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Consular ABA Bathroom construction

STATE, DEPARTMENT OF.STATE, DEPARTMENT OF.US EMBASSY BRUSSELS · Response deadline: Tue, 03 Nov 2026

What the government is buying

The U.S. Department of State's Embassy in Brussels is soliciting bids for consular ABA bathroom construction. This falls under commercial and institutional building construction, specifically work on a diplomatic facility abroad. The project involves bathroom construction within the consular section of the embassy, which serves American citizens and handles visa processing.

NAICS 236220 covers Commercial and Institutional Building Construction—a broad category that includes government buildings, schools, hospitals, and similar structures. Embassy construction work typically requires understanding of diplomatic facility standards, security protocols for overseas federal properties, and compliance with both U.S. and host-nation building codes.

ABA in federal construction contexts commonly refers to Accessible/Barrier-Free design standards or potentially project-specific nomenclature—see the solicitation for precise scope definition.

Key facts

Who can bid

This is a full and open competition with no small business set-aside specified. Any qualified contractor—large or small business—may submit a bid. However, construction work at overseas diplomatic posts carries specific qualification requirements that typically include:

• Overseas construction experience, preferably on U.S. government facilities
• Ability to obtain necessary Belgian work permits and licenses
• Security clearance eligibility for personnel (common for embassy-adjacent work)
• Bonding capacity appropriate to project size
• Compliance with International Building Code or host-nation equivalents

Small businesses without prior federal or overseas construction experience face significant barriers. Consider joint venture or mentor-protégé arrangements if pursuing this as a small business. The Department of State maintains construction standards that may differ from domestic federal projects—familiarity with State Department facilities standards is advantageous.

How to put together a competitive bid

For overseas institutional construction, focus on:

Local market knowledge: Brussels labor rates, material sourcing, and logistics differ substantially from U.S. domestic work. Demonstrate understanding of EU regulatory environment, Belgian tax implications, and currency considerations.

Security and diplomatic protocol: Embassy construction requires phased work, after-hours scheduling, and personnel vetting. Address how you'll maintain operational security and minimize disruption to consular services.

Technical approach: Detail your methodology for bathroom construction in an occupied building—dust containment, noise mitigation, temporary facilities, and infection control if applicable.

Past performance: Cite comparable overseas federal construction, embassy work, or occupied-facility renovations. State Department source selection heavily weighs demonstrated ability to deliver in diplomatic environments.

Pricing realism: Belgum-based projects may require cost realism analysis. Ensure labor rates reflect actual Brussels market conditions, not U.S. assumptions.

Bonding and insurance: Verify your surety can issue performance and payment bonds for work in Belgium. Overseas bonding requirements may differ.

Next steps

Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number 19BE2026Q0007. The posted date was October 27, 2026, with responses due November 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM Brussels time—a notably short turnaround that suggests either expedited procurement or that this follows earlier market research.

Given the tight deadline, prioritize understanding: precise scope of ABA bathroom work, local contracting requirements, security clearance needs, and evaluation criteria weighting. The classification code Z2AA may indicate specific State Department construction category—verify in the full documents.

View the official notice on SAM.gov →