Sources Sought
Sources Sought - U.S. Mission South Africa IDIQ
Department of State · Sol. PR16278876
Due in 11 days
AI summary Beta
Some details are in the notice's attachments, which this summary didn't read. Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
The U.S. Department of State is doing market research (not a solicitation) for local guard services at the U.S. Mission in South Africa. It wants capability responses from small and large businesses by October 16, 2026. Draft work statements are attached but require a restricted access form to download.
Watch out for
- Overseas guard force with local labor rules. You must hire and pay host country guards under South African labor, tax and benefit rules, which is hard for a small business without local experience.
Knowledge of and compliance with host country labor law
- 24/7 staffing with strikes possible. The guard post must never go vacant, even during illness or labor unrest.
Ability to maintain a guard staff on a 24-hour, 7-day a week basis
- Fast 90-day transition. A new contractor must be fully operating about three months after award.
ability to stand-up the new contract within the estimated 90 calendar days
- Not a solicitation. Responding only helps market research; no award is guaranteed.
THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME.
Read from the notice text only.
Full brief
What they want
- Provide local guard services protecting U.S. personnel, facilities and equipment
- Keep a guard force staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with immediate backfill
- Hire, train and retain host country national guards, including English language training
- Furnish and operate a radio network, uniforms, vehicles and related security equipment
- Comply with South African labor law, tax law, insurance rules and licensing
- Stand up a new contract within an estimated 90 calendar days
- Track Government-furnished property and bill through myLGP
- Contract type
- Sources sought for a planned IDIQ (per the title); not a solicitation
- Place of performance
- U.S. Mission South Africa (ZAF)
- Offers due
- 2026-10-16 4:00 PM Eastern (the notice says 16:00 EST)
- How to submit
- Email capabilities to Smithdd@state.gov with a copy to Finikk@state.gov
What to include when you submit
- Address each listed capability and give examples of previous or current guard security contracts or closely related experience
- Complete the Contractor Information Sheet/Questionnaire
- Sign the Vendor Restricted Access Form to download the draft PWS and special contract requirements
- Reference the sources sought notice in your email
You must have
- Current licenses and work authorizations that comply with host country law
Current licenses, work authorizations in compliance with host country law required for the execution of work.
- Ability to provide all insurance coverage required by host country
Ability to provide all types of insurance coverage required by host country in performance of services
- Understanding of and ability to comply with the Arms Export Control Act and ITAR
Understanding and familiarity of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR)
Not in the notice text
- Draft PWS and special contract requirements (restricted download)
- Contract length, base and option periods
- Estimated value
- Number of guard posts and staff
- Whether the later solicitation will be set aside for small business
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 16, 2026, 8:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Sep 25, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Solicitation
- PR16278876
- Agency
- Department of State
- Office
- Acquisitions - Aqm Momentum
- Set-aside
- No Set aside used
- NAICS
- 561612
- Business type
- Security & guard services
- Contracting contact
- Daniel SmithSmithdd@state.gov
Full notice text from SAM.gov
THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS/QUOTES - THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, AND INFORMATION SUBMITTED WILL BE USED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. Description: This Sources Sought/Request for Information (RFI) is for information, planning and market research purposes only and shall not be construed as either a solicitation or obligation on the part of the United States Department of State (“State”). The purpose of this RFI is to identify ALL INTERESTED VENDORS that are capable of providing the services described in this RFI, draft Section C Performance Work Statement (PWS) and draft Section H Special Contract Requirements. The Department of State is also conducting market research to determine the degree of interest and capability by small businesses in providing local guard services at the U.S. Embassy South Africa, State will use this market research information to assess the market's capability to successfully meet State’s need for local guard services at the U.S. Mission South Africa. State does not intend to make a decision or award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise reimburse interested sources for the preparation of any information submitted for State's use of such information. State reserves the right to contact vendors if additional information is required. Overview: The Department of State is conducting market research to determine the degree of interest and capability by all business sizes (small and large) in providing local guard services at the U.S. Embassy South Africa. The Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security