36C78618Q0101-004.docx

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Cemetery Administration (NCA) furnishes headstones, markers, and niche covers for the graves of veterans worldwide. Memorial headstones, markers, and niche covers are also furnished to memorialize veterans whose remains are non-recoverable.

2.0 Purpose

The purpose of this contract is to supply blank marble columbarium niche covers (4 cemeteries), and blank marble memorial wall markers (1 cemetery) for the following:

2.1 Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – Southeast

1. 300 blank marble niche covers delivered not later than February 1st, 2018.

1. 65 blank marble memorial wall markers delivered not later than February 1st, 2018.

2.2 Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery

1. 900 blank marble niche covers delivered by January 15, 2018,

2.3 Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – West

1. 1,200 blank marble niche covers delivered by January 15, 2018.

2.4 Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – Central

1. 1,200 blank marble niche covers delivered March 1st, 2018.

3.4 Material:

3.41 Marble shall be fine grained, sound and compact, free from cracks, spalls, chips, holes, calcite lines more than two inches in length, open seams, pits, or other defects that would impair its strength, durability or appearance.

3.5 (Not Used)

3.6 Color:

3.61 Marble: The overall background whiteness of the marble, exclusive of allowable veining, shall be no less than standard N8.5 of the Munsell Neutral Value Scale, 31 Step Scale. Background colors with noticeable contrast in chroma or hue (example: mixing silver or gray background tones with cream or yellow background tones) are unacceptable.

Various colored veins, no darker than N6 of the Munsell Neutral Value Scale, may blend gradually into the white background. Blotches of color, or veining which are in sharp contrast with the background whiteness, which would inhibit legibility of the inscription, or which present an objectionable appearance, shall be cause for rejection. Traits causing unacceptable appearance include:

1. covers with multiple, long, straight streaks;

1. colors which appear as draining or dripping down the stone;

1. coloring which would be mistaken for black microbial growth or, markings which would be mistaken for dirt;

1. covers with veining of blatantly dissimilar material susceptible to differential weathering;

1. lines likely to be misinterpreted as cracks;

1. broad dark markings or splotches that interfere with legibility or that create a strong visual distraction (e.g. resembling paint splatter)--- regardless of where the distraction is located;

1. covers which lack a dominant background color (say more than 33% is color of veins);

1. covers having 3 or more veins that are greater than 1-1/3 inches thick;

1. covers having wide (other than pencil-mark thin) veins which do not gradually blend with the background color;

1. covers with horizontally oriented veining haphazardly mixed with other orientations. Veining should occur across the stone primarily following the long vertical dimension or slanted by as much as ± 45 degrees from the vertical.

3.7 Finish: The face and sides of each blank shall be uniformly machine honed to a finish using 80 grit and display a smooth satin surface, free of scratches, saw marks, rust spots and skips. The back of the niche covers must have a smooth sawn finish or finer. All edges along the front, back and corners shall be uniformly rounded. The minimum 1/16” rounding along backside edges is preferred. Four holes are to be core drilled in each cover as shown on drawing. The holes must be perpendicular to the face of the cover. The holes shall have smooth side walls, with one centerline, and no visible change in the side wall from drilling the hole from opposite faces.

1. Scope of Work

4.1 Source of supply

All stone shall be obtained from quarries within the United States of America and having adequate capacity and facilities to meet the specified requirements. Cutting and finishing shall be done by a manufacturer equipped to process the material promptly and in strict accordance with these specifications.

4.2 Workmanship

Each blank shall be free from defects in workmanship. Chips, cracks, open seams, or abraded edges, will not be permitted and the repair or patching of any such defects is prohibited and will be cause for rejection. Any spalling that occurs around holes on the backside of niche covers must not extend more than ¼” beyond the holes’ walls nor be more than 3/32” deep. Blanks shall be free of ink, oil, crayon marks, dirt, coatings, sealers and dust. Workmanship shall be in accordance with industry standards and practices.

5.0 Submittal by Potential Offerors

Contractors having previous approval of a full size niche cover sample, and memorial wall marker sample, within the last 12 months, may submit a copy of each approval in lieu of submitting actual full size samples. However, a 6” x 6” sample representative of the stone to be used and finished per Sections 2.0 and 3.0 above, must still be submitted for review in lieu of submitting full size samples.

Potential offerors having of no recent prior approval of full size samples must submit at their expense one blank memorial wall marker and one blank niche cover according to the specifications listed in Sections 2.0 and 3.0 above. The samples shall be representative of the stone to be used, the finish to be attained and, for niche covers, the placement and diameter of the holes. Testing results for the stone shall be submitted per Section 6.0. The sample and testing results must be submitted by the closing date of the solicitation. The sample shall be marked clearly on the back with indelible marker, showing contractor name, solicitation number, quarry source of stone ,and name of stone. Any sample which arrives damaged will not be acceptable.

A statement identifying the type of honing pads (or stone) used and its grit rating must be provided with the sample

The sample shall be the basis for comparison of all blank niche covers produced under this contract. The dimensions of the sample submittal must adhere to the dimensions shown in the drawings.

Samples must be received by Memorial Programs Service (MPS) prior to closing date. If a sample is disapproved by MPS, you will receive notification by the Contracting Officer and have until the closing date of solicitation to resubmit a replacement for the disapproved sample(s).

NO sample(s) will be accepted after closing date.

Once submitted, samples become the property of the Department of Veterans Affairs and will not be returned. Submit sample and test results to the following address:

Department of Veteran Affairs

5.1 Full size copies of drawings are available upon request at no additional charge to potential vendors. The request should be e-mailed to the NCA Memorial Programs Service (MPS) Program Support Unit at MPSProgSupport@va.gov and should include the contractor’s name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address and the name and drawing number of the drawing(s) requested. Vendors should refer to the drawings to ensure requirements are understood.

