Attachment 10 Question and Answers Updated 2-13-26.pdf
PDF 90 KB Posted
- Attached to
- FY 26 Grounds Maintenance Services Eielson AFB
- Solicitation number
- FA500426R0003
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers document for a grounds maintenance solicitation for an Air Force facility (Eielson Air Base). The document addresses clarifications on contract scope, personnel requirements, safety procedures, and administrative requirements.
The solicitation is for grounds maintenance services including lawn mowing, weed control, chemical applications, fertilization, liming, and bird/wildlife hazard mitigation (BASH) activities. Contractors are responsible for providing their own equipment and materials, including irrigation parts and components. All personnel applying chemicals must hold current State of Alaska and Department of Defense certifications. Weed control standards require total weed coverage to be less than 10% for general areas and not exceed 10% of individual flower bed square footage. BASH area mowing requires compliance with both a prescribed July/September schedule and height standards of 7-14 inches in the main area and 4-6 inches around lighting fixtures. A phase-in period of 30 days is formally recognized, allowing two additional errors per task to account for normal transition challenges. Soil testing, fertilization, and liming programs are the contractor's responsibility, with no historical data provided. The previous contract (FA500425C0003) was valued at $3,152,227.83. Proposals are due February 19th, with electronic submissions preferred. The solicitation is maintained as full and open competition (not set aside for small business). All personnel must maintain continued staffing plans across ordering periods, though on-site personnel are not required during the non-growing season (October through March). Department of Labor wage determinations will be mandatory and issued for each task order.
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Q&A Grounds Maintenance Solicitation
System Coverage Are irrigation systems present in all improved grounds areas, or only in specific landscaped zones? If available, is there a map or inventory identifying irrigated areas?
Answer: no irrigation systems are present for contractor use. No map is available for inventory.
Maintenance vs. Repair Should the contractor perform routine seasonal startup/shutdown, system checks, and adjustments, or will those functions be handled by base personnel or another contract?
Answer: the contractor shall be responsible for their own equipment needed to perform irrigation services IAW PWS para 1.1.5.
Parts and Materials If repairs are required, should the contractor include the cost of irrigation parts and components in their proposal, or will materials be government-furnished?
Answer: the contractor shall be responsible for their own equipment needed to perform irrigation services IAW PWS para 1.1.5.
Emergency Response Are contractors expected to respond to urgent irrigation breaks that could impact mission areas or facilities?
Answer: contractors will be notified upon issues caused by contractor equipment failures and will be requested to respond based on imminent damage to government property or mission failure.
Site Visit
Will there be a site visit for this requirement?
Answer: There will not be a site visit for this requirement. Pictures have been added to the solicitation for reference
Incumbent Contractor
Please provide the name of the incumbent contractor
Answer: There is no incumbent contractor
Previous Contract Number
Please provide the previous contract number
Answer: FA500425C0003
Previous Contract Value
Please provide the overall contract value from the previous contract
Answer: $3,152,227.83
Correct Deadlines
Hoping to confirm the correct deadlines for the PPQ and proposal submissions. Both Feb 5th and Feb 11th are listed as PPQ deadlines? Additionally can you please confirm that proposals are due on the 19th?
Answer: The PPQ deadlines were updated to reflect accurate due dates. Proposals are due on 19 Feb.
Request for Set-Aside
Request to return the solicitation to Small Business HUBZone set-aside
Answer: The Government maintains the solicitation as a full and open competition
Experience
Please allow for past performance to include company key persons and project managers
Answer: The Government does not intend to change current evaluation factors
Set-Aside Preference
Will you provide an evaluation preference for HubZone Certified Small Business?
Answer: Amendment 3 for the solicitation has updated clause 52.212-5 to add clause 52.219-4
Phase In-Time
Will all of the areas that the previous contractor neglected be given a “phase-in” timeframe to bring back to standard?
Answer: Yes, a phase-in period is formally recognized. The PWS (Section 2, Service Summary) states, "During the initial 30 days of the contract, two additional errors per task will be permitted to account for normal phase-in challenges
Chemical Application
With the 3 required Alaska State chemical licenses for the airfield, cantonment, and right-of-way areas, will the chemicals applications be administered alongside the base entomologist?
Answer: The PWS (Section 4.4.3) requires that all pesticides be approved by the Command Entomologist before use. The application itself is performed by the contractor. The application is not administered alongside the entomologist, but it is done with their prior approval, as monitored by the COR.
