36C78619Q0203-001.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

November 30, 2018

A. SCOPE

The Contractor shall furnish labor, supervision, quality control, transportation, parts, materials, equipment, supplies, necessary or incidental to remove and renovate turf in designated burial sections with additional earthwork in certain sections and clean designated headstones; at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Fort Gibson, OK, and hereafter referred to as “Fort Gibson National Cemetery” or “Cemetery” as required by Section A1, “PRICE SCHEDULE OF SERVICES.”

i. All contract work shall be completed as required under the terms of this contract in each Burial Section as defined in the Work Statement {designated on the contract drawings and provided to the Contractor by the Contracting Officer (CO) and/or Contracting Officer Representative, (COR)} AND accepted by the COR PRIOR to any work beginning in the NEXT Burial Section, unless otherwise approved by the CO or COR.

B. THE NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION MISSION

The National Cemetery Administration honors veterans with a final resting place and lasting memorial that commemorate their service to our Nation. National Cemeteries are National Shrines. Therefore, the standards for management, maintenance, appearance and operational procedures performed by the Contractor have been established by the National Cemetery Administration to reflect this Nations’ concern and respect for those interred there. For this reason, the Contractor’s strict adherence to the Performance Work Statement, Performance Work Requirements Summary and Guidance Specifications shall be required and shall be essential. Critically important is the awareness required of the Contractor employees of the remains buried in the grounds where the work is performed. The utmost care must be given to these remains and the headstones and flat grave markers that mark those gravesites and memorialize the service of individuals.

C. BACKGROUND

i. In 1999 Congress passed legislation requiring VA to ensure that National Cemeteries serve as a dignified and respectful setting. Each Cemetery is to be an expression of appreciation and respect of a grateful Nation for the service and sacrifice of her veterans.

ii. Further, each National Cemetery is to be maintained as a National Shrine. A National Shrine is defined as a place of honor and memory that declares to the visitor/family who views it as a majestic setting, offering a sense of serenity, historic sacrifice and nobility of purpose. The National Cemetery is a beautiful and awe-inspiring tribute to those who gave much to preserve our Nation’s freedom and way of life.

D. INTRODUCTION

The Department of Veteran Affairs, Fort Gibson National Cemetery intends to award a fixed price contract to remove, and renovate designated sections of turf in designated burial sections with additional earthwork in certain sections. The Fort Gibson National Cemetery is located at 1423 Cemetery Road, Fort Gibson, OK 74434.

E. CONTRACT OBJECTIVES

To complete the turf renovation project at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery, following the technical approach in this Statement of Work (SOW) in order to maintain the highest level of standards of appearance as a National Shrine, in accordance with best commercial practices and the requirements identified in the solicitation.

F. SUMMARY OF WORK

i. The Contractor shall remove and restore Cemetery turf grass in designated burial sections, which includes, but is not limited to: killing and removing existing turf grass, rototilling the existing topsoil, adding or removing topsoil to establish a new finish grade, installing new turf grass sod, and establishing new turf grass sod, preservation of existing cemetery features (lawns, paving, roads, stones and markers). In designated burial sections (as annotated on the Site Plan), the Contractor shall remove the top six inches of soil, import and grade six inches of clean topsoil after turf removal but prior to new turf installation; and in one burial section the Contractor shall not remove existing soil but shall still be required to import and grade new topsoil.

ii. The Contractor shall clean headstones at the Cemetery in a manner that will meet or exceed the requirements to present a clean, neat, professional, and aesthetic headstone appearance and in accordance with Contract Specifications

iii. The Contractor shall restore cemetery features disturbed or removed as a result of performing new work, as well as, repair, replace, or reinstall any damaged cemetery property, such that at the end of the day the condition is as good as before commencement of work. Scheduling of services shall be coordinated with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to avoid disruption of ongoing cemetery operations. All work will be done during normal Federal workdays during cemetery workday hours. No work will be allowed during special weekend, or Federal Holiday activities.

G. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The performance period of the contract is 90 days.

H. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

i. The Contractor shall be responsible for full management of the turf renovation services described herein. The Government’s requirements are described in the National Cemetery Administration’s (NCA’s) “Operational Standards and Measures” http://vaww.nca.va.gov/business_imp/ bus_stdmeasure.asp (provided by the Contracting Officer upon request), this SOW the Contract Specifications and other requirements identified herein, as they are applicable to the services required in the Pricing Schedule.

ii. In accordance with the contract requirements, the Contractor shall be responsible for:

1. Cleaning of Headstones

1. Turf grass Renovation;

1. Layout of the work and for all measurements in connection with the layout;

1. Debris and trash removal;

1. Maintaining a safe presentable working environment for Contractor, cemetery staff, and the general public;

1. Preventing any disruption to the cemetery operations, including funerals, visitor privacy, internal traffic, and utilities;

1. Preserving the environment and following applicable regulations;

1. Preserving existing cemetery features (lawns, paving, roads, stones, and markers);

1. Restoring cemetery features disturbed or removed as a result of performing new work;

1. Ensuring all work conforms to the NCA’s established National Standards;

1. Timely submission of required reports and documentation.

I. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

i. When site conditions are restrictive and it is not possible to safely operate equipment while keeping the headstones on the gravesite, the Contractor shall prepare these sites by hand. At no time may headstones/markers be removed from the gravesites.

ii. The Contractor is responsible to protect headstones during the turf renovation process from damage or being discolored from contact with dirt, soil or other contaminants.

iii. Headstones shall not be physically removed from the gravesite during the turf renovation projects.

