The Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (FSSI), implemented by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), has released its draft for Building Maintenance & Operations (BMO) Services strategic sourcing program. BMO Services, along with an upcoming human resources and training solution, is the first FSSI to deal with services instead of commodities. The scope of the BMO covers the most commonly used services required for complete operation and maintenance of federal buildings, including contract cleaning.

BMO Services strategic sourcing is divided into two categories: Operations and Maintenance, and Facility Support Services. Janitorial is part of the latter scope. 

Building service contractors wanting to bid of federal government accounts are required to supply both janitorial and landscaping/grounds maintenance services. Optional services include cemetery maintenance, pest control and waste management and recycling services.

According to the draft, janitorial encompasses "internal and external daily and routine building cleaning, including window washing, and inspection work." Some of the services include sweeping, furniture and fixture polishing, trash removal, dispenser stocking and stripping and recoating floors.

In addition, the grounds care requirement includes snow removal, lawn mowing, tree trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, raking, mulching, and more. 

All contractors must be able to provide service for the entire geographic area of Zone 1, which includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

GSA will be holding a series of Industry Days dedicated to engaging commercial firms and industry organizations to gather their input regarding the development of a government-wide, potential strategic sourcing program related to Building Maintenance and Operations (BMO) services. The events will be held in Philadelphia, on March 31, 2015; New York on April 1; and Washington, DC on April 2.

At these Industry Days, representatives from GSA will be discussing an overview of the FSSI and BMO program; small and local business utilization strategies; and the BMO acquisition solution including highlights of the draft RFP.

FSSI was introduced in 2005 to leverage the federal government’s purchasing power, streamline procurement and ultimately reduce procurement costs. GSA has since implemented FSSI in several sectors, including the janitorial supply industry. GSA announced in August it had awarded 35 blanket purchase agreements (BPAs) to 18 companies for the FSSI’s JanSan purchase channel.

Read more about BMO in this article from Contracting Profits.