36C78625Q50121 Questions 1.docx

Solicitation: 36C78625Q50121 Questions 1

1) CLIN 0001 Indicates transportation and placement of urn in Columbarium and replace niche plate. There is currently no Columbarium at DNC. Please revise or clarify.

No columbarium is correct. This will need revised on the CLIN.

2) CLIN 0003 Indicates for Casket and Cremain burial preparation and completion. Casket burials will require additional equipment, labor & tools vs. a Cremain burial, which will constitute a different price value between a Casket Burial and a Cremain Burial. Not knowing how many Casket Burials or Cremain Burials will take place, we believe these should be separate CLIN’s and not lumped together.

It's separated to CLIN 5.

Burials at DNC encompass in-ground Caskets and Cremain.

In FY21 there were 102 Casket Burials and 113 Cremain Burials.

In FY22 there were 85 Casket burials and 110 Cremain Burials.

In FY23 there were 63 Casket Burials and 108 Cremain Burials.

In FY24 there were 62 Casket Burials and 95 Cremain Burials.

For FY25 (October 2024 – February 19, 2025) there have been 25 Casket Burials and 32 Cremain Burials.

3) Transportation of Urns, if there is a Direct burial will we be receiving the urn and transporting it to the gravesite, or will the COR be carrying the urn to the gravesite, which cannot be charged to the CLIN for transportation.

The COR has been transporting cremains to the site and the contractors have not been charged on direct interments.

4) The Solicitation indicates on page 3 the minimum amount for the life of contract is $5,000.00 and inclusive of base and all four (4) option years not to exceed $4,500,000.00 Does this indicate the government may elect “not” to fund certain CLIN’s from year to year?

This is an IDIQ contract; the government will fund of quantity of needed CLINS

5) CLIN 0006 Indicates Three (3) Fertilizations (Jun, Sep, Oct) and Four (4) Pre/Post Herbicide treatments to include Grub Control (Apr, May, Jun, Oct). The quantity indicates a total of 3 each. There will be applications performed in five (5) separate months (Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct); Please clarify if the quantity should be 5 instead of 3. Also, some applications will require more products in a specific month, which will require increased pricing. Will we need to perform an average total cost?

NOTE: Fertilization 3X/year.

Pre-Emergence Herbicide 2X/year.

Post-Emergence Herbicide 2X/Year.

i. Fertilization schedule: June (depending on weather – Late May), September and October (about the time of the last mowing).

ii. Pre-emergence 2X/year. 1st late March or early April. 2nd, 7 weeks after 1st application (May or June depending on 1st application).

iii. Post-emergence 2X/year. 1st early May (in preparation for Memorial Day). 2nd, October.

6) CLIN 0010 Indicates to pressure wash Committal Shelter, Columbaria, Hardscapes, Bathroom, and Pump House Building. DNC doesn’t have a Columbarium. The bathrooms are in the Admin Building, does the pressure washing include the Admin Building?

YES. It should be the entrance to the Administration Building which includes sidewalk/brick walkway.

7) Under CLIN 0010 Will the Maintenance Building on-site with bay doors need to be pressure washed?

Pressure Wash Committal Shelter, Hardscapes, Bathroom, and Pump House Building.

8) Under CLIN 0010 Will the Irrigation Pump Enclosure is in front of the Admin Building, will this need to be pressure washed?

Yes

9) Under CLIN 0010 It mentions hardscapes, does pressure washing need to be performed for the walkways near Committal Shelter and center Monument area walkways?

YES as outlined in SOW.

10) Under CLIN 0010 The hardscape areas, will pressure washing need to be performed for the brick hardscape entrance to Admin Building? Brick hardscape in front of Admin Building on roadway?

YES as outlined in SOW.

11) Under CLIN 0010, will pressure washing need to be performed on curbing along roadways and benches on perimeter of center circle area.

YES – curbing is defined in the SOW as a hardscape.

12) CLIN 0010 pressure washing under SOW A.1.10 also indicates fencing, please clarify if this includes the Cemetery perimeter fencing and fencing at Spoils Area.

Includes the fencing and the spoils area as necessary.

