Inactive Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14)

36C78619Q0117 Amendment 0002 Questions & Answers 1. Discussion: Since there is very limited irrigation at the cemetery, and even with the expected double cuts in the late spring and early summer, it i... 36C78619Q0117 Amendment 0002 Questions & Answers 1. Discussion: Since there is very limited irrigation at the cemetery, and even with the expected double cuts in the late spring and early summer, it is very unlikely that there will be 44 mowing and trimming cuts per season. Question: Will the yearly number of 44 mowing cuts be guaranteed by double cuts in the early spring/summer and by leaf mulching in the fall and winter? Answer: No guarantee will be offered by JBNC forecasting precise CLIN utilization. All services will be driven by site conditions aligning with proper financial stewardship. 2. Discussion: Given the significant number of large deciduous trees on the cemetery and the fact there were still a significant amount of leaves on the ground, and leaves on still on the trees, during the February 12th Site Visit, it seems unlikely that 6 weeks of leaf removal will be enough. Question: Will the VA utilize mowing cuts (CLIN 0001) to make up for leaf drop before and after the 6 weeks on CLIN 007? Answer: Historically speaking this option has been exercised, specifically this is depending upon environmental conditions and site conditions. 3. Discussion: The Contractor Laydown area that was shown to the contractor was in a small warehouse area measuring approximately 15 x 40 square feet. For a contract of this size and scope this is not enough space for the equipment required for the job and to be stored. It is estimated that a contractor would require space for 4 standard conex boxes measuring 20 x 40 sf each. Plus, room for fuel storage. Question: Will the cemetery provide additional space for the contractor to store their equipment? If so, how much space? Answer: JBNC has limited space available due to its age and ergonomic/architectural design elements. 4. Discussion: Per the SOW, the contractor is responsible for the sweeping of roads and sidewalks, and trash removal however there does not seem to be a CLIN definitively associated with these tasks? Question: Will the VA add a specific CLIN for these tasks or should the contractor price these tasks under a current CLIN, and if so, which CLIN? Answer: Considered interrelated with CLIN 0001. 5. Discussion: Per the SOW, the contractor is responsible for the sweeping of roads and sidewalks, and trash removal however there does not seem to be enough information provided in the solicitation for the contractor to concisely price this. Question: Would the government provide more information on these tasks to include square footage or acreage of roads and sidewalk and number of trash receptacles along with the associated service frequencies? Answer: Please see data in SOW 6. Discussion: Per the SOW, the contractor is responsible for the sweeping of roads and sidewalks, trash, and significantly, leaf removal. Question: Will the cemetery provide the dumpsters, and will the cemetery be emptying the dumpsters or should the contract price in this cost? Answer: Contractor to supply dumpsters, Ref page 9 of SOW 7. Topic: Trimming of Headstones and Edging of Flat Markers Ref: SOW Section E.b. Question: Per the SOW, trimming and edging of flat markers are to be accomplished weekly. When twice weekly mowing of the turf should be performed between May and August, will the trimming of headstones and edging of flat markers also be required twice weekly as well? Answer: Aesthetics and site conditions will be drivers for this requirement. 8. Topic: Edging Ref: Attachment B C.3.5 Question: Per attachment B, there are 9,900 grave markers. However, page 10 of the solicitation states there are 9,160. Can the Government provide the accurate total of markers to be edged? Additionally, the SOW states that 20 new flat markers are added each year however there is not an associated increase in the Cemetery Data section of the SOW. Answer: 8033. Government has no ability to forecast additional or removal of flat makers sites due to disinterment activity and/or additional gravesite requests. 9. Topic: Artificial Turf Ref: Solicitation pg. 9 Question: Can the Government provide total square footage for the artificial turf areas including the two flag pole circles, Columbarium A, B, C, Chapel area, WWI Memorial and Memorial Section C? Answer: 239,580 SF 10. Topic: Headstone Areas Ref: Cemetery Acreage Question: Can the Government provide acreage of gravesites and acreage of areas without gravesites? Answer: Approximately 226 acres with headstones (developed sections) 11. Topic: Incumbent Contract Question: What is the current annual contract price? Has the Statement of Work/Solicitation significantly changed from the previous contract? Answer: The previous contract award $3,136,330.00 Base plus 4 options if exercised. Yes the current Statement of Work has changed significantly from the previous contract. 12. Page 8 of the PWS under E. Deliverable Requirements, a) MOWING Question: States: the Contract shall have at least 2 size wheel-based mowers that rotate weekly to prevent creating pathways in the center of the rows Are you requiring to different size wheel bases for mowers? This will require the contractor to purchase double the number of mowers to mow the grass, raising the cost of this contract. Answer: Please refer to solicitation, requirements are addressed specifically. 13. Page 12-13 of the PWS; Section I Damage to Government Property States: The Contractor shall be responsible for cleaning cemetery structures, headstones, monuments, and roadways that are soiled or stained because of Contractor s performance. The Contractor shall wash-down with water all soiled or stained structures, headstones, and monuments at the end of each workday. Normal string trimming activities around the headstones will often leave a stain. Question: Are you requiring the contractor to wash all 158,000+ headstones each time there is a green stain left on them? Answer: Contractor is responsible for removal of all objectionable accumulation due to contractor performance in/on areas outlined above. 