Questions and Answers.pdf

SOW D.1.a – Can the requirement of a Texas Certified Nurseryman be waived in lieu of experience? If so, what would be the experiential requirements? No

While visiting the Grand Prairie location much of the site is under construction, as construction is finished and landscaping finalized will the contractor be allowed to submit an REA to accommodate for these changes? Price entire area. We will reduce scope while construction is active. The area behind construction fencing is lawn area mainly. The current project maintains within the fence.

SOW D.8 – What is approx. square footage of the planting beds that are to be mulched. 10,000 sq feet.

Seasonal color beds are roughly 3500 sq feet. Remainder are for beds with no plantings or existing shrubs and such.

SOW D.9 – To clarify the cost for fertilization and turf management is not to be included in the pricing of item #s 0001 and 0002. Is this correct? Soil samples/testing and putting out whatever amendment is needed should be included in these line items. The actual product will be procured either through the landscape purchases line item or the VA will procure through a separate procurement.

SOW 16.3 and 4 - To clarify – The contractor is responsible for the purchase of the chat rock, sand, salt, brine or ice melt for the Premium Services of snow removal. Is this correct? No. The VA will provide or procurement through landscape purchases line item.

SOW 16.9 – What is the specific GFE provided for snow removal? Granular ice melt spreader and liquid ice melt sprayer. Both are truck mounted.

Pricing Schedule Items 0004, 0005, 0006 and 0007 – The pricing schedule states, “the government will enter a Not-to Exceed amount upon ward”. Are we to price these items? If so, how are we to price items 0006 and 0007 since we currently do not have the occurrences or the actual cost since they will be based on different needs. For example, we have no idea the size of tree that maybe needed to remove or any frequency of irrigation repair. VA will input price.

Pricing Schedule Item 0001 – For item 0002 the pricing description is “Grounds Maintenance Services for the Garland facility to include all exterior trash can services, irrigation testing/maintaining, materials, and supplies.” The description for item 0001 does not have exterior trash or irrigation testing and maintenance. Are to include these items in our pricing for item 0001? 0001 is for Grand Prairie. There is no irrigation or exterior trash can service at this location.

Offer Submittal Instructions # 9 / Basis of Award 1.a – Considering the amount of information required in the instruction and in the evaluation criteria can the technical capability page limit be expanded to 10 pages? No, it cannot.

Is the “key Personnel considered part of the Technical Capability page count.

Key personnel can be considered to be a part of what you want it to be a part of and will count towards the total page count.

I understand reading the statement of work and possibly needing barricades during concrete or parking lot construction, but this is making it sound like anytime we are on site. Can you give me a history lesson on this one and when they are required? Barricading is required when you are providing a service such as a tree being cut down or say a irrigation line broken to prevent pedestrians from being injured. Barricading is not required daily for normal grounds maintenance work.

Are we “not” supposed to price out a fertilizing plan for the grounds maintenance? We do hold a standard and I do not want to over price this contract. The requirement of the SOW is soil analysis to be completed to determine soil amendments. The product to be put out will be presented to the VA for procurement through the landscaping purchases line item or by the VA separate from contract.

Soil test are to be completed to let the COR and contractor know type and how much fertilizer is to be applied. Is this just 1 test in 1 area?

***Both 2 and 3 will determine how many treatments we will need annually to price, and with the soil test being after the contract is signed, how can we be accurate with pricing***

Testing should be done across campus to ensure all areas are getting proper amendments.

Pricing for standard applications should be sufficient. If there is an amendment outside of standard applications we would need to discuss an equitable adjustment or handle through special services line item.

While on site there were many dead shrubs that were not pulled and hardly any mulch noticeable.

Is there a quantity of mulch we need to price out? Mulch would be procured through landscape purchases line item to fulfill the “Maintenance of Planting Beds” responsibilities.

Seasonal color plan to be priced out. Is there a specific number of flats installed annually?

Identified areas in SOW and the site visit. No specific number of flats is specified. Planting plan shall be to ensure a neat and professional appearance for veterans visiting the facility.

It says that storm and wind damage to be removed within 2 hours. Is this accurate? After storm/inclement weather we will need an expedited response to ensure staff and visitors can move throughout facility in a safe manner. If a limb blows down over a sidewalk we need it removed within 2 hours.

Sounds like the next questions could be answered with possibly needing a porter on site daily.

1. Trash cans emptied daily? I would assume porter can handle daily.

2. Test sprinkler zones weekly? As long as the porter is qualified to inspect/test/make adjustments.

Can you provide any historical date on Premium Service for Snow and Ice Days?

3. What happens after you apply the chat rock? Do we need to power sweep parking lot and haul off? Clean up would be required. We use very little chat rock or sand because of this.

Snow and ice days mainly consist of spreading ice melt both granular and liquid and scraping clearing sidewalks/parking areas identified in inclement weather plan.

Is there a site map for Irrigation controllers and number of zones per controller? What kind of controllers and if not Weathermatic would the government be open to changing out controllers once under contract? I do not have current plans. We are open to updating system if there is a failure or issue with existing controllers.

1. Are the Sprinkler Systems operational in both locations? The Outpatient Clinic in Grand Prairie and Garland Texas Garland yes. Grand Prairie does not have irrigation.

2. What is the Perimeter areas of the Garland Location? How far does the maintenance need to be performed. Is there a map outlining the service areas? Entire property. Site map attached.

3. On page 11 of 71, #4 states, " The VA shall provide a storage area for the contractor." Where exactly is this located on the site map?

What is the square footage of this area? This is an area to store supplies such as trash can liners and such.

Small items. We will provide an area for these items. Storage shed available on property.

4. Since we will not be going into any of the buildings or VA facilities, Can one person/onsite supervisor be badged and escort the rest of the maintenance crew? All staff will be badged.

5. On page 17 of 71 #0008, states "Initial Cleaning of the underbrush and raising tree canopy in the wooded area at the Garland Facility. We were show of a path that leads to the water banks by the VA at Garland facility. We were told that it is a path that is used often by police department. The canopies need to be raised so police can see under the trees. There is no path. Tree canopies raised and underbrush cut during the base year and the upkeep during the following option years.

Can you provide the square footage of the area that is to be cleared and how high the tree canopy is to go?

Tree canopies are to be raised the 7-8’. Total treed area is approximately 10 acres.

6. During the site visit, we were given a sketch of the areas that will be serviced. Can a site map highlighting the areas that we are supposed to service be provided? Please see below of the entire property.