J. LAYOUT OF WORK

i. The Contractor shall lay out the work and shall be responsible for all measurements in connection with the layout. Where burial section grid monumentation exists, it shall be utilized for all turf renovation layout work, and contractor shall coordinate all associated field layout dimensions with COR prior to start of work. The Contractor shall furnish, at Contractor's own expense, all stakes, templates, platforms, equipment, tools, materials, and labor required to layout any part of the work. The Contractor shall execute the work to the lines and grades needed to accomplish the work. The Contractor shall maintain and preserve all temporary and permanent stakes and other marks until authorized by the COR to remove them. If such marks are destroyed by the Contractor or through Contractor's negligence before their removal is authorized, the Contracting Officer may replace them and deduct the expense of the replacement from any amounts due or to become due to the Contractor.

ii. A registered professional land surveyor or registered civil engineer whose services are retained and paid for by the Contractor shall be used for layout control of work and to restore any grave section corner monuments that may be disturbed as a result of the Contractor’s performance of the contract work.

K. STANDARDS OF EMPLOYEE CONDUCT

Contractor personnel shall be required to adhere to the following standards of dress and conduct, as briefly mentioned here, while performing work in the National Cemetery. These standards and regulations are enforceable under Title 38, U.S.C., Part I, Chapter 9, Section 5901. The Contractor shall be responsible to ensure that Contractor employees coming to the work site will receive complete information on safety, environmental protection, and fire safety; project work schedule, rules pertaining to employee requirements and conduct, general parameter job related issues; disaster procedures; and all technical requirements and work procedures of the contract.

i. Clothing shall be presentable and suitable to the work while maintaining proper appearance and decorum indicative for a National Shrine. Uniform shirts and hats are preferred. Clothing shall be clean and cleanliness and personal hygiene are imperative. T-shirts and/or tank tops as outer garments are prohibited. Protective/safety clothing and shoes shall meet or exceed OSHA and state requirements.

ii. Behavior and language must be appropriate, reverent, and respectful at all times.

iii. Eating and drinking (except water) is prohibited in the work areas and within sight of a committal shelter during a service.

iv. Use of intoxicating beverages, any tobacco products, and illegal drugs on the Cemetery premises is strictly prohibited.

v. Contractor personnel shall not lean, sit, or stand on or against flat markers or monuments. Nor can they drive over them. Contractor personnel should use tools approved by the COR, such as shovels, pry bars or pinch bars to lift flat markers out of the ground; pick axes are not an acceptable tool.

vi. No tools, equipment or other items will be placed or leaned on headstones, flat markers or monuments.

vii. The Contractor shall discuss the guidance in this paragraph and in Attachment 6 with his/her employees and all subcontractors. Any doubts as to proper procedures shall be brought to the attention of the COR, Cemetery Director, and/or CO for guidance or resolution. Each contractor and subcontractor employee shall sign a Statement of Compliance (Attachment 6); the Contractor shall deliver the signed statements to the COR before work may begin or before any new employee is allowed to work on Cemetery grounds.

L. PARKING AND VA REGULATIONS

Contractor employees may park privately owned vehicles in the area designated for parking by the COR. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to ensure his employees park in the appropriate designated parking areas. The Cemetery will not validate or make reimbursement for parking violations of the Contractor’s employees under any conditions. Smoking is prohibited inside any buildings at the Cemetery. Possession of weapons is prohibited. Enclosed containers, including tool kits, shall be subject to search. Violations of VA regulations may result in citation/summons answerable in the United States (Federal) District Court, or other appropriate jurisdiction/agency.

M. USE OF CEMETERY FACILITIES

i. The Government shall not be responsible for any loss, damage, or theft of Contractor items. Contractor shall be responsible for acceptable standards of housekeeping and custodial maintenance of cemetery facilities used by Contractor's employees.

ii. The Government will not furnish a storage building at the Cemetery site for use by the Contractor to store supplies and equipment. However, the Government will provide an area designated for the Contractor’s use. The Contractor can establish facilities to include but not limited to office site, covered storage, portable toilet facilities etc. on or in the designated area after such facilities are approved by the COR and Contracting Officer. All utilities to this area are the responsibility of the Contractor. The Government will not be responsible for any damage to or loss of the Contractor's equipment and supplies stored on the Government's premises. The Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining fire extinguishers and other safety equipment.

iii. The Contractor will be responsible for safely storing any chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, cleaning solutions, etc. in accordance with manufacturers recommendations. An SDS (Safety Data Sheet) is required for all chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and cleaning solutions.

iv. Electricity and phone service will NOT be furnished by the Government for the Contractor’s work area.

