PRESOLICITATION SYNOPSIS: FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECURITY TRAINING CENTER FACILITY STAFFING AND CAFETERIA OPERATIONS
Department of State · ACQUISITIONS - AQM MOMENTUM
Account requiredWhy it scored this way
Every reason behind the verdict rather than the headline one — which of your certifications match, how much runway is left, whether the work is your size, and what we would need to know to sharpen it.
Written against this notice and what you have told us about your company. Anything we do not know is marked [NEEDS INPUT] in the draft rather than guessed at — read it before you send it.
Start a free trial to draft these. Nothing is sent to an agency on your behalf, ever — you get a document to review, edit and submit yourself.
Compliance matrix
Every stated and implied requirement, its source section, whether it is mandatory, and where your response will address it.
Proposal outline
A submission skeleton where every required element is a heading with its source requirement quoted beneath it. You write the substance; nothing gets forgotten.
Questions to submit
Genuine ambiguities and requirements that disadvantage a smaller bidder, drafted as questions you can submit before the Q&A deadline.
Past performance write-ups
Which of your prior awards best match this requirement, and draft write-ups in the format the agency asked for.
Solicitation details
Solicitation number
19AQMM26R0009
Notice type
Presolicitation
NAICS
561499
Product service code
R499
Set-aside
8(a) Set-Aside (FAR 19.8)
Posted
2026-07-17
Response deadline
Oct 1, 2026, 3:59 AM UTC
Place of performance
Blackstone, VA
Contracting contact
jonespr@state.gov
Market intelligence
Account requiredWho wins this work, and what it pays
Comparable awards under NAICS 561499 at this agency — the incumbent, what they were paid, when their period of performance ends, and the real pricing distribution rather than the headline number. From public federal award records.
ALL INTERESTED OFFERORS MUST POSSESS A SECRET LEVEL FACILITY CLEARANCE IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO THE UPCOMING SOLICITATION. OFFERORS WHO DO NOT POSSESS A SECRET LEVEL FACILITY CLEARANCE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR AWARD. DoS, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) is responsible for the protection of U.S. personnel, official facilities, and residences domestic and overseas at over two hundred sixty (260) Foreign Service posts worldwide. The Assistant Director for Training (DS/T) manages and directs the formulation, planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of programs which promote the training and professional development of the DS personnel; specialized security training for other DoS employees, foreign affairs agencies, and their eligible family members; and training activities for certain foreign government security and law enforcement personnel. The Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) conducts formal courses of instruction and briefings, manages full-time and adjunct instructors, and provides analysis, development, and evaluation to support standardization and accreditation of applicable DS training programs. FASTC provides guidance and resources to train on subject areas such as domestic security, special skills, overseas security, counter threat, high threat operations. FASTC administrative support services include course registration, student record administration, resource management, fleet management, student travel and lodging, and property and inventory management. FASTC develops and manages training policies and procedures, accreditation, curriculum, distance learning and interactive courseware, and associated training materials. FASTC needs a qualified Foodservice Contractor to operate a dining service program offering innovative and unique approaches to dining and sustainability. The Contractor shall offer food that provides wide variety to customers, including vegetarian, vegan, and organic, healthy, and the light eater. Menus must also include items for people with dietary restrictions and offer low fat, low sodium, low calorie, and reduced sugar, and gluten free menu items. Contractor will make reasonable efforts to provide a means to preorder hot and cold meals and offer food for specific special requirements to meet medical, cultural, religious, conditions on an as needed basis Current FASTC operations (both Staffing and Cafeteria Operations) are located at Fort Pickett in Blackstone, Virginia. The Contractor shall provide professional personnel in accordance with the listed labor categories (list will be provided during solicitation period) and descriptions and the timeline established by the Government. The approximate acquisition schedule is as follows: The synopsis will be posted for approximately fifteen (15) days. Once the solicitation is posted on Sam.gov, the offerors will have approximately thirty (30) days to submit proposals. All dates are subject to change and any change will be posted on this site. Offerors are requested to provide notice of their interest in the solicitation (i.e., name of representative, name of firm, address) to Patrick Jones at jonespr@state.gov. PHONE CALLS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED Offerors shall have an active registration on the System for Award Management at https://www.SAM.gov. The contract will be awarded to the best value – trade-off proposal. The Department of State anticipates release of the solicitation in January 2026.
Contact
Point of contact
Patrick Jones
Role
not stated on this notice — SAM publishes a role for only about 5% of them, so this may be a contract specialist rather than the contracting officer
Email
jonespr@state.gov
Submit questions
Ambiguities and requirements worth clarifying, written as questions you can send before the deadline.
Opens in your own mail client, addressed and with a subject line — you write the message. GovSprint never sends anything on your behalf.
Emails open in your mail client and are sent from your address, so the reply comes back to you and the exchange stays yours. Confirm the correct channel and any question deadline on the notice before sending — many solicitations require questions in a specific way.