13) CLIN 0007 & 0008, Core aeration and overseeding, will this be required for the large field areas at entrance to Danville National Cemetery, which are near the waterway with stone rip-rap? Could you please provide on the Cemetery map which areas require aeration and overseeding Yes – A.1.7 SOW states Core Aeration of all “accessible” turfgrass areas.

14) CLIN 0005 – Mow all Native and Prairie Grass areas an unimproved turf grass area, can you please clarify these areas on the Cemetery Map.

CLINS is removed.

15) CLIN 0004 – Indicates mowing, trimming and edging tasks and is based on a unit value by the month. The Quantity shows 12, should this be 8 or 9 to account for Winter Months?

Unit is changed to weeks and quantity to 36.

16) CLIN 0004 - The mowing height indicated 3”, It specifies you are to not take more than 1/3 of grass blade, so the grass height should not exceed 4”, what about higher heat months, where the grass height should be increased to protect root structure of turf, please clarify? Will this be the responsibility of the COR to decide?

YES – Generally the SOW states “Mowing height shall generally be 3.0 inches.

YES – Contractor is to notify COR with recommendations. The COR will make the final decision.

17) CLIN 0004 - Will the contractor be responsible to replace turf areas that die because turf is kept at 3” in high heat periods of the year, which can affect the turf root structure and burn the grass?

YES – But it should not get to this point if the Contractor is in communication with the COR.

18) CLIN 0004 – Edging, it indicates to be done in conjunction with every mowing. During high grass growth period of mowing twice per week, will it be required to edge as well twice or on an as needed basis in this case?

SOW A.1.4 requires “The shall mow, which includes string trimming and edging in conjunction with each mowing…”

19) Who decides what equipment will be utilized to complete CLIN tasks, Contractor or COR?

That’s the responsibility of the contractor.

20) Can the COR direct the Contractor’s crew to perform their CLIN tasks?

NO. However, it is the responsibility of the COR to document nonperformance and/or subpar work and to provide the documentation that to the CO for resolution.

21) Can the COR interact with the Contractor’s subcontractor and tell them how to perform their task?

NO.

22) CLIN 0018 – Maintenance of Rock filled Ditch line (North & South Side), SOW indicates spraying once per month to control weeds for whole year. Quantity indicates 12, will this still need to be performed for Winter Months?

SOW A.1.18 staters “Spraying of the rock-filled ditch areas shall be done once per month for the duration each year.”

23) CLIN 0018 – Maintenance Rock Filled Ditchline (North & South Side), SOW indicates spraying once per month to control weeds, will this require NPDES Permitting because of spraying near waterway? State or local requirements?

SOW B.7 – “The Contractor will comply with Illinois Pesticide Act and is responsible for obeying all Federal & State Pesticide/Herbicide and Fertilization applicator laws in the performance of work on cemetery property.” This includes all guidance from the Illinois Department of Agriculture (Illinois Pesticide Act (415 ILCS 60/1 et seq.) which defines pesticide use and regulation.

24) CLIN 0018 – Maintenance Rock Filled Ditchline (North & South Side), SOW indicates spraying once per month, Is it the responsibility of the Contractor to file the NOI (Notification of Intent) with IEPA or is this the government’s responsibility?

This will be the responsibility of the contractor.

25) Are the contractor supervisor(s) required to have OSHA 30 training?

YES.

26) Do the contractor employees require OSHA 10 training to perform their duties?

YES.

27) Does the contractor require to have QCM (Quality Control Management) certification?

Certification is Not required but contractor should have internal quality control measures.

28) Is the NCA/Contractor required to follow the ACOE (Army Corp of Engineers) QCM (Quality Control Management), guidelines under EM 385-1?

Certification is Not required but contractor should have internal quality control measures.

29) CLIN 0019 – Irrigation System, SOW A.1.19 indicates the contractor is responsible for repair service of the irrigation system, does this include replacement of parts for controllers, solenoids, valves, piping, wiring, sprinkler heads?

YES. This is addressed in SOW “The Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, equipment, parts, replacement parts, materials, to maintain sprinkler heads, bubblers sprayers, and riser connections as necessary to eliminate obstructions, leaks, and other defects which would prevent proper operation of the irrigation system, including unexpected breaks, leaks, and failures at no additional cost to the Government.”