N. SUPERVISION AND TRAINING

i. The Contractor shall provide a supervisor who speaks and writes fluent English on site, and at all times when Contractor personnel are on the premises.

ii. The Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining satisfactory standards of personnel conduct and work performance and shall administer disciplinary action as required. The Contractor is expected to remove any employees from the Cemetery for cause, to include, but not limited to, safety violations, other misconduct in performance of duty under these specifications and/or conduct contrary to the best interests of the Government. If the Contractor fails to act in this regard, or the reason for a removal is immediately required to protect the interests of the Government, the COR may direct the removal of an employee from the premises. Contractor objections to any such action will be referred to the Contacting Officer (CO) for final resolution; however, the Contractor will first immediately comply with COR direction pending any CO final resolution at a later time or date. The Contractor will not be due any type of compensation for their costs incurred as a result of an employee being removed for cause; unless the removal is directed by the COR, and is later found invalid and/or unreasonable by the Contracting Officer.

iii. The Contractor shall also be responsible for training and safety precautions for Contractor employees performing work under these specifications. OSHA standards shall be observed by the Contractor in all work performed. Contractor shall ensure that appropriate safety equipment is used by Contractor personnel and shall be used as prescribed by OSHA standards, including hard hats, safety shoes, safety glasses, and hearing protection devices. The following OSHA and NFPA standards and codes are to be adhered to:

1. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers.

1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910 Safety and Health Regulations for Personal Protection, Safety Color Codes, Portable Power Tools, Electrical Safety and Portable Electric Equipment.

1. Site and Building Access: Maintain free and unobstructed access to facility emergency services and for fire, police and other emergency response forces in accordance with NFPA 241.

O. INSPECTION AND CLEANING OF CEMETERY FACILITIES

i. The Contractor will perform a weekly inspection. During this inspection the appearance of the Cemetery will be observed, and any deficiencies from the contract will be noted. Deficiencies shall be corrected as soon as practicable. Items that need correcting outside the scope of the contract will be reported to the COR or his/her representative.

ii. The Contractor will be required to submit inspection reports and work accomplished to the COR weekly. The COR is located at Fort Gibson National Cemetery. The inspection forms will be provided to the Contractor. (See “Work Summary and Progress Report”, Attachment 2).

P. INSTALLATION DURING CEMETERY FUNCTIONS

Contractor personnel shall not operate motorized equipment or conduct other commercial activities within the designated area during interment services. The COR will identify the designated area. The COR or his/her representative shall furnish the Contractor with a schedule of all interments and/or ceremonies no later than the close of business of the day prior to the scheduled interment, and a minimum of three (3) days before any ceremonial events.

Q. PHASING AND WORK SEQUENCING

Contract work shall be accomplished in a sequenced manner, with work limited to occurring in no more than three (3) rows at any given time in order to minimize overall disruption to the cemetery. Work cannot begin in subsequent burial row areas until such time that work has been completed in prior row areas. Submit proposed project work schedule sequence for COR review and approval prior to start of project.

R. CONTRACTOR RESPONSE TIMES

i. During Normal Working Hours: The Contractor shall be prepared to shift workers and work areas as necessary to safeguard the cemetery and its visitors and restore the work area(s) to a safe condition. The Contractor shall respond to all normal working hours’ requests made by the COR within 30 minutes of the initial notification.

ii. After Normal Hours: After Hours requests warrant rapid response in order to safeguard the cemetery and its visitors and restore the work area(s) to a safe condition. The Contractor shall respond to all after normal hours requests made by the COR within one (1) hour of the initial call.

iii. Calls by other Government employees other than the COR shall not be acted upon, but shall be referred to the COR for review. Repairs shall begin as expeditiously as circumstances allow and should normally be completed within (24) hours of the initial emergency call. The Contractor shall keep the COR fully informed of the situation and what action will be taken to secure and correct the situation.

S. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION MEETING

i. The issuance of a Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR), found at Attachment 3, may be cause for the scheduling of a meeting among the Contractor, Contracting Officer, and the COR. A mutual effort will be made to resolve all problems identified. The Government will prepare written minutes of the meeting. The Contractor, Contracting Officer, and the COR will sign minutes of the meeting(s).

ii. Should the Contractor not concur with the minutes, they will so state their objections in writing to the Contracting Officer, within ten calendar days, and also explain the reasons for non-concurrence. The Contracting Officer will review and consider the reasons submitted for the Contractor's non-concurrence and make a decision to revise or uphold the comments as written. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor of the decision in writing within ten calendar days of submission of any objections.

