36C78619Q0136-A0001000.pdf

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)

1 1

A0001 02-25-2019

N/A

36C786

Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration Contracting Services 75 Barrett Heights Road, Suite 309 Stafford VA 22556 Tene Becknell 540-658-7226

36C786

Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration Contracting Services 75 Barrett Heights Road, Suite 309 Stafford VA 22556

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C78619Q0136

02-01-2019

X

X X

Combined Synopsis Solicitation #36C78619Q0136 posted to Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) on February 1, 2019, is is hereby amended to: Provide Offerors with Answers to Solicitation questions posed through February 22, 2019.

This amendment will also extend the Solicitation close date from February 28, 2019 @ 6:00 p.m. (Eastern) to to Sunday, March 3, 2019 @ 6:00 p.m. (Eastern).

END OF AMENDMENT A0001.

Tene Becknell, NCA

Question and Answer Response Solicitation #36C78619Q013 San Francisco National Cemetery Grounds

Is the scope of the 36C78619Q0136 solicitation different from the existing scope of work that the current vendor is performing?

Yes.

As a follow on to the above question should the answer be that the scope is different or expanded. Can the contracting team please detail the items that are new to the existing scope of work?

It is both different and expanded throughout.

The changes are too innumerous to detail in this Amendment document.

We understand that the contractor shall provide all supervision, labor, and equipment, materials, and supplies necessary to provide Internment and Grounds Maintenance Services at the Cemetery, but does the Cemetery own any equipment that would be available for use by the contract awardee?

No. The cemetery will not provide any equipment.

Related to the interment and memorial services.

Does the cemetery own, and if so will they provide or make accessible the 12 - 24 chairs anticipated to be used during these services?

Contractor must provide chairs and all other items specified for committal services.

Is there an existing committal shelter on site at the cemetery?

Yes.

Can the contracting team please define what is expected as it relates to the "greens" referenced in the Internment Service Set-Up?

This refers primarily to cremation burials;

green outdoor rug material to place around the gravesite, covering soil and maintaining a clean, neat appearance.

Does the cemetery currently own an NCA compliant casket lowering device and funeral bier that could be made available to the contact awardee?

No. Cemetery will not provide these items.

Nor will it provide the specified vehicle required to convey a casket to the gravesite.

PWS: Internment Service Set-up: States that contractor shall furnish and set up greens.... What exactly are the specifications of the "Greens" and what quantity is to be provided to the cemetery?

This refers primarily to cremation burials;

green outdoor rug material to place around the gravesite, covering soil and maintaining a clean, neat appearance.

Sunken Grave Repair: PWS states that approximately 500 grave sites shall be in need of repair each year. However, the Pricing Schedule estimates only 50 (40 full and 10 cremain gravesites). Which is accurate?

As stated throughout the Combined Synopsis Solicitation, the contract type is REQUIREMENTS and not FIRM FIXED PRICE therefore, the estimates provided in the CLINs are minimum quantities required.

Additional quantities required beyond minimum, will be authorized via Task Order.

See the following clauses within this Solicitation:

FAR 52.216-18 Ordering (Oct 1995) (date of award through September 30, 2019) FAR 52.216-19 Order Limitations (Oct 1995) ($1000.00 | 60 | 90 | 30 days) FAR 52.216-21 Requirements (Oct 1995) (September 30, 2019)

Regarding CLIN XX10a Weed Control-Post Emergent Herbicide: Can the gov't state the exact PWS paragraphs that apply to this CLIN and it's (sic) specific task and payment?

B.5.10 TURF MAINTENANCE – PEST CONTROL:

Paragraphs A.1, A.2, B.1, B.2, C.1, C.3, D.1, D.2, D.5, D.6, D.7, D.11(all subparagraphs), E. Turf Application Schedule Applications:

1a,3b,4,5,6,7a,8a,9,10a,11, 12,13a

Also Regarding CLIN XX10a Weed Control-Post As stated throughout the Combined Synopsis

Emergent: The gov't is asking for an equal monthly price for this CLIN. However, when applying Post Emergent Herbicide throughout the year, each month will require different levels of effort, labor and costs. To price this way, it will require the contractor to estimate the costs for the whole year, and amortize that annual price evenly into 12 months/payments. Some months may require no applications of post-emergent.

