IVH Headstone Setting, Installation and Maintenance

The Iowa Department of Administrative Services, on behalf of the Iowa Veterans Cemetery located in Adel, is soliciting bids for a comprehensive headstone and cemetery maintenance contract. The Request for Bids (RFB Number 005-RFB-0514-2023) seeks a qualified vendor to provide services including headstone installation, setting, and maintenance for the cemetery. Specific requirements include installing approximately 450 new headstones annually, correcting 107 existing headstones to meet National Cemetery Administration (NCA) standards, and performing precise maintenance tasks. The contract mandates placing headstones within 60 days of interment, maintaining exact alignment and height specifications, performing quarterly pressure washing of headstones and niche covers, and completing approximately 30 annual lawn mow cycles. The solicitation covers a contract period from the award date through July 31, 2026, with an option for a three-year extension. The bid was posted on June 20, 2023, with responses due by August 3, 2023. Vendors must adhere to strict NCA National Shrine Commitment Operational Standards, which require near-perfect performance across multiple operational metrics.

Priority Government Solutions LLC was awarded the contract at $5,152.51, with payment terms set at Net 60. The contract will be available to all State Agencies and requires the contractor to submit quarterly sales reports and pay a 1% administrative fee on all sales. The current cemetery infrastructure includes 5,000 headstones and 7,000 niche covers, with no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on vendor participation mentioned in the documents. The state does not guarantee any specific volume of sales and will place service requests on an as-needed basis. The solicitation does not explicitly outline disadvantaged enterprise requirements or provide detailed information about small business participation. The contract emphasizes precise maintenance standards, including 100% compliance with turf health, appearance, and headstone installation requirements as outlined in the NCA National Shrine Commitment Operational Standards and Measures document. Potential bidders must demonstrate the capability to maintain the cemetery to the highest standards of dignity and respect for veterans.