Biloxi National Cemetery Expansion and FCA Deficiencies

The Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration is soliciting bids for burial expansion and Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) deficiency remediation at Biloxi National Cemetery in Mississippi under solicitation number 36C78626B0002. The procurement encompasses gravesite expansion and sitework installation (CLIN 0001) and the supply and delivery of 3,910 pre-placed crypts (CLIN 0002), with all work governed by comprehensive specifications spanning 33 construction divisions including earthwork, concrete, masonry, mechanical systems, electrical work, landscaping with irrigation, and site restoration. Key contract requirements include compliance with Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates established for Harrison County, Mississippi; coordination with cemetery operations to minimize disruption during burial services and major holidays; a mandatory full-time on-site Quality Control Manager and Site Safety and Health Officer with appropriate certifications; phased construction with a contractor-provided phasing plan; and adherence to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Treatment of Historic Resources as the cemetery is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The contract is firm-fixed-price with an estimated value between $10,000,000 and $20,000,000, and evaluation will be based on technical compliance with specifications and pricing. The original bid deadline was April 15, 2026, but Amendment 0003, issued April 14, 2026, extended the deadline to April 27, 2026, at 3:00 PM CDT, with three amendments issued since the original March 16, 2026 posting date to address pricing clarifications and respond to contractor questions.

This solicitation is set aside exclusively for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) under Public Law 109-461, with a small business size standard of $45 million under NAICS code 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction). No incumbent contractor is identified in the available documents. The contract performance period is 540 calendar days from the notice to proceed, with liquidated damages assessed at $1,116.00 per day of delay, and completion required within 18 months of award. The contractor must begin performance within 10 calendar days of award and submit bid and performance bonds at 100 percent of the contract amount. A mandatory site visit was conducted on March 25, 2026, with 29 attendees representing various construction firms. Work will be performed at Biloxi National Cemetery, located at 400 Veterans Avenue, Biloxi, Mississippi 39531, on the grounds of the VA Medical Center near Keesler Air Force Base, with all work restricted to cemetery operating hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding internments and special events) unless written approval for after-hours work is obtained from the Cemetery Director and Contracting Officer's Representative at least 72 hours in advance.