QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q1. Is there an incumbent, and if so, what is the contract number, value, and the name of the company?

A1. The information requested is not applicable to this solicitation.

Q2. The PWS identifies the Jefferson Barracks campus as 126.65 acres. Could you please provide the approximate number of acres of maintained turf that require mowing and chemical applications, excluding buildings, roads, parking lots, wooded areas, and landscape beds?

A2. The facility estimates approximately 30 acres of surface area to mow, trim, etc.

Q3. Would an otherwise compliant commercial general liability policy containing a standard asbestos exclusion be acceptable under Section C.8(d), provided that asbestos-related work (removal, abatement, or disturbance) is outside the scope of this grounds maintenance contract? Or does the clause require that the policy contain no asbestos exclusion whatsoever, regardless of scope?

A3. A standard asbestos exclusion is acceptable provided it does not void coverage for the work actually performed under this contract. Because the Performance Work Statement does not require asbestos removal, abatement, or disturbance, a typical CGL exclusion limited to those operations will not be considered to "void" coverage within the meaning of Section C.8(d). The clause is directed at exclusions broad enough to eliminate coverage for claims arising from this contract's actual scope of work, not at the mere presence of asbestos-related exclusionary language in general.

Q4. If a standard asbestos exclusion is not acceptable as written, would the VA accept a project-specific endorsement confirming that the required general liability coverage remains in full effect for all work performed under this grounds maintenance contract, notwithstanding the policy's general asbestos exclusion?

A4. Yes. Where an offeror's policy exclusion is broad enough to raise doubt as to its effect on coverage for this contract's operations, a project-specific endorsement confirming that coverage remains in effect for all work performed under this contract will satisfy the requirement in Section C.8(d).

Q5. Is evidence of this asbestos-related insurance condition required only from the apparent successful offeror, prior to award, as the plain language of Section C.8(d) states?

Or must a certificate of insurance or endorsement addressing this requirement be submitted with the initial quotation?

A5. Evidence of compliance with Section C.8(d) is required only from the apparent successful offeror, prior to award, consistent with the plain language of that section. It is not required to be submitted with the initial quotation unless another section of the solicitation separately instructs offerors to submit insurance documentation as part of their proposal.

Q7. Must the prime contractor and each performing subcontractor independently furnish evidence of compliance with the Section C.8(d) asbestos-related insurance condition, or is it sufficient for the prime contractor to maintain the required coverage and/or flow down an equivalent requirement to subcontractors through subcontract agreements?

A7. The evidentiary obligation under Section C.8(d) runs to the prime contractor. The prime contractor is responsible for maintaining the required coverage and for flowing down an equivalent requirement to any performing subcontractors through its subcontract agreements. Subcontractors are not required to separately submit evidence of compliance directly to the Contracting Officer.

Q8. PWS Section 2 refers to debris “that accumulates daily.” Is daily pickup required, or only before each mowing cycle?

A8. Daily pick up is not required, only prior to mowing.

Q9. Is there an on-site location for clippings and debris, or must all material be hauled off site?

A9. There is a dumpster on site for “yard waste”, however capacity is limited. Contractors should plan to dispose of those items independently.

Q10. Will OSHA 10-Hour General Industry training be accepted in place of the Construction course?

A10. OSHA 10-Hour is acceptable as updated in the PWS.

Q11. What is the approximate mowable turf acreage? Are the yellow-highlighted areas and the red-bordered southeast parcel in Attachment C included, and are the marked construction zones excluded?

A11. The facility estimates approximately 30 acres of surface area to mow, trim, etc.

Q12. CLIN 0002 shows Ordering Period 3 dates (11/16/2028–11/15/2029). Please confirm it applies to Ordering Period 1.

A12. CLIN 0002 applies to Ordering Period 1 and has been corrected.

Q13. For CLINs x002 and x003, does one “EA” equal one full-campus service event?

A13. Yes, please refer to PWS Section 2 Grounds Maintenance – Non-Growing Season Services. CLIN 0002 is estimated and not guaranteed. CLIN 0003, please refer to PWS Section 2 Grounds Maintenance – Chemical and Supply Responsibilities.

Q14. Please confirm the place of performance: 1 Jefferson Barracks Dr. (PWS) or 915 N.

Grand Blvd. (SF 1449).

A14. The correct place of performance is 1 Jefferson Barracks Dr. and has been updated.

Q15. Will award be based on lowest price technically acceptable or a best-value tradeoff?

What evaluation factors and relative importance apply?

A15. See Section E.3, 52.212-2

Q16. How will relevant commercial experience, key personnel experience, and proposed subcontractor experience be considered?

A16. See Section E.1 Instructions to Offerors

Q17. What conditions determine whether evaluation proceeds beyond Tier 1 SDVOSB concerns?

A17. See Section E.3

Q18. Is a site visit available, and does the campus map identify the maintained acreage, landscaped beds, and excluded areas?

A18. There will not be a site visit.

Q19. Are there specific requirements for local supervision, dedicated staffing, equipment availability, and emergency response?

A19. See Performance Work Statement

Q20. Are separately priced landscape enhancements permitted, and would they be considered during evaluation or separately after award?

A20. No

Q21. What is the deadline and required submission method for clarification questions?

A21. See Section E.1 Instructions to Offerors

Q22. PWS §1 identifies the campus as 126.65 acres, and Attachment C depicts the campus. Please provide the approximate mowable turf acreage included in the Growing Season CLINs (x001). Additionally, the site plan on page 1 of Attachment C is not legible at the resolution provided; please furnish a higher-resolution copy and, if an acreage figure is not available, indicate on that copy which areas are to be mowed.

A22. The approximate turf acreage to mow and/or trim is 30 acres.

Q23. Please provide approximate quantities for the following, if available: linear feet of paved surfaces and bed borders requiring vertical edging; linear feet of hedges and shrubs outside landscaped beds (PWS §2); and the number of parking lots included in the debris requirement.

A23. Linear foot measurements for edging is not immediately available.

Q24. Attachment C, page 2, shows areas circled in yellow, and page 1 shows a parcel outlined in red on the east side of the campus. Please clarify what these markings denote and whether each area is included in or excluded from the scope.

A24. The shaded areas denote areas under construction and are no longer under construction. The red, outlined portion is an excluded area from the scope of work. See updated image below.

Q25. Attachment C, page 1, shows shaded construction zones. Please confirm whether these zones are excluded from routine services, and how areas returned to service after construction will be handled.

A25. The brown shaded areas are no longer under construction and are to be included in the scope of work. See photo below.

Q26. Please clarify the intended seeding scope for each application, spot or repair seeding of thin and bare areas, or overseeding of all turf. If an approximate seeding area is available, please provide it.

A26. Spot seeding as needed to address dead spots; overseeding during appropriate times of year (Fall and/or Spring as necessary)

Q27. PWS §2 limits herbicide use to asphalt and concrete areas, while CLIN x003 includes pest treatment. Please confirm whether the spring and fall applications include pre-emergent or broadleaf weed control on turf, or whether pest treatment is limited to insect and grub control.

A27. Spring and fall applications should pre-emergent and/or broadleaf weed control. Pest control limited to insect and grub control.

Q28. Please confirm whether contractor equipment may be stored on site, or whether equipment must be removed from the campus at the end of each workday.

A28. On site storage is limited but available. There is a lot designated for shipping container storage, construction overflow, etc. Contractors are responsible for furnishing their own container on site if storage is desired.

Q29. If there's an Incumbent, what scope changes have been made from the old contract to the new contract?

A29. There is not anyone currently performing these services.

Jefferson Barracks VA Medical Center Map