36C78626R0015 0001.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 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) 02-02-2026

NA

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

36C78626R0015

X X X X The purpose of this amendment is to provide answers to submitted questions and to provide clarifying information.

Please note, the amounts specified in Section B.3, Price-Cost Schedule, for both the guaranteed minimum and the maximum amount that can be procured apply to the life of the contract and not for each year.

The deadline for submissions is unchanged and remains at 10:00 a.m. CST on February 23, 2026.

See continuation pages for more information.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

CONTINUATION PAGE

Off-Site Manufacture of U1 Blank Marble Markers for Nationwide Distribution

Q: Does the Government permit the use of more than one approved domestic quarry source for production under this contract, either concurrently or as alternate sources, provided all material meets the requirements of Section 4.0 and is approved in accordance with the solicitation?

A: No. Please see SOW section 4.5. If the Contractor desires to change from the original approved quarry to another listed quarry (ref. 4.8) during the contract term, a request justifying change and a sample (13” x 24” ¾”) that represents the marble from the new quarry must be submitted to the MPS Program Support Unit for approval prior to using the new stone to produce blanks. MPS will have 30 days to evaluate the request and the sample. Upon review and evaluation, MPS Program Support Unit will provide Contracting Services with the findings and recommendations. If a request is denied, a detailed letter of explanation will be forwarded to the Contractor. Quarry changes will be effective at the beginning of option years based upon pre-approved samples. Changes cannot be made within an option year.

The following is added to Section E.12, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, to further clarify.

Note: If a potential offeror submits multiple samples from different quarries, upon award of the contract, the Contractor must commit to one quarry for production. If the Contractor needs to transition to another quarry during the term of the contract, refer to 4.5 for process.

Q: Ordering Cadence - Can you clarify the anticipated ordering cadence under this IDIQ (e.g., monthly, quarterly, or as-needed task orders), and whether quantities are expected to be distributed relatively evenly throughout the base year?

A: A funded task order with an estimated qty will be issued. Then, MPS will provide the Contractor with a spreadsheet at the beginning of each fiscal year starting in October which will list the month and the quantity for each location. The quantities are based on each cemetery’s usage and changes to the schedule will be made withing 10 business days of the next month’s deliveries.

Q: Delivery Lead Time - For individual task orders, can you clarify the required delivery lead time from receipt of a task order to delivery at the designated VA cemetery location?

A: This is a F.O.B. Origin requirement. Contractor will not deliver directly to the cemeteries unless it is for replacements (SOW Section 8.4). Please see section 3.1 of the SOW: The Contractor shall have until the second Monday, excluding federal holidays, of each month to manufacture, package and transfer to a government transportation carrier each pre- scheduled shipment for delivery. All shipments must be able to be loaded and shipped by the second week of each month.

Q: Sample Review and Approval Timing - Can you confirm whether sample review and approval will occur prior to issuance of the first task order, and whether production may begin only after written sample approval is received from VA Memorial Product Services?

A: Please see E.11 52.2122-2 (Evaluation – Commercial Products and Commercial Services) and E.12 (Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items). The submission of samples is part of the Offeror’s proposals and part of the evaluation process. Samples shall be submitted by the submission date and time.

Q: Inspection and Acceptance Point - Can you clarify whether acceptance of U1 blank marble markers occurs at destination upon delivery, or at another inspection point defined by VA Memorial Product Services?

A: Initial acceptance is when the Government’s shipping carrier picks up the U1s; however, please see SOW Section 7.2: The MPS Program Support Unit reserves the right to notify the Contractor by email within 5 days of any headstones damaged during transportation. Upon notification, the Contractor shall replace the damaged monuments within ten (10) calendar days from the date the e-mail was sent by MPS to the Contractor.

Q: Freight and Unloading Responsibility - The SF 1449 indicates FOB Origin. Can you please confirm whether freight, delivery coordination, and unloading at VA cemetery locations are the contractor’s responsibility under individual delivery orders?

A: The Government will pick up U1s from the Contractor’s facility and will deliver to the cemeteries. Contractor will not deliver directly to the cemeteries unless it is for replacements (SOW Section 8.4). Additionally, please see SOW Section 7.2: The MPS Program Support Unit reserves the right to notify the Contractor by email within 5 days of any headstones damaged during transportation. Upon notification, the Contractor shall replace the damaged monuments within ten (10) calendar days from the date the e-mail was sent by MPS to the Contractor.

Q: Use of Subcontractor Past Performance - Can you confirm that relevant past performance from a proposed manufacturing subcontractor may be submitted and evaluated when that subcontractor will perform the primary fabrication work under this contract?

A: Offerors may submit relevant past performance from a proposed subcontractor for evaluation. However, Offerors must comply with the specific guidance provided in SOW Section 10.0 and E.12 Instructions to Offerors regarding submission requirements.

It is important to note that while subcontractor past performance may be submitted, the Prime Contractor must still demonstrate its own relevant experience and qualifications. All managerial and supervisory employees, including those in on-site supervisory roles, must be direct hires of the Prime Contractor, and at least 50% of the actual salaries and wages for time attributed to this contract must be from actual Prime Contractor employees. Additionally, the Offeror must provide a targeted capabilities statement detailing its own relevant experience with U1 Marble Blanks supplies/products and clearly demonstrates its understanding of and ability to meet the Government's requirements.

In summary, subcontractor past performance may be submitted and considered, but it does not substitute for the requirement that the Prime Contractor itself possesses and demonstrates relevant experience and qualifications for this work.

Q: Writing to request clarification regarding the proposal requirement 4.5 specifying U.S-sourced stone. While we are fully capable of meeting this requirement, I wanted to share that we have access to exceptionally high-quality stone from established overseas suppliers. These materials offer consistent color, durability, and finish, with virtually unlimited availability, and can be provided at a significantly lower cost to the government than comparable domestically sourced stone. Our intent in raising the question is to determine whether there may be any flexibility within the sourcing requirements, particularly if the overseas stone meets or exceeds all performance, aesthetic, and testing standards outlined in the proposal.

A: Per SOW Section 4.5, all stone shall be obtained from quarries within the United States having adequate capacity and facilities to meet the specified requirements.

End of Document