The Department of Veterans Affairs is issuing this source sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify firms having an interest in and the resources to support a requirement to provide Goose Management for the Clement J Zablocki VA Medical Center, located in Milwaukee, WI The result of this market research may contribute to determining the method of procurement. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is 561710 Exterminating and Pest Control Services.
THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.
Tentative requirements:
Services shall be performed in accordance with, as a minimum, the following:
1) The Contractor shall furnish all materials, labor, tools, equipment, licensure and travel necessary to provide trained Border Collies to herd geese on the grounds of the Clement J. Zablocki Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53295, as defined in the Statement of Work (SOW).
2) Contractor shall provide enough trained Border Collies to effectively clear geese flocking on the grounds. When service is required, the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) or Alternate COR shall contact the Contractor via phone. Each time service is required, Contractor shall, upon notification, provide Border Collie services up to two (2) times per day for seven (7) days. It is estimated that service shall be required forty (40) weeks per calendar year.
3) Contractor shall ensure that the Border Collies are trained to use a wolf-like glance called the eye to influence the stock or flock of geese into flight or movement. The Border Collies shall be trained so that they do not touch the geese. The Contractor shall remain onsite with the dog(s) until all geese have left the VA grounds.
4) When necessary, Contractor shall provide egg depreciation services using 100% corn oil. If needed, Contractor shall assist facility with obtaining license from the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to perform Egg Depreciation Service.
5) Contractor shall ensure that all dog waste is removed from facility grounds.
6) Contractor shall ensure dogs are under command (voice or whistle) whether leashed or unleashed at all times
If your Company has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information:1) Company name, address, email address, web site address, telephone number, and size and type of ownership for the company; 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, and documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, companies should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements; and 3) Confirmation your company can meet the Limitations of Subcontracting should they apply (see below)
The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated.
Based on the responses to this synopsis and other market research, this requirement may be set-aside for veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs or VOSBs) (limitation of subcontracting would apply), small businesses (limitations on subcontracting would apply) or procured through full and open competition.
Limitations on Subcontracting
13 CFR §125.6 will apply to any procurement set-aside for veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs or VOSBs) or small businesses. 13 CFR §125.6 states:
(a) General. In order to be awarded a full or partial small business set-aside contract with a value greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (as defined in the FAR at 48 CFR 2.101) in paragraph (a) introductory text; and an 8(a) contract, an SDVO SBC contract, a HUBZone contract, a WOSB or EDWOSB contract pursuant to part 127 of this chapter, a small business concern must agree that:
(1) In the case of a contract for services (except construction), it will not pay more than 50% of the amount paid by the government to it to firms that are not similarly situated. Any work that a similarly situated subcontractor further subcontracts will count towards the 50% subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded.
Before any small or large business can be awarded a federal contract, a contracting officer (CO) must affirmatively determine that the firm is responsible to perform the specific contract it is otherwise in line to receive. If an apparent small business successful offeror is denied a contract award because it lacks certain elements of responsibility, the CO will refer the matter to the Small Business Administration. Once a CO s referral is received by the SBA s area office, the SBA will then inform the small business of the CO s determination and offer it the opportunity to apply to the SBA for a Certificate of Competency by a specific date. Burden of proof is on the small business to demonstrate that it meets specific COC eligibility criteria.
After award, if a CO or other VA officials determine a review of limitations on subcontracting compliance is warranted based upon reasonable information of possible noncompliance, a request for review will be submitted to VA s Subcontracting Compliance Review Program.
Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by 10:00 AM Central Time Tuesday July 7 , 2026. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to debbie.bruening@va.gov. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.
