How to bid on Off-site Laundry Services for the USMMA

What the agency is buying

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) is seeking a contractor to provide off-site laundry services. This includes picking up laundry six days a week (Monday through Saturday) from three campus locations, processing it off-campus, and returning it within 48 hours. The contractor will also be responsible for transporting laundry bags to an on-campus storage facility and monitoring student retrieval to prevent misappropriation.

A special schedule is required during July for the freshmen indoctrination program, which demands two campus visits per day and a 24-hour turnaround time. This opportunity is set aside for small businesses, making it suitable for smaller firms in the laundry services sector.

Key dates and deadlines

The deadline for submitting quotations is August 17, 2026, at 2:30 PM ET. This date was extended by Amendment 0001. All questions regarding this solicitation were due by July 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET.

It is crucial to submit your quotation by the deadline. Late submissions will not be considered. Offerors must also acknowledge all amendments to the solicitation.

Who this opportunity suits

This solicitation is a total small business set-aside, meaning only small business concerns are eligible to bid. The relevant North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 812320, Drycleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin-Operated), with a size standard below $8 million. Firms that are not small businesses under this NAICS code will have their offers rejected.

The opportunity is ideal for experienced laundry service providers with the capacity to handle daily pickups, off-campus processing, and a quick turnaround, including a specialized schedule for July. Vendors must also be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

How to respond

To access the solicitation documents, you will need to click the “View original source” link. If the first click takes you to the portal’s homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view all documents, though this is not always required.

Quotations must be prepared in accordance with Provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services, and submitted via email to the Contracting Officer, Daphnee Ravilus, at [email protected] by the deadline. Ensure you sign and acknowledge all posted amendments.

Tips for a competitive response

Focus on demonstrating your technical capability to meet all requirements of the Performance Work Statement (PWS). The award will be based on the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) offer, so your quote must be technically acceptable first.

Clearly outline your plan for daily pickups from three campus locations, off-campus processing, and adherence to the 48-hour turnaround time. Specifically address how you will manage the special July schedule requiring two daily visits and a 24-hour turnaround. Detail your approach to transporting bags and monitoring student retrieval to prevent misappropriation.

Ensure your firm has an active registration in SAM.gov, as this is a mandatory requirement for receiving an award. Review the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) carefully to understand all expectations and evaluation criteria.