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

Amendment / Modification

• The due date for receipt of offers has been extended to May 19th, 2026, by 5:00 PM ET.

• The solicitation's offer due date has been modified.

• The deadline for submitting offers has been extended to May 19th, 2026, by 5:00 PM ET. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items for Ground Maintenance-Mowing services at Sam Houston Ranger District Recreation Areas (TX). This announcement is the only solicitation, and no separate written solicitation will be issued. The acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• Ground Maintenance-Mowing services are to be performed Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

• Services are required at Cagle Recreation Area, Scott's Ridge Boat Launch Area, Scott's Ridge Day-Use Area, Stubblefield Recreation Area, and Double Lake Recreation Area.

• Specific locations and directions to each area are provided.

• This is a fixed-firm-price contract.

• The contract will be a Base plus 4 option year contract.

• The period of performance for Cagle, Stubblefield & Double Lake Rec Areas is 05/01/2026 to 09/30/2026.

• The period of performance for Scott's Ridge Rec Areas is 05/01/2026 to 09/15/2026.

• The government intends to award a contract without discussion.

• Offers must be submitted by April 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time via email to stacey.phillips@usda.gov.

• The subject line for the email must be "12444026Q0049-Sam Houston Ranger District Recreation Areas-Mowing".

• Offers must be held firm for 90 calendar days from the specified receipt date.

• Award will be made to the offeror representing the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA).

• Evaluation criteria include Price, Technical Acceptability, and Past Performance.

• Technical Acceptability requires a sound and compliant approach, a synopsis of technical capability, specification of personnel and equipment, and proof of insurance.

• Exhibit A (Performance Relevancy Questionnaire) must be completed.

• Past Performance will be evaluated based on Acceptable, Neutral, or Unacceptable ratings.

• This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns.

• The applicable North American Industry Classification Standard Code is 561730.

• The small business size standard is $9.5.

• Applicable FAR and AGAR clauses and provisions are incorporated by reference.

• Key attachments include WD-TX, SOW, Schedule of Items, and Exhibit A: Performance Relevancy Questionnaire.

• Questions are due no later than April 28, 2026.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides maps illustrating the locations of various recreation areas and their proximity to nearest cities. It also includes detailed maps of specific recreation areas, highlighting roads, facilities, and mowing areas.

• Project Map: Shows the general location of Stubblefield Rec Area, Cagle Rec Area, New Waverly, Scott Ridge Rec Area, and Double Lake Rec Area in relation to cities like Huntsville and Montgomery.
• Cagle Rec Area Map (17 Acres): Details campground roads, Stubblefield Road, FM 1375, and mowing areas. Includes restroom locations.
• Stubblefield Rec Area Map (9 Acres): Outlines FS Road, Stubblefield Road, and mowing areas.
• Double Lake Rec Area Map (21.5 Acres): Depicts work areas including roads, campsites, visitor use areas, FM 2025, CCC Lodge, restrooms, parking, and swim areas.
• Scott Ridge Map (Entrance Road & Boat Ramp - 3.3 Acres; Swim Area & Access Road - 3.5 Acres): Shows the entrance road, swim area, swim access road, and boat ramp, along with mowing areas.

These maps are crucial for understanding the geographical scope and specific locations of work related to the opportunity. Bidders can use this information to assess site conditions, plan logistics, and understand the extent of areas requiring attention (e.g., mowing, road maintenance, facility access) within each recreation area.

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

This Statement of Work outlines the requirements for grounds maintenance services at various recreation areas within the Sam Houston National Forest.

• The contractor shall provide all necessary materials, labor, equipment, tools, transportation, supervision, and expertise for grounds maintenance.

• Services are to be performed on a "CALL WHEN NEEDED" basis at the following recreation areas: Cagle Rec Area, Stubblefield Rec Area, Scotts Ridge Rec Area, and Double Lake Rec Area.

• Specific tasks include mowing, trimming, and debris removal.

• Mowing requires cutting grass to a two-inch height, with clippings removed from specific areas like sidewalks and picnic sites.

• Trimming must be performed in conjunction with mowing, ensuring a uniform appearance and removal of debris.

• The contractor is responsible for removing tree limbs, branches, and cuttings from areas adjacent to trash receptacles and for cleaning up work areas.

• The contractor must also restore any damaged landscape, government property, or buildings resulting from contract actions.

• The contractor shall notify the government of any maintenance needs or safety concerns.

• Grass must be cut, edged, and trimmed to a height of two inches.

• Lawn clippings must be removed from sidewalks, individual picnic and camping sites, spurs, roadways, parking areas, water fountains, and picnic shelters.

• Trimming must result in a uniform appearance.

