36C24819Q0620-0003000.docx

Ground Maintenance Industry Questions and Government Responses

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE

7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE OF PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE

CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243 (Type or print) (Type or print) (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (If other than Item 6) (Specify type of modification and authority) (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer) 08-08-2019 none 36C248 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 8 Miami VA Healthcare System 1201 NW 16th Street Miami

FL

33125 36C546 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 8 (NCO 8) Miami VA Healthcare System 1201 NW 16th Street Miami

FL

33125 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C24819Q0620 08-08-2019

X X X ** HOUR & DATE for Receipt of Offers is EXTENDED to:

Wednesday, August 14, 2019@ 11:00am EST See CONTINUATION Page The purpose of this modification is to extend the offer due date, respond to industry questions and update Solicitation to reflect changes to the PWS, Price Cost/Schedule, and evaluation section.

1. Offer due date/time, Section 11 of this SF30. Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at 11:00A.M. EST.

2. Government Responses to Industry Questions, pages 2 - 7.

3. Attached Solicitation includes updates to sections of the PWS, Price/Cost Schedule, and the Evaluation.

CONTINUATION PAGE

See attached document: RFQ 36C24819Q0620 - updated per questions responses.

Page 7 of 33, 4.3, states that we are to provide watering hoses and portable watering devices, but you mentioned during the walk through that we would not be required to do that. Can you please change that in the specs?

The Contractor must provide their own water hoses for watering and other pertinent equipment.

Page 7 of 33, 4.4, states that we are required to provide 4 cuts per month from April through the end of October, but it was thought by someone in the walk through that it meant the same as once per week. If the math is done for those 7 months, there are 214 days, divided by 7 days per week (for a weekly service), that would mean the VA would be expecting between 30 and 31 cuts. The 5 remaining months have specs that call for service to be performed every other week (every 14 days), or approximately 10 cuts. Therefore, if it's expected to be serviced weekly instead of 4 times per month, the total would be anywhere from 40 to 41 cuts, not 38.

Please clarify what the VA is expecting. Is it what it says in the solicitation, or is it what was claimed by one of the attendees?

Please submit your pricing and technical based on the present conditions, 38 cuts is the requirement.

Note: This section does not state if caused by the contractor.

Page 8 of 33, 4.6.2, Palm Trees. It is stated that we must meet ANSI Standards for palm trimming, then in parenthesis, it says 10/2, which in the industry means that we trim the fronds up to a point that looks like the hands on a clock, which is 30 degrees above the horizon. That hasn't been the ANSI code since before 2008. The ANSI code since then has been to not trim higher than a horizontal trimming (9/3).

Please revise to a horizontal trim height maximum (9/3).

9/3 is required

Page 8 of 33, 4.7, Maintaining Bedding and Planting Areas, states that we are responsible for all fill material to allow for a constant and even slope. During the walk through I noticed many areas that were not constant with an even slope. The VA will need to pay for this service as it needs it. Please verify.

Please submit your pricing and technical based on the present condition.

Initial Clean Up. We spoke about the VA adding a line item for a one time (initial) clean up. The amount and size of the weeds throughout the grounds, the overgrown hedges that are both tall and encroaching on walkways, numerous exotics (weeds and unwanted trees, palms and plants) growing within the hedges, and the low tree canopies that create a liability due to the possibility of injuring a pedestrian (eyes, ears, and other dangers).

I believe that a onetime charge to bring the site back to the standards that you choose, such as all or most of the above, would be the ideal way to allow the contractor to reach a maintenance level sooner, while also providing the VA with a much-needed improved appearance.

Please advise.

No.

If a tree dies or becomes damaged is that an additional cost?

Now there are 6 dead or dying Palm Trees and 1 hardwood tree that is dead. Who will take them down and at what cost?

No.

Please submit your pricing and technical based on the present condition.

· Main entrances/exits of the hospital.

· Emergency entrances (walk in and ambulance)

· Loading Dock See updated PWS section.

Trimming will take about 3 months to get the entire place back under control because you trim the property once a month. If you want to keep the cost down and get the property up to speed fast. Ask for 36 cuts vice 38 and 2 extra visits within the first 2 months to get the trimming under control.

With the tree trimming being done also will make the property look nice.

Please submit your pricing and technical based on the present condition.

Please submit your pricing and technical based on the present condition.

Please submit your pricing and technical based on the present condition.

Also, in the CLC and Spinal Injury pavilion looks like a broken pipe from the lift for the windows and does the irrigation work in the new planters that were added in the area?

Please submit your pricing and technical based on the present condition.

Section 4.7.1 does not give any measurement for the Mulched areas, but it asks for 2 inches twice a year and to be inspected every visit. We saw the area in front of the Fisher house by the street. The Main Entrance bed in front of the Portico and the 2 sides of the Emergency Entrance looks to be about 2.5 yards of Mulch would you agree?

Please submit your pricing and technical based on the present condition.

Section 4.26 asks for maintenance reports on each item of equipment? Why and to what degree?

Not required.

The area's on the perimeter of the property that has no irrigation weed control should just be minimal because green neatly trimmed weeds look better than dry patches of dirt, so we need to work closely with the COR with this matter don't you agree?

Please submit your pricing and technical based on the present condition.

Section 9.2 Will the contractor be able to sign the keys out for the locks on the gates we need to enter and secure when we are done? we lose many man hours keeping people on station to prevent access or exit of patients when the COR is busy.

No. This is a secure facility. Access will be provided in a timely manner.

Section 6.3 Not doing the lawn service on the weekend makes safety concerns a big problem a lot of edging and weed eating along the perimeter and parking lots make it very difficult to work around all the cars and people moving about the work area. Especially the tree trimming you would never get all the trees done safely and efficiently. Can the tree trimming, and Lawn service be done on the weekend?

Yes.

· Will there be an additional line item for Initial Clean-up? – If item not provided what is expected to bring the current conditions to acceptable standards.

No. Please submit your pricing and technical based on the present condition.

Is the awarded contractor responsible for the removal of vines on fence by “CLC” adjacent to trash truck parking lot?

Yes.

Irrigation – Item #2 – monthly service is to include wet checks and any required repairs or only wet checks and any repairs to be invoiced as required?

Wet check and repair as part of the contract.

Finger island beds, can we replace mulch with rocks or re-mulch?

Please submit your pricing and technical based on the present condition.

In areas with low irrigation can mulch be replaced with rocks?

Please submit your pricing and technical based on the present condition.

Confirm which Landscaping certifications are required for this contract? For example:

· Florida Certified Landscape Contractor

· Florida Licensed Irrigation Contractor

· ISA Certified Arborist Certified Pest Control Operator If you are applying Chemicals, you must be certified.