Public Environmental Services at Downtown BID

Notice of Intent to Issue a Sole Source Contract for public environmental services around the commercial and office buildings, as well as the public spaces within the Downtown BID jurisdiction in Washington DC.

Description: The General Services Administration (GSA) Public Building Service (PBS) Acquisition Center for Facilities Management Services (ACFMS) - East intends to issue a sole source contract in accordance with FAR 6.103-1. The proposed contract will include a twelve-month base period and three twelve-month option periods. The contract work will be performed at the Downtown BID jurisdiction in Washington DC.

The contract will provide the following services:

Cleanliness, Maintenance and Beautification

1. Supplement municipal trash collection by bagging, hauling, and compacting trash and recycling from cans and the ground around GSA buildings for collection by the Department of Public Works.
2. Remove graffiti and other applied vandalism from buildings, sidewalks, and fixtures within 24 hours.
3. Clean dirt, litter, and grime from sidewalks around GSA buildings, and power clean sidewalks and public spaces on a regular basis.
4. Remove gum and gum stains from sidewalks around GSA buildings using specialized mechanical equipment.
5. Paint and visually improve public space elements around GSA buildings, including benches, trash receptacles, poles, lights, tree boxes, newsstands, and other designated fixtures.
6. Plant and maintain flowers, trees, tree boxes, hanging flower baskets, and other landscaping around targeted GSA buildings.
7. Operate a targeted rat abatement program wherever needed in the BID area.

Homeless Services

1. Engage a social services agency to provide full-time professional outreach workers to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with essential services, while helping GSA and other property owners eliminate encampments and aggressive panhandling.
2. Coordinate efforts directly with the Department of Health (detox), Department of Mental Health (homeless outreach), Department of Employment Services, and Department of Human Services (food stamps and medical assistance) to deliver resources directly to the downtown homeless population.
3. Focus on connecting the most entrenched population—specifically the severely mentally ill and those battling addictions—with housing recovery programs.
4. Maintain and train a select group of Downtown Safety Ambassadors (SAM) to serve on the Homeless Outreach Service Team (HOST).
5. Expand HOST activities to work with GSA, as well as public and private property managers, to discourage encampments and aggressive panhandling in private spaces.
6. Coordinate outreach efforts with other Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).
7. Develop additional strategies related to the 2nd and D Street shelter to improve the quality of life for GSA and other tenants in adjacent buildings.
8. Expand the BID's education efforts to reach office workers, residents, and visitors.

Economic Development

1. Maintain its role as a center for research and information regarding the downtown economy
2. Continue the collection and analysis of data, as well as the production of reports to help inform business and development decisions in the downtown area.
3. Assist in developing financing plans and exploring possibilities for large-scale projects that support downtown infrastructure.

General Support to GSA

The BID’s professional staff and consultants will be facilitating collaborative planning with GSA and other major downtown stakeholders, including the city and private development community. This effort will address common concerns such as security, transportation and access, environmental issues, and development.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) as cited in FAR 6.302-1: “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements”.

Downtown BID is formally registered as a business improvement district in the District of Columbia and is the only firm capable of partnering with property owners in the designated area to provide a comprehensive bundle of enhanced services. These services go beyond the levels provided by other governmental or private sector sources.

Currently, there is no other known public or private entity with the broad support and capacity required to simultaneously make the relevant area safe, clean, and user-friendly.

The current contract is scheduled to expire on October 6, 2026. 

GSA will consider any bids, proposals, quotations, or capability statements. Any response shall be submitted via e-mail to Jose Nativisegovia, Contracting Officer via email at jose.nativisegovia@gsa.gov  NO LATER THAN Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM EST. The agency will consider any such submission.