SOW Safety Plan
Considering that the SOW has changed significantly since the last time solicited/awarded, with large project areas and acreages included, will this concern require a SOW Safety Plan for the initial package submission?
Answer: The only requirement is the submission of a "written Quality Control Plan" (Section 2.1)
Specific PWS Questions
Wording of Section 1.1.4 Weed Control
Answer: Wording has been updated for this section
Does the Government require personnel applying for chemicals to possess both a State of Alaska and DOD certification to apply?
Answer: Section 1.1.4 states: "All personnel applying chemicals must hold current state and DoD certifications appropriate to the services performed."
Could the Government add the word “viable” to describe the state of the weed?
Answer: The standard is based on the number of weeds present, not their state of health.
Flower Beds
Can the Government Provide pictures of the flower beds?
Answer: The Government will not be providing pictures of the flower beds
How many square feet are the beds?
Answer: The Government is unable to provide the flower bed square footage
3. 5 weeds per bed seems a very high standard, can the Government change the standard to less than 5%?
Answer: Government changed wording to in 1.1.4 to Weed density shall be evaluated and deemed compliant when total weed coverage for an area is less than 10%, and for individual flower beds, coverage shall not exceed 10% of the bed's total square footage. "
Wording of Section 1.1.7.1 Fertilization
Are we fertilizing the grounds and liming or just fertilizing?
Answer: The scope of work includes both fertilizing and liming. Section 1.1.7.1 states, "The contractor shall have a pH adjustment and fertilizer application program," and "Unless otherwise indicated, the type and amount of lime applied shall be based on results of soil testing."
Can the Government provide what has been furnished in past years?
Answer: There is no historical data available
Can the Government provide the soil test from past years?
Answer: There is no historical data available. Section 1.1.7.1 "Soil tests shall be conducted by the contractor and are the responsibility of the contractor."
Section 1.3 BASH
Is this requirement a height standard or a prescribed schedule?
Answer: It is both. Prescribed schedule to be mowed in a specifically July/September schedule BASH area and a height standard for the lighting fixtures. The PWS (Section 1.3.1) requires the main area to be mowed to a height of 7-14 inches. Section 1.3.2 requires a height of 4-6 inches around lighting fixtures, concurrent with other trimming.
When are we to apply herbicides and Insecticides? Approximate dates?
Answer: The PWS does not provide specific dates. Section 1.3.4 states that "The CO/COR must review and approve the timing and frequency of all herbicide/insecticide products."
Appendix A states "Herbicide, flight line" is to be applied once per year, but the exact timing is subject to approval.
Section 3.1 Facilities
Can the Government provide pictures of building 6220 and the exterior space?
Answers: Pictures have been added per Amendment 4.
Can the Contractor have fuel tanks at the facility for their equipment?
Answer: There is a diesel and gasoline tank at 6220. Pictures have been attached per Amendment 4 .
Appendix A
Can the Government provide the approximate square footage of the plant beds?
Answer: The Government is unable to provide the plant bed square footage
Can the Government provide a picture of the Fuel Tanks described in “Herbicide, Improved Grounds”?
Answer: The government has removed the fuel tank verbiage from the Appendix A of the
PWS.
Personnel On Site
Do we need to have personnel on site during the non-growing season? October thru March.
Answer: No, the contractor does need to have personnel on site during the non-growing season.
Instructions on Non-Growing Season Staffing
Instructions Say to provide staffing for non growing season
Answer: A plan of approach on how you will ensure continued staffing each ordering period is needed as there are large breaks between each growing season here on Eielson
Initial Year Cut
Clarity on Initial Year Cut
Answer: The initial year cut is the half month that is maybe ordered depending on the snow fall still on the ground.
Clarification on 52.212-1 and 52.212-2
We are a small business and a SBA certified HUBZone contractor do we need to submit a small business plan? If we do, do we need to subcontract parts of the work at the target levels?
Answer: You will only be required to submit a subcontracting plan if you are other than a small business OR if intend to subcontract any parts of the requirement. Target levels are not required for small business
Submission Options
Can we submit our proposals electronically and be considered for award?
Answer: Yes electronic submissions are preferred
Wage Determination
Do we need to utilize the DOL Wage Determination for our employees on this contract? If so what is the DOL wage determination number for this contract
Answer: Yes, a wage determination will be mandatory and will be issued for each task order.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .