidders must acknowledge receipt of this amendment.

• All other terms and conditions of the original solicitation remain unchanged.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To obtain grounds maintenance services at the FAA Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) located at 619 W. Indian Trail Road, Aurora, Illinois.

• Furnish all labor, insurance, supervision, supplies, materials, and equipment for grounds maintenance.

• Services include grass cutting, edging, weeding, fertilization, vegetation cutting and removal of under-brushing, tree and shrub pruning, and collection/disposal of litter and trash.

• Use of herbicides requires approval from the Environmental System Support Manager (SSCM) or Contracting Officer (COR).

• Contractor must use environmentally preferable products and services, adhering to Executive Orders 13423 and 13514, and the FAA Green Procurement Plan.

• Contractor must divert a minimum of 50% of non-hazardous waste from landfill or incineration.

• Specific tasks include: grass cutting (2-3 inch height), edging (1/2 inch wide, 1 inch deep clear zone), plant/shrub pruning (April and June), cultivation and mulching of shrub/hedge/flower beds, fertilization (using recovered organic or bio-based materials only if necessary and approved), raking (October), and tree/shrub/bush pruning (April and October).

• Maintenance in caged areas requires spraying with herbicide to prevent unwanted vegetation, with hand removal for weeds that cannot be treated.

• Perimeter fence line spraying with herbicide is required annually in March/April and as needed thereafter.

• Removal of grass/weeds from rock landscaping areas is required.

• Application of non-dyed hardwood mulch (2" depth) in existing mulched areas is required in April/May.

• Quality Control: Contractor must develop and implement a quality control program. A draft plan is due within 15 days of award, and the final plan within 30 days.

• Herbicides and Pesticides: Must be licensed by the state, use EPA-registered products, comply with label directions, and obtain prior approval for selected herbicides, application rates, and techniques. Certified personnel are required for application. Uncertified personnel must have specific training. Daily records of herbicide usage must be maintained and submitted monthly. Integrated Pest Management principles should be used.

• Waste Diversion: Minimum 50% diversion of non-hazardous waste from landfill/incineration.

• Location: FAA, Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center, 619 W. Indian Trail Road, Aurora, Illinois 60506.

• Period of Performance: One (1) Base Year (4/1/2026 to 9/30/2026) and four 6-month option years (4/1/2027 to 9/30/2027, 4/1/2028 to 9/30/2028, 4/1/2029 to 9/30/2029, 4/1/2030 to 9/30/2030).

• Work Hours: Primarily regular administrative hours (7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) Monday-Friday. Work outside these hours requires COR approval.

• Management: Contractor must manage the total work effort, including scheduling and quality control.

• Superintendent: A responsible representative must be on-site during herbicide use.

• Government Furnished: Utilities (electricity, steam, natural gas, water, sewage, refuse collection) will be provided. Contractor is responsible for service lines and conservation.

• Contractor Furnished: Contractor must provide all labor, materials, equipment, office space, operational facilities, and storage areas. No government-furnished equipment or materials.

• Environmental Compliance: Adherence to Executive Orders and FAA Green Procurement Plan, use of environmentally preferable products, and waste diversion are mandatory.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Contractor Staffing Access Questionnaire. Its purpose is to help the FAA determine the necessary investigation and badging requirements for potential contractor employees in the event of a contract award. Bidders are required to complete and return this questionnaire.

• Total Employee Estimate: Bidders must provide an estimate of the total number of employees (full-time, part-time, and subcontractor) anticipated to support the contract throughout its life. A list of proposed personnel can be attached if available.
• Labor Category Details: For each anticipated labor category, bidders must provide:
  • Position Title(s)
  • Estimated number of employees in that category
  • Whether employees will require routine access to an FAA facility for more than 180 days.
  • Whether employees will require access to FAA computer systems or networks.
  • Whether employees will require access to FAA Sensitive Unclassified Information (SUI), such as building designs, research materials, or operations plans.

This questionnaire is critical for bidders to complete accurately as it directly informs the FAA's assessment of security and access needs. The information provided will influence the investigation and badging processes for the awarded contract. Failure to provide this information may impact the ability to staff the contract appropriately.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for Grounds Maintenance Services at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) located in Aurora, Illinois. The services include all labor, supervision, equipment, tools, and transportation necessary to provide these grounds maintenance services.

• Provision of Grounds Maintenance Services at the Chicago ARTCC.

• Services to be performed in accordance with FAA SOWs and DOL Wage Determinations.

• The contractor is responsible for all items of work identified in the attached FAA SOW and provision of the contract.

• Period of Performance: April 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027 (Base Year).

• Option Years: Four (4) additional option years are available, extending performance through September 30, 2030.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price contract is contemplated.

• Offer Due Date: March 9, 2026, at 1700 CT.

• Questions Due Date: February 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM CT. Questions must be submitted via email to alicia.m.grant@faa.gov.

• Submission Method: Offers must be submitted electronically via email to alicia.m.grant@faa.gov.

• Evaluation Criteria: Award will be made to the lowest-priced, technically acceptable offer from a responsible offeror whose proposal conforms to the solicitation terms and conditions.

• Evaluation Factors: Past Experience and Past Performance (Customer Satisfaction Surveys) will be evaluated. Pricing will be evaluated for reasonableness and realism.

• This acquisition is set aside 100.00% for Small Business.

• The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 561730 (Landscaping Services) with a small business size standard of $9.5 million.

• Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov.

• The solicitation includes various clauses and provisions related to contract administration, insurance, personnel suitability, and other requirements.

• Attachment J-1 is the Statement of Work, Attachment J-2 is the Wage Determination, Attachment J-3 is the Customer Satisfaction Survey, and Attachment J-4 is the Contractor Staffing Questionnaire.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment J-2, a Wage Determination issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations under a contract subject to the Service Contract Act. This is relevant for bidders to understand labor costs associated with the opportunity.

• Lists numerous occupational codes and titles (e.g., "Accounting Clerk I", "Automotive Mechanic", "Computer Programmer", "Electrician, Maintenance").
• Specifies the minimum hourly wage rate for each occupation.
• Indicates that "Fringe Benefits Required Follow the Occupational Listing".
• Details specific benefits such as Health & Welfare rates and Paid Sick Leave requirements (EO 13706, EO 13658).
• Includes information on Vacation and Holiday policies.
• Outlines the process for requesting authorization of additional classifications and wage rates (Conformance Process) if a required occupation is not listed.

This wage determination is critical for bidders to accurately estimate labor costs when preparing their proposals. It ensures that all covered employees are paid at least the specified minimum wage and receive the required fringe benefits. Bidders must ensure their proposed labor rates meet or exceed these requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Customer Satisfaction Survey (CSS) form, designated as Attachment J-3, to be completed by offerors. It is used to gather feedback on past performance as it relates to a Federal Aviation Administration solicitation.

• Fields for Company Submitting Proposal, Name of Company Completing Survey, Name of Person Completing Survey, Past Performance Contract #, Types of Services Provided, and Annual Cost of Contract.
• Sections to rate contractor performance on timeliness of services, responsiveness to needs/requests/complaints, problem-solving capabilities, and overall service satisfaction using a scale from Excellent (5) to Unacceptable (1).
• Space for comments for each rating section.

Bidders are required to complete and submit this survey as part of their proposal, in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration solicitation. The survey is to be submitted directly to the FAA Contract Specialist at alicia.m.grant@faa.gov. Surveys received directly from the bidding company will not be accepted. This indicates that the survey is a critical component of the past performance evaluation for this solicitation.