Combined Synopsis/Solicitation - Tree Maintenance Services, Little Rock National Cemetery

**EDIT: 08/27/2024 - Amendment A00001: Add attachment "36C78624Q50370 Questions and Answers"

The Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration, Contracting Services, 18434 Joplin Road, Triangle, VA 22172 is soliciting quotations for Tree Maintenance Services at Little Rock National Cemetery, 2523 Springer Blvd, Little Rock, AR 72206.

Note: This is a total Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside solicitation, offerors must be certified through Small Business Administration (SBA) VetCert.

https://veterans.certify.sba.gov/

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.6, Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested, and a written solicitation document will not be issued. The Government reserves the right to make no award from this solicitation. 

Basis of Award.  This procurement is being conducted pursuant to FAR Part 13 procedures.  The Government intends to award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose quote, conforming to the solicitation, quotes the lowest price, whose quoted price does not exceed the amount of funding available for the procurement, and whose quoted price is found to be reasonable.

This solicitation is a request for quotations (RFQ). The government anticipates awarding a Firm, Fixed-priced, Services contract with no option year periods.

Evaluation of Quotes: 

Quotes will be evaluated in the following manner.  The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA)

To be considered “Technically acceptable” quotes must contain:

• Resume of Certified Arborist that shall serve as the site manager for this contract and will be provided by the Contractor whenever work is being performed - other than trash and debris pick-up. The Certified Arborist must have at least three (3) years’ experience as a direct supervisor of a commercial tree maintenance operation that included removal, trimming, and stump removal in commercial, industrial, or public sites. 
• Completed attachment “SOW Little Rock Tree Maint”
• Completed attachment “36C78624Q50370 Solicitation Provisions”
• Completed attachment “36C78624Q50370 Contract Clauses”

Wage Determination Information: U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination 2015-5117, Rev. 25, published July 22, 2024, is applicable to the resulting contract.

Current Federal Acquisition Circular: Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-06 was published in the Federal Register July 30, 2024.

Site Visit Information: A site visit will be held at 9am local on August 21, 2024. In accordance with FAR 52.237-1, offerors or quoters are urged and expected to inspect the site where services are to be performed and to satisfy themselves regarding all general and local conditions that may affect the cost of contract performance, to the extent that the information is reasonably obtainable. In no event shall failure to inspect the site constitute grounds for a claim after contract award.

Incumbent Contractor Information:This is a new requirement with no incumbent contractor.

Questions and Answers: All solicitation questions must be submitted through email to the Contracting Officer: brian.werner2@va.gov. Vendor questions must be received by 3pm EST on August 23, 2024, and will be answered via solicitation amendment no later than August 26, 2024. Questions submitted after the Q&A due date will not be answered.

Offer Due Date: All quotations shall be sent via email to the Contracting Officer: brian.werner2@va.gov. Submissions must be received by 3pm EST on Friday, August 30, 2024.  Late submissions will not be accepted.  Only e-mailed quotes will be accepted. It is the responsibility of the vendor to ensure the Governments timely receipt of their quote.

Solicitation Attachments:

“SOW Little Rock Tree Maint”

“36C78624Q50370 Solicitation Provisions”

“36C78624Q50370 Contract Clauses”