Open federal opportunities

S208--Grounds Maintenance Services for the St. Louis VA Medical Center Jefferson Barracks

VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF.VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF.255-NETWORK CONTRACT OFFICE 15 (36C255) · Response deadline: Fri, 06 Nov 2026

What the government is buying

The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking grounds maintenance services for the St. Louis VA Medical Center at Jefferson Barracks. This is a facilities support services contract under NAICS code 561730 (Landscaping Services). Work in this category typically includes lawn care, tree and shrub maintenance, seasonal planting, debris removal, and general upkeep of outdoor grounds for federal medical facilities. The St. Louis VA Medical Center is a major VA healthcare facility serving veterans in the region, and Jefferson Barracks represents a significant campus requiring regular, professional grounds maintenance. See the solicitation for the complete scope of work, performance requirements, and any specific service-level expectations.

Key facts

Who can bid

This opportunity is set aside exclusively for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) under FAR 19.14. To qualify, your business must:

• Be at least 51% unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans
• Have one or more service-disabled veterans manage day-to-day operations and long-term decision-making
• Meet the SBA size standard for NAICS 561730 ($8.0 million average annual receipts, unless otherwise stated)
• Be currently verified in the VA's VetBiz registry and SAM.gov as an SDVOSB

If you are not currently verified as an SDVOSB in the Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) system, you cannot bid. Verification is mandatory and can take several weeks, so pending applications will not meet the deadline.

How to put together a competitive bid

For grounds maintenance services at a VA medical facility, competitive bidders should focus on these elements:

Personnel and certifications. VA medical campuses require workers who can pass background checks and potentially obtain VA badges. Highlight your team's landscaping certifications, pesticide applicator licenses, and safety training. If you have experience working on federal or healthcare campuses with similar security requirements, emphasize this.

Equipment and capacity. Detail your equipment inventory and maintenance schedule. VA facilities typically require reliable, ongoing service without interruption. Demonstrate you can cover the geographic area consistently and have backup equipment to prevent service gaps.

Past performance. Secure and document relevant past performance references from federal, state, municipal, or commercial landscaping contracts. Performance on other VA or federal healthcare contracts carries particular weight. Include contactable references with contract values, dates, and performance outcomes.

Safety and compliance. VA medical centers prioritize safety protocols, especially regarding chemical applications near patients and staff. Outline your safety plan, OSHA compliance record, and any environmental stewardship practices.

Pricing structure. Combined synopsis/solicitation notices often imply simplified acquisition procedures. Review whether this is a fixed-price requirement, and ensure your pricing covers all anticipated labor, materials, equipment, overhead, and profit for the contract term.

Next steps

Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number 36C25527Q0023. Confirm all requirements, evaluation factors, and submission instructions directly from the document—do not rely solely on this synopsis. Note that responses are due November 6, 2026 at 10:00 AM Central Time, which allows approximately ten days from the posted date. If you need CVE verification or SAM.gov registration updates, begin those processes immediately to avoid missing the deadline.

View the official notice on SAM.gov →