Analyst Summary: DC's Concentrated Federal Facilities Market
The District of Columbia presents a uniquely concentrated federal contracting environment with
The current snapshot reveals strategic procurement activity from three distinct federal entities: FBI-JEH (Federal Bureau of Investigation J. Edgar Hoover Building), NAVFACSYSCOM WASHINGTON (Naval Facilities Systems Command Washington), and 693KA8 System Operations Contracts. One opportunity specifically targets janitorial services with 8(a) set-aside designation, creating a defined entry channel for qualified small businesses in the nation's capital.
Your window here is narrower than multi-state regions. With only four visible opportunities competing for contractor attention, response speed and relationship positioning matter more than volume bidding strategies.
Key Takeaways for DC Contractors
- 4 active federal opportunitiescurrently available in District of Columbia for facilities and janitorial contractors
- 1 8(a) competed set-asideidentified for Regional 8(a) Janitorial Services
- 3 distinct federal agenciesissuing solicitations: FBI-JEH, NAVFACSYSCOM WASHINGTON, and System Operations Contracts
- Security clearance infrastructure essential—majority of DC contracts require personnel background investigations
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation format indicates 15-30 daycompressed response timelines
Data Snapshot: What's Active Right Now
| Metric | Count/Details |
|---|---|
| Total Active Opportunities | 4 |
| Contracting Agencies | FBI-JEH, NAVFACSYSCOM WASHINGTON, 693KA8 System Operations |
| Notice Types | Sources Sought, Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Special Notice |
| Set-Aside Designations | 8(a) Competed |
Specific Opportunity Titles:
- Regional 8(a) Janitorial Services (direct janitorial contract)
- Mobile Forensic Distributed Solution RFI (facilities support potential)
- OTD Ethernet Sniffer-RFI (technical facilities integration)
- Tower Simulation Systems E2 - Challenge Based Acquisition (specialized facilities)
Opportunity Overview: Breaking Down the DC Pipeline
The Core Janitorial Contract: Regional 8(a) Janitorial Services
This procurement represents your primary target if you hold 8(a) certification. The "Regional" designation indicates multi-building or multi-location scope within the District, potentially covering several federal facilities under a single contract vehicle. The 8(a) competed format means you'll face other certified small businesses, but you're excluded from competing against large unrestricted contractors.
Your past performance requirements will emphasize federal facility experience, security clearance capacity for your workforce, and quality control systems that meet federal standards. Given DC's concentration of high-security government buildings, expect enhanced background check requirements for all personnel accessing these sites.
Sources Sought Notices: Your Early Intelligence Window
The Mobile Forensic Distributed Solution RFI and OTD Ethernet Sniffer-RFI represent pre-solicitation market research by federal agencies. While these appear technical, facilities contractors should recognize that specialized technical systems require ongoing facilities support, cleaning protocols for sensitive equipment areas, and potentially bundled maintenance services.
Naval Facilities Systems Command Washington Presence
NAVFACSYSCOM WASHINGTON's appearance in this dataset signals active facilities procurement beyond traditional Navy installations. This command manages facility construction, maintenance, and services across the National Capital Region, including the Washington Navy Yard, Naval Research Laboratory, and administrative facilities throughout DC.
For janitorial government contracts in District of Columbia, NAVFACSYSCOM represents recurring service needs across multiple high-value facilities with stringent quality standards and security protocols matching Department of Defense requirements.
Agency Landscape: Who's Buying in DC
FBI-JEH: The J. Edgar Hoover Building Complex
The FBI headquarters at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW represents one of the most security-intensive facilities maintenance environments in federal contracting. Any janitorial or facilities contract here requires:
- Top Secret facility clearances for supervisory personnel
- Background investigations for all cleaning staff (NACI minimum, often deeper)
- Specialized chemical and material restrictions due to evidence handling and investigative operations
- 24/7 operational support given the Bureau's continuous mission requirements
Your proposal must address how your firm maintains operational security, handles classified waste streams, and coordinates with FBI security personnel for access control.
NAVFACSYSCOM WASHINGTON: Regional Naval Facilities Authority
This command operates as the facilities management arm for naval installations and properties throughout the National Capital Region. Your opportunities here extend beyond ships and piers to include:
- Research laboratories requiring cleanroom protocols
- Administrative complexes with standard office janitorial needs
- Historical facilities requiring preservation-compatible maintenance
- Mixed-use developments combining operational and ceremonial spaces
NAVFACSYSCOM contracts typically follow Defense Department procurement regulations (DFARS) rather than standard FAR-only requirements, adding compliance layers your accounting and legal teams must address.
693KA8 System Operations Contracts: Specialized Technical Support
This designation indicates system-specific procurement, likely tied to operational technology infrastructure. While not traditional janitorial work, these opportunities often bundle facilities support into larger technical service contracts. Your strategy here involves either prime contractor capability if you can integrate janitorial services with technical support, or subcontracting partnerships with technical primes who need compliant facilities subcontractors.
The DC Competitive Playbook: Strategies for Federal Facilities Contracts in District of Columbia
Strategy 1: Pursue 8(a) Certification Immediately If Eligible
With documented 8(a) competed opportunities in the current market, qualified small businesses without this certification face immediate competitive disadvantage. The SBA 8(a) Business Development Program provides a
Your eligibility requirements include:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Size Standards | Must meet small business size standards for your NAICS codes |
| Ownership | 51% ownership by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals |
| Net Worth | Personal net worth below SBA thresholds |
| Business History | Two years in business under current ownership |
Strategy 2: Build Your Security Clearance Infrastructure
Federal facilities contracts in District of Columbia disproportionately require personnel security clearances compared to contracts in other regions. Your competitive advantage comes from maintaining a pre-cleared workforce ready for immediate deployment.