14. Page 18 of the PWS under Trimming section b States: Grass clippings/stains will be removed from headstone bases after trimming is completed. Question: Is the contractor required to wash all 158,000+ headstones after each of the 44 occurrences of trimming to remove stains and clippings? Answer: Contractor is responsible for removal of all objectionable accumulation due to contractor performance in/on areas outlined above. 15. Is the Government aware of the massive task of washing all the headstones in the entire cemetery each time they are trimmed? This task is out of usual work procedures. There will be approx.. 31,600 headstone to wash daily if they are stained and possibly 63,200 to wash daily in the weeks the grass is mowed twice a week. To accomplish this will require much more manpower than the mowing and trimming operation will, at least 10-15 additional employees. Has the government factored in their estimates the huge expense for this requirement? Question: How would the government suggest accomplishing this task? Answer: It is not the governments positions to suggest methodology to satisfy SOW 16. Attachment C Section B 1 States: All trash, debris, contents of trash cans, dead or unsightly flowers and all fallen tree limbs and branches not attached to the tree shall be removed from the Cemetery areas a minimum of once each workday or as necessary. On page 9 section e it states: The contractor shall remove unauthorized/unsightly flowers and all grave decorations from all gravesites to include items on or attached to the headstone, not to exceed nine events at the discretion of the Cemetery Director and COR Question: Which is correct? Is the quantity daily or nine times? Answer: Referenced events are not mutually exclusive. Both are valid contractual requirements, COR will designate 9 iterations of cleanups throughout mowing seasons. 17. On page 9 section d Curb and Sidewalk Edging it states: This operation should be conducted to maintain the manicured appearance desired. The required operation frequency will be determined by the COR and the Contractor shall be compensated on a per operation cost basis. On the Solicitation, Line 0004 Curb and Sidewalk Edging the estimated quantity is 9 and the unit is each. Attachment B page 19, #4 States: Edging shall be done as often as needed so no grass or growth is on hard surface. Question: Which is correct? What are the quantities for this service? Are we to price edging a total of 9 times? Answer: 9 iterations is part of normal SOW. Additional iterations TBD by the COR for additional compensation 18. According to page 11, section H (c) of the PWS, is it correct that the cemetery will not be providing any storage building for equipment? Question: Will there be a fenced, locked area, that equipment can be stored in? If the government does not have a fenced area, is the contractor allowed to put up a fence for storage purposes? Answer: Government will provide a staging area only. Any modification to staging area will be based on approval of COR at the Contractor s expense. 19. According to section page 11, section H (e) of the PWS, will electricity and water be provided by the cemetery? Question: If not, will there be a hookup for electricity and water in the area provided for the contractor to store equipment? Answer: See question #18 and solicitation. 20. Will each task order for CLIN 0007 Leaf mulching/removal be one week? Answer: Leaf mulching and/or pickup will be in fall season driven by seasonal conditions and COR discretion. 21. Is the turf acreage to be mowed 256 acres (cited on page 10 of the PWS section E(i)) or 258 acres (cited on page 1 of the PWS under General Information)? Answer: 258 acres 22. Page 10 of the PWS says that flat markers to be trimmed is 7,360 with no increase per year, but page 19 states there will be 9,900 flat markers to be edged with about 20 added per year. Which quantity is correct? Answer: 8033, Government has no ability to forecast additional or sites removed from flat marker section. 23. This contract is requiring rear discharge mowers with different wheelbases, correct? Answer: Contractual necessity 24. CLIN 0008 states that Section 3A has an estimated quantity of 12 each on the Solicitation. Page 9 of the PWS, c) Procedure states Section 3A may require additional mowings. Question: Are the 12 mowings in addition to the 44 mowing s for the cemetery each year? Answer: Yes as directed by COR 25. Attachment C #4 states: All walkways, roads, and parking areas shall be cleaned of all debris (i.e. mud, dirt, twigs, leaves, grass clipping, etc.) at the end of each mowing. Question: Is this statement for cleaning up of the mowing debris, or for cleaning all roads and sidewalks of all debris no matter who was at fault for the debris? I.E. mud and dirt from burial operations by the cemetery crews. Answer: Contractor not responsible for mud deposited form other sources. 26. Attachment C #6 states: Storm Clean-Up (wind, rain, hail, snow, ice, etc.,): Cemetery shall be checked and cleaned up the next working day following a storm unless the extent of the storm prompts civil defense authorities to declare emergency movement only. Question: Is the contractor responsible for ALL fallen tree limbs no matter what size? Answer: Small caliber branches only following storm/environmental event. 27. On Page 10, number 10. - What are the quantities for the spring and fall power washing of the sidewalks, curbs, entrance gate, and fence? Is the entire fence to be power washed? Per solicitation: Answer: Once in spring, Once in fall timing will be determined by COR. Main gate only not chain link fence surrounding property 28. On Page 21, number 10 states: The contractor shall pressure wash sidewalks, curbs and entrance gate and fence of cemetery in the spring and fall. Will this pressure washing be tied into a line item or will there be a new line item made for pressure washing? Answer: This requirement is not applicable to this solicitation and should be removed from the Statement of Work. 29. Are there any restrictions on the type of facility and restrooms that the contractor will be required to place on the property for their employees? Answer: Porta John type restrooms. Architectural style to be approved by COR 30. How many acres of AstroTurf is included in the cemetery? Answer: 6 acres 31. The due date for quotes is unchanged and remains March 12, 2019 Noon eastern. 32. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.