T. CONTRACTOR’S QUALITY CONTROL PLAN (QCP)

The Contractor shall establish and maintain a complete QCP to assure the requirements of this contract are provided as specified. This QCP will be forwarded to the Contracting Officer along with the requested initial proposal and may be revised as necessary during the life of the contract, with concurrence of the COR and Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer will review the QCP and list any needed clarifications, and return to Contractor for response, if necessary. The Contractor’s QCP shall include the following or have incorporated into during performance of contract, at a minimum:

i. An inspection plan covering all services required by this contract. The inspection plan must specify the areas to be inspected on either a scheduled or unscheduled basis, how often inspections will be accomplished and documented, and the title of the individual(s) who will perform the inspections.

ii. On-site records of all inspections conducted by the Contractor noting necessary corrective action taken. The Government reserves the right to request copies of any and/or each inspection.

iii. Incorporation of either active or established internal policy and procedures for updating equipment and procedures that may affect performance of contract.

iv. The methods for identifying and preventing deficiencies in the quality of service performed, before the level of performance becomes unacceptable; and the organizational functions, intermediate supervisory responsibilities, and overall management responsibilities for ensuring total acceptable performance.

v. On-site records identifying the character, physical capabilities, certifications and ongoing training of each employee performing services under this contract.

vi. A log to account for all requests for immediate service. The log shall indicate the date and time of services, and description of results and completion of these services.

vii. On-site records of any complaints or problems, with procedures taken to allow for corrections and/or elimination before effects caused interruption of performance of contract.

U. QUALITY ASSURANCE

i. The COR will evaluate the Contractor’s performance. The COR will evaluate the Contractor’s performance through on-site inspections, evaluation of the Contractor's quality control program and receipt of complaints from cemetery personnel.

ii. The COR may inspect each task as completed or increase the number of quality control inspections if called for by repeated failures discovered during inspections or repeated customer complaints. Likewise, the COR may decrease the number of quality control inspections if performance dictates.

iii. The COR will also receive and investigate complaints from various customers visiting the Cemetery. The Contractor shall be responsible for initialing validated visitor complaints. The COR shall make final determination of the validity of visitor complaint(s).

V. FAIR ACCEPTANCE

The work shall be deemed acceptable when the Contractor clearly evidences compliance, without exception, in meeting contract requirements. The Government has the right to either reject or to require correction when the work is not in conformity with contract requirements. Acceptance (in part or whole) shall be in writing.

i. Re-establish and/or Renovate Turf: A re-established and/or renovated turf area is acceptable when 100% turf grass coverage is established to complete satisfaction of the COR and the District Agronomist. Acceptance is defined as the point in time which the Government takes back control and physical possession of the re-established and/or renovated turf area(s).

ii. Clean Headstones: Headstones are acceptable when there is no discoloration, environmental deposits, mold, mildew, moss, algae, lichen, dirt/mud, grass clippings, grass marks, bird droppings to the complete satisfaction of the COR.

W. ACTIONS

i. Normally, the COR will verbally advise or give a written inspection report to the Contractor of discrepancies the first time they occur and ask the Contractor to correct the problem. A notation will be made on the COR checklist of the date and the time the deficiency was discovered and the date and time the Contractor was notified.

ii. If the Government created any of the discrepancies, these will not be counted against the Contractor's performance. When the Government has caused the Contractor to perform in an unsatisfactory manner, the COR will forward a written notice to the responsible organizational element requesting corrective action be taken.

iii. When the Contractor is not meeting the acceptable limits of satisfactory performance, a CDR will be issued to the Contractor. The seriousness of the failures should govern whether to issue CDR at the end of the period, or as soon as the limits of satisfactory performance are exceeded.

iv. When a CDR is issued for a service, the Contracting Officer and/or the COR may exercise any contractual remedy available for non-performance, in accordance with FAR 52.212-4, “Inspection and Acceptance”.

v. If the Contractor does not achieve satisfactory performance by the end of the next period or agreed suspense date, further actions may be considered, to include a determination on whether continued performance by the contractor is feasible.

X. WARRANTY

i. The Contractor shall warrant all turf renovation work for a period of ninety (90) days after final inspection and acceptance of all work within that burial section by the government. Any turf that does not meet the specified requirements at the end of this warranty period shall be reworked, adjusted, and corrected by Contractor at no additional cost to the Government.

ii. Work performed under the Guarantee shall be corrected within ten (10) workdays from the receipt of notification or as directed by the COR.

Y. HISTORIC PRESERVATION

When the Contractor or any of the Contractor's employees, prior to, or during the service work, are advised of or discover any possible archeological, historical and/or cultural resources, the Contractor shall immediately notify the COR verbally, and then with a written follow up.

