S02_Attachment - RFIs and Answers.pdf

Solicitation: 36C78626B50068

Project: Houston National Cemetery Headstone/Flat marker Setting and Raise/Realign

RFI-01 Contractor Questions & Government Responses

1. To accurately estimate materials and costs for fencing the designated contractor storage area, can the Government provide the approximate linear footage of the perimeter to be fenced?

1. GOV Response: There is no requirement for a fence. Paragraph B.10.b will be removed from the Statement of Work. The Contractor’s storage area is depicted below circled in red. The storage container seen is owned by the current contractor. The new contractor is expected to secure this area as they see fit with either a fence or another container. The cemetery is open to the public from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Any interested party wanting to get exact dimensions of this area can visit during these hours.

2. Will the government provide a designated area for disposing of spoils and for reuse when necessary?

2. GOV Response: Yes. The spoils pile is located on north side of cemetery.

The contractor can use this pile for spoils disposal and for filling material needed in setting headstones and flat markers. See below:

3. SOW section A.1.e states “At no time are there to be motorized vehicle or equipment driven on any turfed areas.” However, section 1.4.7 states that skid steer loaders or similar machines may be used to extract headstones. Can the government confirm whether vehicles, such as utility vehicles, may be used to traverse the turf areas, and what the stipulations are for operating equipment on the turf?

3. GOV Response: Utility vehicles are authorized for use and are currently being used for these services. The contractor is responsible for any damages to turf and surrounding markers during operations. Paragraph A.1.e has been modified to read as follows:

The Contractor shall report and provide a written list no later than 9:00 am local time (Central) on the planned daily Headstone settings to the COR. The Contractor shall pick up the Headstones from the COR designated storage area and deliver the Headstones to the roadside area of the proper gravesite section using Contractor-provided vehicle or equipment. Delivery of the Headstone from roadside area to gravesite with care to prevent damage to turf and other headstones and flat markers in the area. Any damage to turf or memorials must be repaired by the contractor at no cost to the Government. No tools or equipment are to be left unattended at any time on a grave site for any reason.

Technical Specification Section 1.4.7 has been modified to read as follows:

Headstones may be removed from their sockets using wooden and/or metal clamps. If metal clamps are used, the area that contacts the headstone must be protected with a rigid fabric that shall prevent damage to and marking of the headstone. Clamps may be attached to a machine to extract the headstone from the socket so as long as the machine used does not damage existing turf or surrounding markers. Headstones shall be lifted and transported or set by at least two (2) people unless special one-person devices are approved. Realignment, when consisting merely of straightening the headstone, may be accomplished by one (1) person.

Contractor personnel shall use only tools and methods approved by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) to lift and move headstones out of the ground; pick axes are not an acceptable tool.

4. Is the contractor responsible for supplying crush rock materials and topsoil, or will the government provide these materials?

4. GOV Response: No. All materials required for these services can be pulled from the spoils pile identified in RFI #2 above.

5. Is the contractor responsible for supplying the grass pave system, or is this system already installed under the flat markers when completing a flat marker replacement?

5. GOV Response: The contractor is not responsible for supplying the grass pave system.

6. The SOW states that “the contractor must conduct services outlined below and according to the contract during all interment and operational days when the cemetery is open * regardless of weather”. However, later in this same section, it states that weather related situations may prohibit work. Additionally, section B.15 refers to weather conditions that may cause damage to cemetery grounds and in that instance, the COR has the authority to stop work. Section 1.4.12.a prohibits headstone setting material compaction on excessively wetted soils. Is the contractor or government responsible for making the decision to stop work due to inclement weather, or is the contractor required to work in inclement weather?

6. GOV Response: The Statement of Work has been modified by removing the language “regardless of weather” from the General Requirements section. The contractor is expected to use good judgement when performing work during inclement weather and in the workmanship of installing headstones and flat markers, according to the technical specification criteria provided. The COR reserves the right to stop work if they observe safety issues during inclement weather or workmanship issues due to soil saturation.

7. Solicitation No. 36C78626B50068, Section I, FAR Clause 52.222-55 "Minimum Wages for Contractor Workers Under Executive Order 14026" (Deviation NOV 2025) (JAN 2022) Question: The solicitation includes FAR clause 52.222-55, which references Executive Order 14026 for establishing minimum wages for contractor workers.

However, on March 14, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14236, "Additional Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions" (90 FR 13037), which revoked Executive Order 14026 of April 27, 2021, "Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors" (86 FR 22835). Pursuant to section 2(d) of Executive Order 14236, the Department of Labor is no longer enforcing Executive Order 14026 or the implementing rule (29 CFR part 23) and will take steps, including rescinding 29 CFR part 23, to implement and effectuate the revocation of Executive Order 14026. Given that the referenced Executive Order has been revoked, but the solicitation clause remains in the contract documents, how should bidders proceed with wage calculations for this project? Should we:

1. Disregard FAR clause 52.222-55 and apply only the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates from the attached wage determination?

2. Apply the pre-revocation minimum wage rate from Executive Order 14026

7. GOV Response: Disregard FAR clause 52.222-55 and apply only the Davis- Bacon prevailing wage rates from the attached wage determination.

8. The Price Schedule shows CLINs 0001 and 0002 with a quantity of "1.00" and unit of measure "JB" (Job) per contract year. However, the CLIN descriptions indicate estimated annual volumes of 2,400 markers for CLIN 0001 and 1,500 headstones for CLIN 0002. Please clarify the following:

1. Should offerors propose pricing as:

o A lump sum annual amount for "1 JB" covering all estimated work for the year, or o A unit price structure with quantities of 2,400 "EA" (each) for CLIN 0001 and1,500 "EA" for CLIN 0002?

2. What is the required invoicing methodology?

o If the "1 JB" structure is maintained, may the contractor invoice monthly based on the percentage of annual work completed (e.g., if 200 markers are set in a month, invoice for 200/2,400 = 8.33% of the annual CLIN amount)?

o Or should invoicing be structured differently?

3. How will payment adjustments be handled if actual annual quantities exceed or fall short of the estimated 2,400 markers (CLIN 0001) and 1,500 headstones

(CLIN 0002)?

8. GOV Response: Offerors are to propose a lump sum amount for “1 JB” covering all estimated work for the year. Variations in estimated headstone and flat marker quantities will be handled in accordance with Special Clause 1: Variation in Quantity, located in Section H.2 of the solicitation.

Progress payments will be handled in accordance with FAR Clause 52.232-5 which is incorporated by reference in Section I of the solicitation.