36C78621Q0143 0007.docx

Contract Opportunity Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE

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SOLICITATION NUMBER

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RESPONSE DATE/TIME/ZONE

ARCHIVE

DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS

SET-ASIDE

NAICS CODE

CONTRACTING OFFICE

ADDRESS

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(POC Information Automatically Filled from User Profile Unless Entered)

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AGENCY'S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT'S EMAIL

ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

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POSTAL CODE

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

* = Required Field Contract Opportunity Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation S208

FORT SAM HOUSTON GROUNDS MAINTENANCE

BASE PLUS 4, ONE-YEAR OPTION PERIODS

22172 36C78621Q0143 04-28-2021 4pm

EASTERN TIME, NEW YORK, USA

N

SDVOSBC

561730 Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration Contracting Services 18434 Joplin Road Triangle VA 22172

CONTRACTING OFFICER

KENNETH DOUGHERTY

KENNETH.DOUGHERTY@VA.GOV

703 630 9345

FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

1520 HARRY WURZBACH RD.

SAN ANTONIO

TX

78209

USA

https://www.va.gov////////// Department of Veterans Affairs, Nat Cemetery Administration

KENNETH.DOUGHERTY@VA.GOV

CO'S EMAIL

The purpose of this amendment to the solicitation is to address questions from prospective quoters.

Question 1: “The government stated, “…Cross cutting is required for each mowing service.”

Question 1.a.: “Will mowing (example) East to West along the face of the headstones in week one, and then mowing from West to East with a different mower/tread width/weight in week two meet the requirement of varying mow patterns, or will North to South mowing between headstones be required?”

Question 1.b.: “If North to South is required, will that be acceptable, or is diagonal mowing required?”

Answer 1.a.: Contractor is required to mow all improved turf. That is the turf on the rows on the face and back of the headstones. Crosscutting, or cutting between the headstone in a column is also required. The pattern of mowing should be changed up regardless of whether a contractor is mowing in the rows or along the columns.

Answer 1.b.: Mowing in the columns is all that is required. Diagonal mowing isn’t required. All improved turf is to be mowed.

Question 2: “The solicitation offers that contractors should change directions, wheel width, equipment weight, etc. between each mowing.”

Question 2.a.: “Is diagonal mowing, or mowing between the headstones required?”

Question 2.b.: “What is the contractor to do if a section in the cemetery does not allow the contractor to diagonally mow due to headstone layout?”

Answer 2.a.: Cross cutting mowing between the stones along the column is required. Diagonal mowing is not required.

Answer 2.b.: Diagonal mowing is not required.

Question 3: “Has cross cutting ever been performed at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery?

Answer 3: Yes, weekly.

Question 4: “When cross cutting is performed, how does the government require the grass that is left between the front and the back of the headstones to be cut?”

Question 4.a.: “The most feasible way to cut this area of uncut grass is to run a mower long ways down the headstone rows, however doing this would put traffic on the areas that we are trying to avoid, defeating the purpose. Hand trimming these areas would add substantial labor hours and additional cost to the contract.”

Question 4.b.: “A contractor could also cross cut a double diagonal at a cemetery, but this leads to double the amount of vehicle traffic on the same square footage of turf and defeats the purpose of maintaining the condition of the cemetery grounds as well.”

Answer 4.a.: All improved turf is to be cut each cycle. This includes turf in the columns between the stones (cross cutting) and in the rows along the face and back of the headstones. Varying patterns are to be used. The government does not dictate to the contractor the how of mowing, and the type of mowers used. The government’s concern is that the contract specifications are followed and no damage to the existing turf. Trimming of the headstones is required weekly per the Performance Work Statement.

Answer 4.b.: Diagonal cutting is not required. Mowing in the rows and cross cutting in the columns is required to ensure that all improved turf is mowed.

End of Document