Z. EXPOSURE OR ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERY OF REMAINS

Should any on-site activity, incident, emergency, or disaster result in exposure and/or damage to any remains, container for remains (i.e., casket or urn), or outer burial container, the Contractor shall IMMEDIATELY notify the Cemetery Director, the COR and/or the CO for guidance; and stop any further work and await permission to proceed.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

A. WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

i. All work under this service Contract will be performed primarily out-of-doors and personnel performing these services will be exposed to wind, heat, sun, cold, dampness, frost, fog and rain. These conditions, may, at times, be extreme. The Contractor shall take all necessary precautions to protect his/her employees from the elements to the maximum practicable extent. Weather will not be considered an excusable delay in meeting specifications or project schedule. The Contractor understands that it may be necessary to work throughout all weather conditions and to apply additional labor and equipment as necessary to meet deadlines, at no additional cost to the Government. If weather conditions are such the work performed on that day may cause more damage to the Cemetery grounds than good, the COR has the authority to stop work until conditions improve and the COR directs continuation of performance.

ii. Due to the sensitive mission of the Cemetery, the work could occasionally involve contact with and/or exposure to grieving individuals. Contractor personnel shall exercise and exhibit absolute decorum, composure and stability at all times and refer such individuals to Cemetery staff.

B. SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

i. The Contractor shall be responsible to ensure all work shall be done in a manner that safeguards all VA visitors, employees, and public. The Contractor shall be solely responsible for any and all actions initiated and/or completed by his/her employees. Furthermore, the Contractor and his/her employees shall have a clear understanding of, and be sensitive to, such environmental issues as ground water contamination, wetlands, etc., and be consistent and fully compliant with all applicable Federal, State, County and City laws, ordinances, Right-to-Know laws, EPA guidelines, and regulations.

ii. Matters related to safety, and any actions of the Contractor shall meet all safety requirements, Department of Veterans Affairs, OSHA, and the State. It is incumbent upon the Contractor to be familiar with these requirements.

iii. Adequate warning devices, barricades, guards, flagmen or other necessary precautions shall be provided by the Contractor at all work sites to eliminate hazards and for the protection, safety, and warning of all public visitors, pedestrians, cemetery employees, and vehicular traffic within the area. All open and unattended holes in the ground must be covered with plywood and/or barricaded for pedestrian safety.

iv. Spill Prevention, Containment, and Clean-up: The Contractor shall contain, clean up, and report all spills on Government property in a manner that complies with all applicable Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations or otherwise stated herein, and the installation spill control plan at no cost to the Government.

v. Dust Control: Keep dust down at all times, including during nonworking periods. Sprinkle or treat, with dust suppressants, the soil at the site, haul roads, and other areas disturbed by operations. Dry power brooming will not be permitted. Instead, use vacuuming, wet mopping, wet sweeping, or wet power brooming.

C. FIRE SAFETY

i. Applicable Publications: Publications listed below form part of this Article to extent referenced. Publications are referenced in text by basic designations only.

1. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

a) Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers

b) Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code

2. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

a) 29 CFR 1926, Safety and Health Regulations for Construction

ii. Fire Safety Plan: Establish and maintain a fire protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.

iii. Means of Egress: Do not block exits for occupied buildings, including paths from exits to roads. Site and Building Access: Maintain free and unobstructed access to facility emergency services and for fire, police and other emergency response forces in accordance with NFPA 241.

iv. Situate temporary facilities, such as trailers, storage sheds, and dumpsters, away from existing buildings and new construction by distances in accordance with NFPA 241. For small facilities with less than 6 m (20 feet) exposing overall length, separate by 3m (10 feet).

v. Fire Extinguishers: Provide and maintain extinguishers in construction areas and temporary storage areas in accordance with 29 CFR 1926, NFPA 241 and NFPA 10.

vi. Flammable and Combustible Liquids: Store, dispense and use liquids in accordance with 29 CFR 1926, NFPA 241 and NFPA 30.

vii. Smoking: Smoking is prohibited except in designated smoking rest areas approved by the COR.