However, to get paid for all costs associated with this CLIN for the year, the contractor would still need to invoice for every month whether work was completed that month or not. Can the gov't confirm that this is the way it wishes to have this CLIN priced?

Solicitation, the contract type is REQUIREMENTS and not FIRM FIXED PRICE therefore, the estimates provided in the CLINs are minimum quantities required.

Additional quantities required beyond minimum, will be authorized via Task Order.

See the following clauses within this Solicitation:

FAR 52.216-18 Ordering (Oct 1995) (date of award through September 30, 2019) FAR 52.216-19 Order Limitations (Oct 1995) ($1000.00 | 60 | 90 | 30 days) FAR 52.216-21 Requirements (Oct 1995) (September 30, 2019)

The estimated quantities in the Price/Cost Schedule for this CLIN remain in effect.

Regarding CLIN XX10b Weed Control Pre- Emergent Herbicide: Within pricing schedule for this CLIN, the unit of measure is "JB" or Job, and the estimated quantity is 1. However, the pricing schedule Description and the PWS state that a quantity of 2 applications should be applied.

These applications, according to the PWS, should be applied 8 to 10 weeks following the first application. Since the second application will be made 1/2 months after the first, would the gov't change the quantity from 1 to 2 and the unit of measure from Job to Each? This will allow the contractor to invoice each separate application within the same billing period as it was performed and in which the costs to perform was incurred.

Contractor may bill for 50% complete on that CLIN after the first application, and the remaining 50% after the second application.

Otherwise the contractor will only bill after the second application for 100% of the cost.

Regarding CLIN's XX10c, XX10d & XX10e, Invertebrate, Vertebrate Pest Control and Repair of Landscape Damage by Vertebrate Pests: Like mentioned above on the Post-Emergent Herbicide CLIN, these CLIN's require the contractor to estimate the total annual cost and

Yes. As stated throughout the Combined Synopsis Solicitation, the contract type is REQUIREMENTS and not FIRM FIXED PRICE therefore, the estimates provided in the CLINs are minimum quantities required.

Additional quantities required beyond minimum, will be authorized via Task Order.

amortize it into 12 months or payments. Some months will have more work than other months.

And, some months may have no work.

Nonetheless, the contractor will still be invoicing the gov't the flat monthly price that it is requiring. Is this observation and billing method accurate?

See the following clauses within this Solicitation:

FAR 52.216-18 Ordering (Oct 1995) (date of award through September 30, 2019) FAR 52.216-19 Order Limitations (Oct 1995) ($1000.00 | 60 | 90 | 30 days) FAR 52.216-21 Requirements (Oct 1995) (September 30, 2019)

Regarding Mowing - Irrigated Turf, PWS Paragraph 8. Removal of Turf Clippings on page 47: What is the acreage of the specialty areas that the COR may require grass clippings to be bagged with mower bag attachments?

All flat marker areas: (approx. 11,500 sq-ft), Around buildings: (approx.5,000 sq-ft) , Rostrum: (approx. 35,000 sq-ft), Unknown monument: approx. 50 sq-ft.

Regarding the Arborist requirement to be on site for not less then 8 hours a day whenever work is being performed under the Tree Pruning PWS section on page 53: Would the gov't make this requirement more reasonable?

Tree Pruning may, for example, only be performed for 3 hours of a day. It wouldn't be necessary to have an Arborist on site for 5 additional hours. Would the gov't change this requirement to simple have the work supervised and approved by our Arborist?

As stipulated below from the San Francisco National Cemetery Agronomist:

“The arborist shall be on site whenever tree pruning is being performed. Prudent Contractors schedule full day’s work when tree pruning is required, and not just 3 hours of work. If pruning is only scheduled for 3 hours, then there is no work for the arborist to direct after that time.”

Regarding PWS 7. Storage Facilities on page 96:

This section states that the gov't "may" furnish a storage building on site at the cemetery.