plays an essential role in ensuring that foreign policy missions are accomplished in a safe and secure environment. The primary mission of the local guard service is to provide protection for United States personnel, facilities, and equipment from damage or loss due to violent attack and theft. The local guard services shall prevent unauthorized access; protect life; maintain order; deter criminal and terrorist attacks against employees, dependents, and property; and prevent damage to all U.S. assets. The NAICS code for these services is 561612. Responses must clearly demonstrate capabilities through examples of previous and/or current guard security contracts or experience closely related thereto. Vendors must specifically address the following capabilities: Current licenses, work authorizations in compliance with host country law required for the execution of work. Knowledge of and compliance with host country labor law which may require bonuses, specific minimum wage levels, premium pay for holidays, payments for social security, pensions, severance pay, sick or health benefits, childcare or any other benefits Knowledge of and compliance with host country tax law Ability to provide all types of insurance coverage required by host country in performance of services, such as automobile liability, comprehensive general liability, worker’s compensation, employer’s liability, etc. Furnishing, operating, and maintaining a radio network, including acquiring all licenses and permits that may be required for frequencies and the operation of all communications equipment Familiarity or experience with associated security equipment such as Guard Electronic Monitoring System (GEMS), Central Alarm Monitoring systems (CAMS), closed-circuit television systems, x-ray and explosive detection equipment Furnishing guard force equipment such as uniforms and vehicles Ability to overcome language barriers Capability of instructing, providing, and qualifying personnel in the use of x-ray equipment and radio equipment. Ability to maintain a guard staff on a 24-hour, 7-day a week basis with the ability to immediately backfill vacant positions due to resignations, rotations and illnesses due to a variety of reasons such as flu and food poisoning Capability of dealing with organized actions by direct labor personnel such as strikes (anticipated and unanticipated) and labor unrest (work slowdowns and/or organized failure of employees to report for shift changes) Ability to hire, train and retain, including English language training, of a guard staff consisting of host country nationals Ability to provide trained equipment technicians for all vehicles and radios in the performance of the contract Ability to train a sizeable workforce to adapt quickly to unfamiliar laws and customs as well as the ability of company officials to gain quickly information regarding the laws and customs needed to maintain and equip such a workforce Experience or capability of getting contractor-furnished equipment and goods through customs and/or similar governmental agencies of the host country Understanding import and export regulations Understanding and familiarity of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) and the capability of complying with both by the performance date of any contract awarded requiring the execution of this Statute (22 U.S.C. 2778-2780) Managing smooth contract transition efforts, and ability to stand-up the new contract within the estimated 90 calendar days Ability to safely keep and track Government-Furnished Property Ability to screen personnel to meet suitability requirements for guard force positions Strong skill in instant, situational decision-making, e.g., response to threats Organized billing and invoicing procedures, and understanding of myLGP, a Government database to track schedules. Attachments: 1. Draft Section C PWS and DRAFT Section H Special Contract Requirements: See attached DRAFT PWS and Special Contract Requirements, which are subject to change. Interested contractors responding to this notice are highly encouraged to review the attached DRAFT PWS DRAFT Special Contract Requirements and provide any comments and/or feedback. To gain access to DRAFT Section C and Section H, contractors must sign the Vendor Restricted Access Form. 2. Contractor Information Form and Questionnaire– Interested contractors must complete the attached response sheet and submit with their sources sought submission. 3. Vendor Restricted Access Form- Interested contractors will need to fill out the Restricted Access form in order to download the DRAFT PWS and Special Contract Requirements in SAM.gov. It is requested that all interested contractors submit their capabilities by e-mail to Daniel Smith at Smithdd@state.gov and carbon copy Kerryn Finik at Finikk@state.gov addressing each of the above requirements by 16:00 EST, October 16, 2026. Interested parties shall also complete the attached Contractor Information Sheet. If you have any questions or comments, please reference this Sources Sought Notice when emailing. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for quote/proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. The U.S. Department of State does not guarantee that any future contracts may be awarded covering the aforementioned duties and responses to this Sources Sought notice do not bind the U.S. Department of State to any agreement with the responder, be it explicit or implied. .
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