Sources Sought Notice_Ground Maint_ALNC_CONFED MD_01202023.rtf

DISCLAIMER

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.

This is not a Pre-solicitation or Solicitation announcement. This is a source sought notice only. The purpose of this sources sought notice is to gain market knowledge of potential businesses to include large business sources, small business sources and their size classifications; HUBZone, 8(a), Small Disadvantage Business, Woman Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business relative to NAICS Code 812220 Cemeteries and Crematories, with a small business size standard not to exceed $25.0 million in gross annual receipts.

Responses to this source sought synopsis will be used by the Government to make appropriate determinations about potential sources only. No solicitation is currently available at this time. After review of the responses to this source sought announcement, a synopsis and/or solicitation announcement may be published later.

Description of Services:

NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION – Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery & Confederate Mound Burial Plot/Monument Located Within Oak Wood Cemetery

SCOPE OF WORK (EXTRACT)

CEMETERY GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SERVICES

Summary:

Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, material, equipment, tools, and supplies to complete grounds maintenance services to maintain the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery located in Elwood, IL and Confederate Mound Burial Plot/Monument located within Oakwood Cemetery in Chicago, IL and following National Cemetery Administration standards.

Location:

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (ALNC), 20953 W. Hoff Road, Elwood, IL 60421 Confederate Mound Burial Plot/Monument Located Within Oak Wood Cemetery 1035 E. 67th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637

Vendor Site Visit Invitation: To be announced in pending solicitation

Description of Services:

The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, supervision, and other items and services necessary to ensure that grounds maintenance operations are performed at the ALNC and Confederate Mound in a manner that shall maintain healthy a healthy turf and present a groomed, clean, neat, and professional appearance. Services include, but are not limited to maintenance of grounds, regular mowing, weed eating, blade edging, trimming, removal of leaves and debris, maintenance of gravesites and headstones, the raising and realignment of headstones, washing headstones, turf maintenance, sodding of gravesites, and repair of sunken graves. The Contractor may be required to be on-site Memorial Day weekend and other special days as requested by the COR. No materials, tools, vehicles, sod, staging area, or temporary port-o-lets will be provided by the National Cemetery Administration. It is the contractor’s responsibility to supply all within NCA Standards.

In summary, services will include, but are not limited, to the following services at the ALNC:

Regular mowing, weed eating, string trimming/edging.

Mowing Field and Detention Areas

Leaf Removal

Edging and Mulching

Tree Edging

Tree Mulching Bed Edging Bed Mulching

Tree Pruning

Tree and bed weed eradication

Pre-Emergence and herbicide, Waterway Herbicide, fertilize turf, Post Emergence herbicide spray, Apply insecticide for grubs

Overseeding

Core Aeration

Trash and debris and floral removal

Snow removal for all roads, and pull offs, some sidewalks and applying ice melt, road salt and de-ice

Headstone and marker cleaning

Power wash Columbarium walls, limestone walls, and entrance pillars

Clean monuments, signs, and benches

Cleaning of storm water basins

Dethatching

Tree and wood line and fence line trimming and pruning

Tree removal and stump grinding

Soil sampling

Provide all tools, vehicles, sod etc. to perform the required duties.

Provide a safe working environment for contractor, as well as Cemetery staff and visitors.

Shall reference back to and follow the National Standards and a copy will be provided by COR

Irrigation System – Fall Shut-Down, Spring Start-Up, Backflow Testing

Sunken grave repair

Overseeding

In summary, services will include, but are not limited, to the following services at the Confederate Mound:

Regular mowing, weed eating, string trimming/edging

Leaf and Debris Removal

Pre-Emergent Crabgrass Control

Fertilizer and Broadleaf Herbicide Application

Raise and Lowering of American Flag

Responses to this notice shall include company name, address, point of contact, contact information to include phone and e-mail address, size of business pursuant to North American Industrial Classification Code (NAICS) and must respond to the following questions:

Q1) Describe your firm’s capability in meeting the needs described above.

A1)

Q2) If you are a small business, will at least 50% of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel be expended for employees of the concern?

A2)

Q3) Is your business a small business?

A3)

Q4) Does your firm qualify as a small, disadvantaged business?

A4)

Q5) If disadvantaged specify if your firm is certified under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act?

A5)

Q6) Are you a certified HUBZone firm?

A6)

Q7) Are you a woman-owned or operated business?

A7)

Q8) Are you a certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned or Veteran Owned business?

A8)

Q9) Is your business a large business?

A9)

This is not request for proposal and in no way obligates the Government to award any contract. Please provide responses in writing no later than January 25, 2023 by 3:00 p.m. CST to: Ralph.Crum@va.gov.

Responses to this source sought announcement will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offerors list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation. No solicitation is currently available currently.