Considering the extensive costs that will be passed along to the gov't if the contractor is required to obtain and maintain off-site storage as well as daily transportation of equipment required to perform the contract, can we obtain a more definite answer on whether on-site storage is going to be provided? If so, what size

Will include use of maintenance building and a substantial portion of the lower yard and shed.

Lower Yard: 1200 SF; Shed= 440 SF; Eqpmt Storage & Service (Bldg. #154)= 1780 SF.

of a storage yard and/or building will be provided? When bidding this contract, we'll need to either price this cost in to the contract, passing the cost on to the gov't, or not. If we're given use of a storage yard and/or building, this will be less expensive for the gov't. However, if we're given use of the building, and it's taken away during the term of the contract, this would constitute reasonable justification for an equitable adjustment request.

Headstones shall be cleaned prior to Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day and any other times as determined by the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) with a minimal washing of one (1) time per year. The natural surfaces shall be retained. They shall not be painted, white washed or calcimined.

Is 2 cleanings required per year unless directed by the COR to only do it once for either Memorial Day or Veterans day?

To be accomplished on an as-needed/as-directed basis. Much of this depends on the weather/environmental conditions which may cause headstones to exhibit excessive environmental deposits.

Interseed thin or bare irrigated turf, in early fall (late September/early October), and again in early spring (late February/early March) to coincide with annual rainfall. Begin biannual interseeding regime in spring of Base Year and perform in fall and spring every year thereafter as directed by the COR. COR will designate areas of irrigated turf to be interseeded.

What can we expect on a yearly basis, or biannual basis in terms of Square footage?

There is 2000 SF in CLIN XXX8d. Again, because this is an IDIQ contract, the CO can adjust quantities of task orders if more or less interseeding is required.

Removal of Turf Clippings: Immediately remove or disperse windrows and mats of grass clipping deposited on the turf to avoid turf damage.

All flat marker areas, around buildings, rostrum, “Unknown” monument.

Remove clippings deposited on headstones and other monuments, section markers, concrete bases, roads, walks, plazas, beds, tree basins, or other non-turf grass areas the same day as the mowing event that produced them. Remove clippings deposited on sidewalks or at public visitor areas including at the Committal Shelter at same time 48 mowing work is occurring. In specialty areas, collect clippings in bag attachments to the mowers, when directed by the

COR.

Can the Government define specialty areas?

Core aerification uses specialized equipment to remove numerous soil cores (from 4 to 6 inches long) as it passes across the turfgrass surface. The cores are to be removed from the site or left on the turfgrass surface as directed by the COR.

Can we get an answer on if cores will be left on soil or do they have to be removed? This creates a substantial increase in labor if they need removed.

Can be left on turf.

1. Irrigate planting beds during the growing season to the degree needed to maintain an attractive appearance and optimal plant growth.

2. Deep root irrigate all established trees showing stress from drought immediately when observed.

3. Irrigate trees once a month in the dry season.

Do not deep root irrigate California native Oak trees June through August.

Can we get an estimated number of trees that will need to be irrigated? The cost will be associated by that number.

Most trees are within reach of irrigation heads. Do not foresee need for deep root irrigation; possibly olive trees along west wall. If there are drought conditions (years with below average rainfall) and trees are showing stress from drought, all trees may need to be deep root irrigated.

Regarding PWS 4. Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua) Control on page 36: Which CLIN is this application specifically associated with? This PWS paragraph indicates that this will be a (3rd) third pre-emergent application. CLIN XX10b seems to cover the first two (or split applications) from the PWS 3. Grass Weed Pre- Emergent on page 36. However, there doesn't seem to be another CLIN to pay for this third Pre-Emergent application

Since this is an IDIQ contract, the Contracting Officer (CO) can add Jobs to CLIN XX10b for Pre-Emergent Herbicide to treat Annual Bluegrass should the weed pressure warrant the application

Is tree pruning and tree work restricted to a 15’ reach from the ground, or does this include all trees no matter the height?

There are two levels of tree work in this contract. That work which can be performed to a height 15’ above the ground under CLIN XX15a; and work that is above that height under CLIN XX16. Per the SOW: ‘“Pruning and trimming above that height (15’) shall be provided in accordance with “Tree Pruning and Removal.”’

END OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR THIS PROCUREMENT.