9930--Off-Site Manufacture of U1 Blank Marble Markers for Nationwide Distribution

The Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration is soliciting proposals for the off-site manufacture and nationwide distribution of U1 blank marble upright headstones (13" x 42" x 4") under solicitation number 36C78626R0015. Contractors must meet detailed marble material specifications sourced exclusively from approved U.S. quarries, including requirements for hardness, absorption, and compressive strength values, and must establish a written quality inspection system with monthly reporting to the government's traffic manager. Evaluation will be based on a four-tiered process prioritizing Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), followed by Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB), small business concerns with HUBZone and 8(a) priority, and large business concerns, with award going to the lowest-priced technically acceptable proposal within the applicable tier. The primary evaluation factors are price, technical capability, and past performance, with offerors required to submit four separate PDF volumes including company information, pricing, technical capabilities with past performance references, and a marble sample representative of production material. The original proposal deadline was February 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CST, with two amendments issued on February 2 and February 17, 2026, providing clarifications on quarry sourcing, sample marking requirements, and damaged monument replacement timelines.

This is a total set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses with no identified incumbent contractors listed in the solicitation documents. The contract runs from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, with four optional one-year renewal periods extending through March 31, 2031, with estimated quantities of 35,500 units during the base period and 36,000 to 37,500 units annually during option years, for a total potential range of 5,000 to 225,000 units across the entire contract period. The contractor must manufacture, package, palletize, and deliver FOB Origin with all shipments ready for government carrier pickup by the second Monday of each month, and must replace any damaged monuments within ten calendar days of government notification at no cost. Place of performance is off-site manufacturing with nationwide distribution to federal cemeteries, with the contractor responsible for coordinating with the government's Monument Production Services unit and providing monthly notifications to the VA NCA traffic manager regarding shipment schedules and compliance documentation.