D. OPERATIONS AND STORAGE AREAS

i. Working space and space available for storing materials will only be available at the approval of the COR or Contracting Officer. If approved, the location is to be where approved by the COR or where shown on drawings as the “Contractor Staging Area”. It is understood the VA will not be held responsible for any damage to the Contractor’s equipment, materials, supplies or the like which may result from vandalism, theft etc. while on site. Contractor shall base operations out of this staging area, using it for materials and equipment storage, administration, employee toilets, trash dumpster area, employee parking, employee lunch/break area, etc.

ii. “Contractor Staging Area” fencing: Before work operations begin, Contractor shall provide a chain link fence, six (6) feet minimum height, around the “Contractor Staging Area”. Provide gates as required for access with necessary hardware, including hasps and padlocks. Fasten fence fabric to terminal posts with tension bands and to line posts and top and bottom rails with tie wires spaced at maximum 15 inches. Bottom of fences shall extend to one inch above grade. After completion of project work, Contractor shall remove fencing and restore area back to original condition.

iii. “Contractor Staging Area” facilities: Temporary buildings (e.g., storage sheds, shops, offices) may be erected by the Contractor within the approved “Contractor Staging Area” with the approval of the COR or Contracting Officer and shall be built with labor and materials furnished by the Contractor without expense to the Government. The temporary buildings shall remain the property of the Contractor and shall be removed by the Contractor at its expense upon completion of the work.

iv. The Contractor shall confine all operations (including storage of materials) on Government premises to areas authorized or approved by the COR or Contracting Officer. Do not store materials and equipment in other than approved areas. The Contractor shall hold and save the Government, its officers and agents, free and harmless from liability of any nature occasioned by the Contractor's performance.

v. The Contractor shall, under regulations prescribed by the Contracting Officer or COR, use only established roadways, or use temporary roadways constructed by the Contractor when and as authorized by the COR or Contracting Officer. When materials are transported in prosecuting the work, vehicles shall not be loaded beyond the loading capacity recommended by the manufacturer of the vehicle or prescribed by any Federal, State, or local law or regulation. When it is necessary to cross curbs or sidewalks, the Contractor shall protect them from damage. The Contractor shall repair or pay for the repair of any damaged curbs, sidewalks, or roads.

vi. Execute work in such a manner as to interfere as little as possible with work being done by others. To minimize contract activity interference with flow of cemetery traffic, keep roads, walks and entrances to grounds, parking and occupied areas of buildings clear of materials, debris and standing equipment/vehicles at all times. At least one lane must be open to traffic at all times.

vii. Coordination of work with COR or authorized designee: The burial activities at a National Cemetery will take precedence over contract activities. The Contractor shall cooperate and coordinate with the COR or authorized designee, in arranging schedule to cause the least possible interference with cemetery activities in actual burial areas. Work noise during the interment services shall not disturb the service. Trucks and workmen shall not pass through the service area during this period.

E. TEMPORARY TOILETS

The contractor shall provide portable chemical toilets for use by workmen as necessary to comply with applicable OSHA requirements. These portable toilet facilities shall be kept clean and free of excessive odors, insects, etc. Locate portable toilet facilities in the COR approved “Contractor Staging Area” only. It will not be permissible to locate portable toilet facilities in any other locations throughout the Cemetery. Use of the permanent cemetery toilet facilities by workmen is strictly prohibited throughout the duration of this contract. All connections and appliances connected therewith shall be removed prior to completion of contract, and premises left perfectly clean.

F. DISPOSAL AND RETENTION

i. Contractors shall be responsible for cleaning cemetery structures, headstones, flat markers, monuments, and roadways that are soiled or stained as a result of Contractor’s performance. The Contractor shall wash-down with water all soiled or stained structures headstones, flat marker, and monuments at the end of each workday. Roadways shall be cleaned with a street sweeper each day as needed to keep the existing roads free from dirt and mud resulting from Contractor operations. No hazardous chemicals are to be used at any time on Government property with the exception of herbicide treatments. The Contractor shall bear all costs associated with washing and cleaning. Any such washing/cleaning shall be brought to the immediate attention of the COR prior to washing/cleaning.

ii. At the end of each day the Contractor shall remove all debris from the Cemetery site resulting from the work. The Contractor shall ensure at all times that rubbish and trash generated by the Contractor is kept clear of vehicular and pedestrian traffic throughout the site.

iii. The Government will not provide receptacle(s) for disposal of debris related to this contract. The Contractor shall provide his/her own REFUSE FACILITIES, and these shall only be located in the COR approved “Contractor Staging Area”. Do not place dumpsters or refuse facilities in any other location at the Cemetery other than the approved “Contractor Staging Area”. The contractor shall dispose of all debris and other waste materials generated by his/her work at a licensed off-site landfill unless otherwise directed by the COR.

iv. The Contractor shall dispose of all hazardous waste in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and all other applicable Federal, State, and Local law and regulations. On-installation storage or disposal of hazardous waste is NOT allowed.