30) CLIN 0019 – Irrigation System, SOW A.1.19 does the repair service include the computer controls at the pump location and/or replacement?

YES. This is addressed in SOW “The Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, equipment, parts, replacement parts, materials, to maintain sprinkler heads, bubblers sprayers, and riser connections as necessary to eliminate obstructions, leaks, and other defects which would prevent proper operation of the irrigation system, including unexpected breaks, leaks, and failures at no additional cost to the Government.”

And… “The Contractor shall always operate and maintain the irrigation systems in good working order and repairable condition.”

31) CLIN 0019 – Irrigation System, SOW A.1.19, irrigation controllers only control the Monument Circle area and Section 21. Is the contractor responsible for the remaining piping and Buckner valves around the perimeter of the Cemetery, including repair?

YES. This is addressed in SOW “The Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, equipment, parts, replacement parts, materials, to maintain sprinkler heads, bubblers sprayers, and riser connections as necessary to eliminate obstructions, leaks, and other defects which would prevent proper operation of the irrigation system, including unexpected breaks, leaks, and failures at no additional cost to the Government.”

And… “The Contractor shall always operate and maintain the irrigation systems in good working order and repairable condition.”

32) CLIN 0019 – Irrigation System, SOW A.1.19, irrigation system, the valve to open the system is in the center island near the Admin Building, will this require a confined space permit to access the valve to turn on the water for Spring and shut-down in the Fall?

NO. It is not a confined space.

33) CLIN 0019 – Irrigation System, SOW A.1.19, Is the contractor responsible for watering other areas in the Cemetery that is not controlled by irrigation automatic sprinkler system?

NO. The Government does not guarantee 100 percent coverage by irrigation systems. The Contractor shall ensure all improved areas receive water and shall further prevent excessive accumulation of water, except where unpreventable due to unforeseen excessive natural precipitation.

The only time when this does not apply is when there is the installation of new turfgrass. The Contractor shall ensure adequate irrigation is provided to the area to maintain the new turfgrass in good health to match the surrounding turfgrass through growing season.

34) CLIN 0019 – Irrigation System, SOW A.1.19, The only sections covered by automatic irrigation is Monument Circle and Section 21. Does this mean the contractor will need to hook up to the Buckner valves with a key and hoses to water all other sections of the Cemetery?

NO. The Government does not guarantee 100 percent coverage by irrigation systems. The Contractor shall ensure all improved areas receive water and shall further prevent excessive accumulation of water, except where unpreventable due to unforeseen excessive natural precipitation.

The only time when this does not apply is when there is the installation of new turfgrass. The Contractor shall ensure adequate irrigation is provided to the area to maintain the new turfgrass in good health to match the surrounding turfgrass through growing season.

35) CLIN 0024 – Headstone Cleaning, This CLIN shows a quantity of 4000, Will the COR indicate what headstones will be cleaned since there are more than 4000 headstones in the Cemetery?

YES.

36) CLIN 0024 – Headstone Cleaning, what if there are more than 4000 headstones that need to be cleaned prior to Memorial Day or Veterans Day, will additional quantities be funded?

NO. (Any additional future quantities are dependent upon available funding.)

37) CLIN 0024 – Headstone Cleaning, does this CLIN include clean-up of headstones for bird droppings and other dirt/debris on headstones from Spring through Fall or does this get covered under a different CLIN?

YES.

38) The solicitation attachments have provided two (2) wage determinations, SCA wage determination and Construction wage determination. Which CLIN’s fall under which wage determination?

CLINS 24, 25 & 26

39) The SCA wage shows under labor code 11210, Grounds Maintenance Laborer a base wage of $17.59, plus $4.57 (H&W) total of $22.16/HR minimum, please confirm if this is correct for CLIN’s covered under this wage determination.

The current labor rate is on Wage Determinations | SAM.gov

40) The Construction wage shows under labor code LAB0703-007 for Vermillion County shows General Labor base $32.69 + fringe $28.44 total of $61.13/HR, please confirm if this is correct for CLIN’s covered under this wage determination.

The current labor rate is on Wage Determinations | SAM.gov