Invest in:
- Facility Security Officer (FSO) training for your compliance staff
- SF-86 processing systems to expedite employee clearance applications
- Cleared personnel recruiting pipelines to reduce ramp-up time on new contracts
- Security clearance tracking databases to maintain current clearance status visibility
Agencies select contractors who can begin performance immediately without clearance delays. Your cleared workforce becomes a quantifiable competitive differentiator in technical evaluation.
Strategy 3: Geographic Concentration = Relationship Intensity
With only three active contracting agencies in this dataset, your business development strategy should prioritize depth over breadth. Instead of broad federal agency marketing, concentrate on:
- Attending FBI industry days and small business outreach events
- Registering in NAVFACSYSCOM's vendor databases and participating in Naval Facilities matchmaking events
- Meeting contracting officers at the specific agencies issuing these solicitations
- Joining DC-area federal contractor associations where these agency representatives participate
Your goal: become a known entity to the specific contracting officers and program managers responsible for janitorial and facilities contracts at these three agencies.
Strategy 4: Monitor SAM.gov Daily for DC Opportunities
Four active opportunities represents a snapshot, not the complete annual picture. Federal agencies release solicitations throughout the fiscal year, and you cannot afford missed opportunities in a concentrated market. Tools like RecompeteIQ provide automated monitoring and alerts for District of Columbia custodial contracts and facilities opportunities, ensuring you catch new solicitations within hours of posting rather than days or weeks later.
Set SAM.gov alerts for:
- Place of performance: District of Columbia
- NAICS codes: 561720 (Janitorial Services), 561210 (Facilities Support Services)
- Set-aside types: 8(a), Small Business, WOSB, VOSB, HUBZone
- Agencies: FBI, NAVFACSYSCOM, GSA (for federal buildings), Department of Defense
Strategy 5: Prepare for Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Response Speed
The presence of Combined Synopsis/Solicitation notices in this market indicates agencies using streamlined procurement methods with compressed timelines. You may see opportunities with
What To Do Next: Your 30-Day Action Plan
1. Verify your SAM.gov registration is active and current (check at sam.gov using your UEI number). Update your NAICS codes to include 561720 (Janitorial Services) and 561210 (Facilities Support Services) if not already listed. Ensure your representations and certifications are current—expired registrations disqualify you from award consideration regardless of proposal quality.
2. Request facility clearance capability assessment from your security team or consultant if you don't have internal FSO capacity. Contact FBI Contract Security at FBI-JEH to understand specific clearance requirements for janitorial personnel. Initiate SF-86 submissions for your management team if pursuing high-security facility work.
3. Download and review the Regional 8(a) Janitorial Services solicitation documents from SAM.gov (if still open) or request from the contracting officer if in clarification phase. Build your response framework even if this specific opportunity closes—the technical requirements and evaluation criteria inform future similar solicitations.
4. Establish direct agency relationships by attending the next FBI Small Business Outreach event and registering for NAVFACSYSCOM's Industry Engagement Portal. Send capability statements to contracting offices at FBI-JEH (935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20535) and NAVFACSYSCOM WASHINGTON within 14 days.
5. Evaluate 8(a) certification eligibility and submit application if qualified. Contact your local SBA District Office (Washington DC District Office, 409 3rd Street SW, Suite 5850, Washington, DC 20416, 202-205-3777) to schedule initial consultation and application review. If you're not 8(a) eligible, assess alternative set-aside certifications including WOSB, VOSB, or HUBZone that appear in DC federal procurement.
The District of Columbia Advantage: Why This Market Rewards Specialists
Federal facilities contracts in District of Columbia operate in an ecosystem distinct from any other American city. The concentration of cabinet-level departments, intelligence agencies, military headquarters, and federal judicial facilities creates continuous demand for specialized facilities maintenance with security-cleared personnel.
The four current opportunities represent visible pipeline, but the underlying demand encompasses hundreds of federal buildings within a 20-mile radius of Capitol Hill. Your long-term contract value comes from establishing performance track record at one high-security facility, then leveraging that past performance for expanded agency relationships and larger indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicles.
The agencies buying janitorial government contracts in District of Columbia prioritize reliability and security over lowest price technical acceptable (LPTA) procurement. Your proposals should emphasize quality control systems, personnel retention rates, security compliance history, and management depth rather than competing solely on hourly labor rates.
Methodology & Data Sources
This market intelligence analysis draws from active federal procurement opportunities posted on SAM.gov as of January 2025. We filtered opportunities by place of performance (District of Columbia), relevant NAICS codes for janitorial and facilities maintenance services, and current solicitation status.
The dataset includes Sources Sought notices, Combined Synopsis/Solicitation documents, and Special Notices representing pre-solicitation market research, active procurement, and solicitation amendments. Agency identification comes from contracting office data fields in SAM.gov opportunity postings.
Set-aside designation analysis reflects socioeconomic category restrictions specified in individual solicitations. Opportunity titles are reproduced exactly as posted by contracting officers to preserve search accuracy and contractor research capability.
This analysis does not include closed opportunities, contract awards already made, or classified procurement actions not visible in public SAM.gov databases. Contractors should conduct independent verification of all opportunities and solicitation details before proposal submission.
Federal procurement data changes continuously as agencies post new opportunities, amend existing solicitations, and close expired notices. We recommend daily monitoring of SAM.gov for the most current District of Columbia federal contracting opportunities. For historical award data and spending trends, consult USAspending.gov. For automated tracking and competitive intelligence on janitorial and facilities contracts, RecompeteIQ provides continuous monitoring and analysis of federal procurement activity across all agencies and locations.