G. PROTECTION OF EXISTING VEGETATION, STRUCTURES, EQUIPMENT, UTILITIES, AND IMPROVEMENTS

i. The Contractor shall preserve and protect all existing cemetery features, structures, equipment, and vegetation (such as lawns, paving, roads, stones, markers, trees, and shrubs) on or adjacent to the work site that are not to be removed and which do not unreasonably interfere with the work required under this contract. The Contractor shall only remove trees when specifically authorized to do so by the COR, and shall avoid damaging vegetation that will remain in place. If any limbs or branches of trees are broken during contract performance, or by the careless operation of equipment, or by workmen, the Contractor shall trim those limbs or branches with a clean cut and remove and properly dispose of from the site as defined herein.

ii. The Contractor shall protect from damage all existing improvements and utilities at or near the work site and on adjacent property of a third party, the locations of which are made known to or should be known by the Contractor. The Contractor shall immediately notify the COR of any such occurrence and repair any damage to those facilities, including those that are the property of a third party, resulting from failure to comply with the requirements of this contract or failure to exercise reasonable care in performing the work. If the Contractor fails or refuses to repair the damage promptly, the Contracting Officer may have the necessary work performed and charge the cost to the Contractor.

iii. Protection of Existing Utilities: Contractor shall be responsible for damages to utilities, above and below ground.

iv. Refer to paragraphs, "Operations and Storage Areas", "Alterations", and "Restoration" for additional instructions concerning repair of damage to structures and site improvements.

H. RESTORATION

i. Damage to Government property: The Contractor (including his or her employees, subcontractors, consultants or the like) shall be responsible for repair or replacement of any contractor damaged cemetery structure, to include: turf, curb, road pavement, headstones, flat markers, valve boxes, grid monument control markers, trees, plant beds, etc., which are chipped, marred, damaged and/or ruined at the fault of the Contractor. The Contractor shall bear all costs associated with replacement and reinstallation. Any such damage shall be brought to the immediate attention of the COR prior to repair, replacement, or installation.

ii. Contractor shall remove, cut, alter, replace, patch and repair existing work as necessary. Except as otherwise shown or specified, do not disturb any water, steam, gas, or electric services without prior approval of the COR or Contracting Officer. Existing work to be altered or extended and that is found to be defective in any way, shall be reported to the COR before it is disturbed. Materials and workmanship used in restoring work shall conform in type and quality to that of original construction, except as otherwise shown or specified.

iii. Upon completion of Contract, Contractor shall deliver work complete and undamaged. Existing cemetery features (such as lawns, paving, roads, and walks) disturbed or removed as a result of performing required new work, shall be patched, repaired, reinstalled, or replaced with new work, and refinished and left in as good condition as existed before commencing work. All restoration work shall be accomplished without undue delay. Scheduling of services shall be coordinated with the COR to avoid disruption of ongoing cemetery operations.

iv. At Contractor's own expense, Contractor shall immediately restore to service and repair any damage caused by Contractor's workmen/subcontractors to existing cemetery infrastructure.

I. USE OF ROADWAYS

For hauling, Contractor shall use only established public roads and roads on cemetery property and, when authorized by the COR, such temporary roads which are necessary in the performance of Contract work. Temporary roads shall be constructed by the Contractor at Contractor's expense. When necessary to cross curbing, sidewalks, or similar construction, they must be protected by well-constructed bridges.

J. AVAILABILITY AND USE OF UTILITY SERVICES

i. WATER: Water will only be made available via Contractor connection to existing cemetery water system in existing locations where connection is available, and for purposes of this Contract only. The Contractor at Contractor's expense and in a workmanlike manner satisfactory to the COR shall be responsible for installing and maintaining temporary connections to the cemetery water supply in accordance with regulations. Contractor shall not obstruct normal traffic flow on adjacent roads while water is being obtained. In locations where cemetery water system is not readily available, the Contractor shall provide and utilize portable water tanks and/or water trucks as necessary to transport water to areas where needed in order to complete the work required by this Contract.

ii. ELECTRICITY: In case the Contractor requires electricity while in performance of this Contract, the Contractor shall provide and utilize portable generators as necessary to complete the work.

K. WORK PERFORMED BY OTHERS ON SITE

The Government may undertake or award other contracts for additional work at or near the site of work for this contract. The Contractor shall fully cooperate with any other contractors and with Government employees and shall carefully adapt scheduling and performance of work, and needing any direction, it shall be provided by the COR. The Contractor Supervisor shall be responsible for reporting to the COR any problems or questions that may arise with any other personnel on site during the period of performance of this contract. The Contractor Supervisor shall not take it upon him or herself to resolve any problems or issues with other on-site contractors or employees, but rather will leave it to the COR to resolve the issue.

L. PERMITS AND LICENSES

The Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary and current licenses, permits, vehicular insurance and registration, Workman’s Compensatory Liability Insurance, property liability insurance etc., prior to the commencement of work. The Contractor shall provide the Contracting Officer copies of these required documents with his/her proposal or as other times where the COR deems necessary during the duration of the project.

