36C78620R0016-0002000.docx

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 NUMBERE

D 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 amendmen t, 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) N/A 36C786 Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration Contracting Services 18434 Joplin Road Triangle VA 22172 36C786 Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration Contracting Services 18434 Joplin Road Triangle VA 22172 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C78620R0016 03-12-2020

X x x

X The purpose of this amendment is to reply to questions 7-12. Please see following pages.

Katherine Iacovelli Contract Officer Question 7: The last sentence in section B2 states, “VA reserves the right to ask for a price reduction for any year where more than 5% is ordered over the estimated amount of the CLIN.”

Since the statement of work provides the threshold for a possible decrease in price. What if the quantity ordered is 5% (or greater) less than the estimated amount of the CLIN. Will there be a considered price increase for any year?

ANSWER: The sentence should have read that a prospective price redetermination will be made every 12 months per FAR 16.202-2. The price change would be the unit price. The quantities are estimated making this a fixed unit price contract rather than a true Firm Fixed Price contract. Therefore, with differing quantities, the total paid each year would change.

Question 8: At 4.5 in the Statement of Work, it’s stated: Quarry changes will be effective only at the beginning of option years based upon pre-approved samples. Changes cannot be made within an option year.”

An enforced prolonged dependence upon one supplier removes the incentive of additional suppliers that would otherwise strive to provide a better product or service.

Increased flexibility for using other quarries discourages price increases for the raw material and allows the opportunity for other government approved quarries to supply raw material. For economic reasons, if a supplier of raw material knows they have a government contract monopolized for an entire year, they can increase the cost putting the small business prime contractor at risk. Additionally, the supply of natural stone from any quarry can change at any time for unforeseen reasons (ex. color, fragmentation, ownership change, etc.) that could affect the specifications and the requirements to fulfill the contract. As an industry standard, the authentic nature of natural stone is shade and color variations verses a manufactured product. Natural stone is a quarried product, there are no two pieces the same.

What purpose does it serve the VA, NCA and any contractor, to only be able to use stone from one of the many certified granite quarries for an entire option year without switching?

ANSWER: The stones in a section must match. If changes were made mid-section it would be noticeable. Changes are allowed, but they must be planned for and that means using a new section for the different stone and the cemetery has to plan for that ahead. The cemetery needs time to do so and opening a new section is not always prudent.

Question 9: Reference the statement, at 4.5, referring to pre-approved samples. We also noted at 6.0 the statement… “All samples must be approved, or offeror’s quote/proposal will be removed from consideration.” At 6.0 it is also stated … offerors will not be allowed to submit another sample if a sample is deemed unacceptable.

Why are offerors not allowed to submit a second sample if sufficient time still remains prior to the solicitation’s closure date?

ANSWER: Samples should be the best work in terms of holes bored or inscriptions, or stone closest to what the solicitation requires. Everything submitted is expected to be best and final. The only time changes would be allowed is if the requirements change.

Question 10: Is it permissible to submit one sample from two or more quarries so a pre-approved sample is immediately available to represent the quarry source which can best serve one or more cemeteries? If not, why?

ANSWER: Yes, one sample for each different quarry you are suggesting to be used may be submitted.

Question 11: Why doesn’t NCA allow to be able to switch between pre-approved alternate quarry sources?

ANSWER: See answer to Question 8.

Question 12: Reference 10.0 on page 16. It’s states, “If there is a noticeable trend of damaged shipments caused by a specific transportation carrier and/or driver, MPS shall recommend that the carrier be eliminated as one of the Contractor’s carriers.”

Are the words, “shall recommend” used that changing the carrier would have to be mutually agreeable? If the government expects a carrier to be replaced based upon a COR’s recommendation of a perceived trend, would such a change be open to negotiation with the Contracting Officer for a price increase?

ANSWER: DVA cannot tell you how to run your business. If stones repeatedly arrive broken due to shipping and shipping is FOB Destination, vendors have to replace the stone and labor at their cost. They should automatically be reviewing shipping for extra costs as a good business practice and move to make corrections automatically. We should not have to suggest it, but as it would affect the timeliness of the receipt of a useable stone, the CO or COR would make a suggestion after a few of these. The Government is open to reviewing changed charges additionally there is a method to claim for an increase per the FAR. End of Document