A potential vendor should e-mail the request for drawings to MPS early enough to ensure sufficient time for the drawings to be mailed and received. An extension to the solicitation’s closing date will not be granted for requests which do not allow sufficient lead time for receiving hard copies of the drawings.

6.0 Quality Assurance

6.1 Testing

Stone supplied under this contract shall conform to the following specifications and physical requirements. Stone shall be tested, for the tests listed below, by an approved testing laboratory and test results shall be submitted to the Memorial Programs Service for approval prior to the production of the sample niche covers. Testing is required only once and should be from a representative sample of the quarry. Testing results are required for new sources of stone.

NOTE: Test results are not required for submittals involving the same geological deposits of material as mined from quarries in the following areas.

Marble Sources:

Marble Valley, Coosa County, Alabama Marble, Gunnison County, Colorado Danby, Rutland County, Vermont

6.2 Marble Testing Specifications

6.2.1 Abrasive hardness: Marble shall have an abrasive hardness value (Ha) of not less than 10 when tested as specified in ASTM C241.

6.2.2 Absorption: Marble shall absorb not more than 0.15 percent of moisture by weight when tested for a 48 hour period as specified in ASTM C97.

6.2.3 Compressive strength: Marble shall have a minimum compressive strength of 7500 psi or (5.27 kg/mm2) when tested as specified in ASTM C170.

6.2.4 Modulus of rupture: Marble shall have a minimum modulus of rupture of 1000 psi (or 0.70kg/mm2) when tested as specified in ASTM C99.

6.2.5 Density:

Marble shall have a density of not less than 160-lbs/ft3 (2,563-kg/m3) minimum, as specified by ASTM C97.

Specifications for Marble Marble Institute of America

7.0 Government Quality Assurance (QA)

7.1 Site Inspections

Quality assurance inspections of the contractor’s production processes or the contractor’s manufacturing facility may be conducted during the contract period by the designated COR (Contracting Officers Representative) of the Memorial Programs Service (MPS) to assure contract performance and adherence. Visits to the contractor will be scheduled at a time so as to ensure inspection of the contractor’s marker production. The Government reserves the right to perform quality audit inspections without prior scheduling or notification to the contractor.

During each QA visit, a complete assessment of the contractor’s operation will be made, to include the following areas:

1. Packaging and palleting of product to ensure compliance with all contractual requirements.

1. Contractor’s execution of quality control procedures.

1. Contractor is accurately maintaining all QA records as required, with the records indicating the quality of the markers as shipped.

1. The contractor’s handling of inventory or backlogged orders.

The contractor must assist the designated COR (Contracting Officer’s Representative) by providing an adequate, well lighted inspection area. Contractor personnel will provide assistance lifting, handling and moving of product.

7.2 Quality Complaints

The receipt of complaints concerning unsatisfactory quality indicating non-compliance with the contract specifications will be considered reason for an immediate visit and review of the contractor’s quality assurance program. The Government reserves the right to impose 100% Government Quality Inspections for an indefinite period due to quality problems. Indicative, but not all-inclusive, examples are:

1. Nonconforming product shipped to fill Government orders.

1. Product that passed the contractor’s inspection system and are awaiting shipment.

1. Deficiencies that adversely affect performance of the contract existing in areas such as:

2. Craftsmanship

2. Safety

2. Knowledge/training of processes and measuring tools

8.0 Packaging

8.1 Materials

All covers shall be packed on edge in a single course within each crate. Do not stack covers on top of each other within the crates.

Non metal bands shall be secured around the pallet or crating for its entire height (from top to bottom) and two additional bands shall secure the pallet or crating around the width. Banding pressure should be such that it causes no damage to the edges of the stone when packaged. Colored materials or materials capable of staining the stone (ex. uncoated cardboard, certain kinds of wood) during outdoor storage is not permitted.

The packaging and crating should protect the covers throughout the handling and storage process and during shipment and comply with the National Motor Freight Classification.

8.2 Palletizing, Markers or Covers

Each crate or pallet must not exceed 1,500 lbs.

9.0 Point of Contact at MPS

Email MPSProgSupport@va.gov of the projected delivery following the notice to proceed and of the delivery date/time following actual delivery.

10.0 Destination Point

Deliver F.O.B. Destination within consignee’s premises to:

10.1 Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – Southeast

1280 KY Highway 118 Hyden, KY 41749

Point of contact for delivery:

Vaughda Wooten Phone 606 672 2168 Email: vaughda.wooten@ky.gov

10.2 Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery

7931 McCrory Lane Nashville, TN 37221

Point of contact for delivery:

Crystal Walker Phone 615 532 2238 Email: crystal.walker@tn.gov

10.3 Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – West

5817 Ft Campbell Blvd Hopkinsville, KY 42240

Point of contact for delivery:

Richard Stanley Phone 270 889 6106 Email: richard.stanley@va.gov

10.4 Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – Central

2501 North Dixie Blvd Radcliff, KY 40160

Point of contact for delivery:

Chuck Heater Phone 270 351 5115 Email: charles.heater@ky.gov

IMPORTANT: The contractor must note on the Bills of Lading that palletized shipments must be placed at the rear or side of delivery vehicles so that direct access is permitted for off loading with a forklift.

10.1 Point of Contact for Delivery

Consignee must be contacted 24 hours prior to delivery to ensure appropriate personnel and equipment is on-site to off load product. Delivery should occur between 8:30 am to 3:30 pm unless other arrangements are made during the pre notice of impending delivery.

END STATEMENT OF WORK