Lebanon Snow Removal Questions and Answers.pdf

Questions and Answers

1) The PWS defines a unit of service as the entire winter storm event, including consecutive days, based on total accumulation reported by the National Weather Service. For the 0–12" CLINs, is the contractor paid one unit price for the entire storm regardless of the number of plowing and/or salting cycles required during that event?

Yes, see contract schedule and PWS section 2.4

2) During an active or extended-duration storm, is the contractor expected to continuously maintain parking lots, roadways, sidewalks, entrances, and other designated areas throughout the event, or will the VA provide specific direction regarding when clearing operations are required?

Yes, the contractor is expected to be on site actively removing snow according to the priority list. The VA Grounds crew will be on-site for the duration of the storm. See PWS section 2.

3) If a storm continues across multiple calendar days, will the entire occurrence be considered one storm event for billing purposes, provided it is considered one event by the National Weather Service?

Yes, see contract schedule and PWS section 2.4

4) CLINs 0002 and 0004 cover accumulation of 12.1"+. Is there a maximum accumulation included within those unit prices, or would the same event price apply regardless of total accumulation above 12 inches?

No, the schedule shows events greater than 12.1” with no maximum.

5) How should freezing rain, sleet, refreeze, black ice, or other icing events with little or no measurable snowfall accumulation be classified and invoiced?

See schedule CLIN 0001 and 0003.

6) Is there a required amount of time following the end of precipitation in which all parking lots, roads, sidewalks, entrances, steps, ramps, and other designated areas must be completely cleared to pavement?

Once notified the contractor has 2 hours to begin clearing operations. There is no set amount of time to have everything cleared or finished. A reasonable amount of time is all that is expected. Standards for completing removal are listed throughout the PWS.

Does Lebanon VAMC maintain a priority sequence for emergency routes, ambulance access, building entrances, roadways, employee/patient parking areas, or other areas that must remain continuously accessible during an active storm?

The Lebanon VA does maintain a priority list. On the weekends or off hours it’s the Loop Road, ED, RRTP, and 19. During normal working hours 17 and 18 will be included on the list.

7) The PWS indicates that limited heavy-equipment storage may be available with approval from the VA Program Manager. Would the awarded contractor be permitted to stage dedicated snow-removal equipment at Lebanon VAMC for the duration of the winter season? If so, are there limitations on the type or quantity of equipment that may be staged?

The contractor shall be provided with space to store equipment for the duration of the winter season. Due to on-going construction equipment may need to be moved and stored elsewhere to make way for construction equipment or materials.

8) The PWS states that the VA will provide bulk salt and that the contractor is responsible for retrieving, loading, transporting, and spreading it. Is the contractor expected to provide its own loader/equipment for loading bulk salt into spreaders, or will VA equipment/personnel assist with loading?

The contractor needs to provide the equipment, see PWS Section 3.3.1.

9) Does the VA specify application rates or other standards for bulk roadway/parking-lot salt and bagged walkway ice-melting material?

There are no application rates. Application of melting materials is by industry standard. Spread salt as if you were spreading it at any other customers site to prevent slipping and falling.

10) CLIN 0005 identifies an annual mobilization fee with a quantity of five over the five-year ordering period. Is this mobilization fee expected to be ordered and paid once during each contract year regardless of the number of snow or ice events that occur, or is payment of the annual mobilization fee dependent upon the issuance of a task order or occurrence of a qualifying snow/ice event?

Allowable once per year, for mobilization to the site. See schedule.

11) Will the VA offer a site visit or walkthrough for prospective offerors prior to the October 6, 2026, quotation deadline? If a formal site visit is not planned, may an interested offeror request an opportunity to view the snow-removal areas prior to submitting its quotation?

See amendment.

12) Pages 35-37 request three examples and state that previous work must reflect the contractor submitting the quote. If the proposed supervisor and crew would be employed directly by MMC for performance, may their prior snow-removal experience be evaluated when accurately attributed to their former employer, or must all three examples be contracts performed by MMC itself? How will a quoter without three comparable corporate references be evaluated?

See 52.212-2 in the solicitation for quote evaluation.

13) Please identify or provide the applicable Service Contract Labor Standards wage determination and revision, including required fringe benefits. We found the requirement to comply but no separately listed wage-determination attachment in the downloaded package.

Wage determinations can be found at www.sam.gov. The applicable wage determination is for Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, 2015-4231 rev 33. The most recent determination will be incorporated into the resultant contract. Fringe benefit requirements are listed within the determination.

14) The posted RFQ and filename identify 36C24426Q0980, while interior page headers identify 36C24426Q0751. Please confirm that this is the controlling scope and pricing schedule for 36C24426Q0980 and identify any current amendments. .

The RFQ is 36C24426Q0980. Amendments, if any, are posted to www.sam.gov.

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/