• Trimming debris must be removed from sidewalks, individual picnic and camping sites, spurs, roadways, water fountains, and picnic shelters.

• Performance will be monitored through bi-monthly inspections by the COR/Inspector, customer surveys, and 100% inspection of contractor results.

• Allowable deviation for most services is 5% from standard.

• Non-compliance may result in rework at no cost to the Government.

• The contract covers grounds maintenance at Cagle Rec Area, Stubblefield Rec Area, Scotts Ridge Rec Area, and Double Lake Rec Area.

• Mowing seasons vary slightly by area, generally from May 1st through September 30th, with some areas ending on September 15th.

• Work hours are between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Thursday.

• Offerors are urged to conduct site visits.

• The contractor must provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at no cost to employees, including hard hats meeting ANSI standard Z89.1-1997.

• The contractor shall train workers in the safe operation of equipment.

• The contractor's quality control plan/schedule will be a basis for award.

• The contractor must respond in writing to any negative QA monitoring form within 5 working days.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "Register of Wage Determinations" issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division. It provides the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations under the Service Contract Act for specific geographic areas. This document is crucial for contractors to understand their labor cost obligations when bidding on or performing federal service contracts.

• Wage Determination Numbers: Identifies specific wage determinations (e.g., 2015-5233, 2015-5847, 2015-5289).
• Geographic Areas: Specifies the state and counties covered by each wage determination.
• Occupational Listings: Provides a comprehensive list of job titles, their corresponding occupation codes, and the required minimum hourly wage rate.
• Fringe Benefits: Indicates that fringe benefits are required and follow the occupational listing, though specific details are not always enumerated within the provided excerpts.
• Executive Orders: References Executive Orders 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and 13658 (Minimum Wage), outlining contractor obligations and minimum wage adjustments.
• Vacation and Holidays: Details requirements for paid vacation and holidays.
• Conformance Process: Outlines the procedure for classifying and determining wage rates for occupations not explicitly listed.

This document is essential for bidders to accurately estimate labor costs for their proposals. It dictates the minimum wages and benefits that must be paid to employees performing work under a federal service contract within the specified geographic areas. Failure to comply with these wage determinations can lead to contract violations and penalties.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Exhibit A, a Performance Relevancy Questionnaire. It is designed to gather information from potential offerors about their past and current projects, as well as their specialized experience, to assess their capability to perform the work described in the solicitation.

• Part 1 - Past / Current Projects: Requires listing up to five projects completed within the last three years that are similar in scope to the solicitation. Information needed includes Contract Amount, Type of Project, Date Completed, and Contact Person for Project Information.
• Concurrent Contractual Commitments: Requires listing all current contractual commitments, including Contract Number, Dollar Amount of Project, Name/Address/Phone of Business/Govt. Agency, Awarded Units, % Completed, and Date Contract Completed.
• Past Performance Questions: Asks about any failures to complete work awarded and if work was completed via performance bond, requiring location and reason if "Yes".
• Part 2 - Specialized Experience: Requires a separate sheet to describe specific elements of work performed by the firm, work performed by major subcontractors (and if they will be used again), technical areas uniquely relevant to the solicitation, and a Point of Contact for the owner/agency.
• Certification: A statement by the Certifying Official confirming the accuracy of the information provided and authorizing the Forest Service to verify capability.

Bidders must complete this questionnaire accurately and thoroughly. The information provided will be used to evaluate the offeror's past performance and specialized experience, which are critical factors in determining their relevancy and capability to perform the work described in the solicitation. Failure to provide complete information may impact the evaluation of the proposal.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet containing the Schedule of Items for ground maintenance services at various recreation areas within the Sam Houston Ranger District. It details the line items, descriptions, units, quantities, and pricing fields required for bidders to submit their quotes.

• Recreation Areas Covered: Cagle Recreation Area, Stubblefield Recreation Area, Scotts Ridge Boat Launch Area, Scotts Ridge Recreation Area, and Double Lake Recreation Area.
• Services: Ground Maintenance Services.
• Periods of Performance:
  • Cagle, Stubblefield & Double Lake Rec Areas: 05/01/2026 to 09/30/2026
  • Scott Ridge Rec Area: 05/01/2026 to 09/15/2026
• Pricing Fields: Bidders are instructed to input Unit Price and Total Price in the highlighted gray cells.
• Line Items: Specific line items are provided for each recreation area.
• Quantity Adjustment: The total quantity per line item may be added or reduced by up to 2 services at the time of award, based on fund availability.

This schedule is critical for bidders to understand the scope of services required for each specific recreation area and to prepare their pricing. Bidders must price their offers considering the potential for quantity adjustments. Refer to Attachment 2 (Statement of Work) for detailed service requirements.