M. REPORTING AND RECORD KEEPING

i. The Contractor Supervisor shall report on a daily basis to the COR at the main office of the Cemetery and log in. This DAILY check-in is mandatory and shall be at a time agreed upon by the COR and the Contractor Supervisor within the requirements of paragraph “b” below.

ii. The purpose of the DAILY meeting is to coordinate and establish the daily work schedule to ensure that no work is being performed at the immediate site of a scheduled interment or ceremony, and to submit the required written reports to the COR. These Daily meetings are for the Contractor Supervisor to ask questions and ensure he/she understands the off-limit areas, which may vary depending on the event. The Contractor Supervisor can thus assign tasks accordingly throughout the rest of the Cemetery so that productive use of labor and equipment is assured, and downtime is avoided. If the Contractor Supervisor fails to re-direct employees away from an event in a timely fashion, the COR may then assist in doing so.

The Contractor Supervisor or his designee shall provide the COR the following documentation:

iii. The Contractor Supervisor shall provide WEEKLY and DAILY work schedules to the COR. The contractor is required to schedule all required services and is further required to comply with his schedule except for delays beyond his control. Such delays shall be coordinated through the COR. The work schedule shall include deficient work identified by contractor's quality control inspections and not yet corrected.

iv. The Contractor shall submit the WEEKLY schedule every Friday by 3:00 P.M. indicating the work to be performed during the following week and the DAILY schedule shall be submitted on a daily basis by 8:00 A.M. indicating work being performed on that day.

v. The Contractor Supervisor shall provide weekly an accurate written report identifying all work that took place within the previous seven calendar days. The contractor shall document services performed, indicate the location where work was to be performed, and provide information to the COR as required.

vi. A list of scheduled ceremonies will be provided to the Contractor Supervisor the week prior to the scheduled events, and a list of scheduled funerals will be provided daily. The Contractor Supervisor shall be solely responsible for ensuring that no contract work causes any funeral, ceremony, procession or visitation to be delayed, altered, or otherwise impacted in such a way that the dignity or security of the event is compromised. The Contractor shall be solely responsible for staying abreast of all such upcoming events and when in doubt, he/she must ask the COR.

vii. The Contractor’s performance and progress on this contract shall be measured weekly based on how timely, accurately, and adequately he/she accomplishes and completes the weekly work scheduled and as needed to systematically accomplish the contract work over the duration of the project. In instances where the COR determines that the work is behind schedule, he will notify the Contracting Officer and the Contractor shall increase workforce and/or hours of operation at no additional cost to the Government in order to achieve completion of the contract work within the specified timeframe.

N. SUBMITTALS

The Contractor shall submit the following documents or information in accordance with the table below.

O. SUPERVISION

i. Contractor Supervisor: A competent and experienced English-speaking Contractor Supervisor shall be provided by the Contractor whenever work is being performed - other than trash and debris pick-up. The Contractor Supervisor must have not less than five (5) years of experience as a direct supervisor of grounds maintenance operations that included mowing, trimming, edging, and cleanup in industrial, commercial or public sites. The Contractor Supervisor shall ensure all specifications are being met, ensure contract work does not conflict with ceremonies and funerals, and ensure employees are adequately supervised and proper conduct is maintained.

ii. Contractor Supervisor shall prevent any disruption to the cemetery operations, including funerals, visitor privacy, internal traffic, and utilities.

iii. In the absence of the Supervisor, the Contractor shall appoint an English-speaking crew foreman or an employee who shall be responsible to ensure that the work is being accomplished in an expeditious manner, is performed in accordance with the contract specifications and that the work will progress without undue delay.

P. EMPLOYEE REQUIREMENTS

i. The Contractor shall be responsible to ensure Contractor employees providing work on this contract are fully trained and completely competent to perform the required work.

ii. Labor Force and Equipment: The Contractor shall be aware of the intensive labor and equipment requirements needed to meet contract specifications. Contractor shall be responsible to provide all labor and equipment as necessary to meet deadlines. The Contractor will provide all necessary resources to complete the efforts assigned under the scope of this contract.

iii. Employee Listing: The Contractor shall maintain and provide the COR a current list of all employees on site including subcontractor personnel. The list shall include the employee’s name, job title, and driver’s license number.

iv. Employee Identification: The Contractor's employees shall wear visible identification at all times while on the premises of the Cemetery.

v. Contractor personnel shall park only in the COR approved “Contractor Staging Area” identified for this project. Workers are not allowed to park throughout the cemetery grounds, and violation of this requirement shall form the basis for immediate contract enforcement action, to include immediate removal from the Cemetery.

vi. The Contractor shall be responsible to ensure that his/her employees (including contractor’s consultants, subcontractors, etc.) are aware of all the terms and conditions regarding their performance and conduct during the performance period of this contract.

vii. Possession of weapons is prohibited. Enclosed containers, including tool kits, shall be subject to search. Violations of VA regulations may result in citation/summons answerable in the United States (Federal) District Court, or other appropriate agency/jurisdiction.

viii. Contractor personnel are subject to rules of the Cemetery applicable to their conduct.

Q. ORIENTATION FOR CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES

The contractor shall be responsible to ensure…