Grandfather Ranger District Recreation Areas Janitorial Services

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides clarification regarding a site visit for solicitation 12444126Q0011 Amendment 1.

• Site Visit: A formal site visit is neither scheduled nor mandatory.
• Recommendation: Offerors are strongly encouraged to visit the accessible public land sites.
• Purpose of Visit: Visiting the sites allows for assessment of travel logistics and identification of necessary equipment for performing the work, especially in areas with water scarcity.

This clarification does not appear to alter any requirements, due dates, or submission rules, but it provides guidance on site assessment.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a combined synopsis/solicitation (RFQ) for Janitorial Services in the Grandfather Ranger District (RD) Recreation Areas, North Carolina. The acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• Provide janitorial services in the East, West, and Linville Zones of the Grandfather RD Recreation Facilities.

• Specific details regarding services, scope, and requirements are found in the attached documents.

• Anticipated award is a firm-fixed price requirements contract.

• Contract structure includes one (1) base year and four (4) one-year option periods, for a total duration not exceeding five (5) years.

• The government reserves the right to make one or multiple awards.

• Offers are due March 12th, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

• Questions are due February 26th, 2026, at 12:00 PM Pacific Time via email to tobi.shumaker@usda.gov.

• Quotes will be evaluated based on best value to the Government, considering:

  • Relevant Experience
  • Past Performance (including teaming partners and critical subcontractors)
  • Price

• Offerors must hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the offer receipt date.

• This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns.

• The applicable North American Industry Classification Standard (NAICS) Code is 561720, with a small business size standard of $22.

• The solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference, accessible at www.acquisition.gov.

• Key attachments include Solicitation Terms and Conditions, Schedule of Items, Statement of Work, Maps, Wage Determinations, Past Performance Information Sheet, and Subcontractor Consent Form.

• Historical contract data for previous janitorial services in the East, West, and Linville zones is provided for informational purposes.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This document outlines the requirements for janitorial services for various recreation facilities within the Grandfather East Zone, Grandfather West Zone, and Grandfather Linville Zone of the Pisgah National Forest.

• Provide janitorial services including cleaning of restroom facilities and trash removal/disposal for multiple sites.

• Specific sites include:

  • East Zone: Brown Mountain OHV Area, Wilson Creek Day Use Area, Mortimer Campground.
  • West Zone: Curtis Creek Campground, Catawba Falls Trailhead, Old Fort Picnic Area, Old Fort Gateway Trailhead.
  • Linville Zone: Linville Gorge Information Cabin, Wisemans View, Table Rock Picnic Area.

• Services include cleaning of vault toilets, flush toilets, showers, and associated areas, as well as emptying trash receptacles (including bear-proof ones) and disposing of trash off-site.

• Services are provided year-round at some locations, and seasonally at others (e.g., Brown Mountain OHV Area: April 1 - January 1; Table Rock Picnic Area: April 1 - January 1).

• Specific operating seasons and addresses for each site are detailed.

• Restrooms must be maintained in a clean condition, free of waste and dirt.

• Specific cleaning tasks include floors, walls, ceilings, hardware, mirrors, fixtures, and exterior building surfaces.

• Trash receptacles must be emptied per schedule, and liners replaced.

• Monthly washing of trash receptacles with disinfectant solution is required.

• Cleaning must adhere to current CDC guidelines.

• Contractor must report any need for major repairs.

• Contractor must provide all necessary labor, supplies, equipment, and materials, except for toilet paper and trash bags (provided by the Forest Service).

• Cleaning agents must be approved by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).

• Contractor must use Bio-Based Products where applicable.

• Contractor must comply with all applicable safety, health, and sanitation laws and regulations.

• A daily operations supervisor is required, available by telephone and located within 2 hours travel time.

• At least one English speaker is required on site during staffing hours.

• Contractor staff must be polite and professional.

• Contractor is expected to work on scheduled workdays even if they fall on a Federal holiday.

• Non-compliance procedures are outlined, including notification and potential deduction of costs if work is not corrected.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 2 - Schedule of Items," provides a detailed breakdown of janitorial services required for the Grandfather Recreation areas across three zones: East, West, and Linville. It outlines the specific tasks, locations, quantities, and service frequencies for each year of the contract period, including a base year and four option years.

• Service Areas: Includes specific sites within the East (e.g., BROWN MTN OHV AREA, WILSON CREEK DAY USE AREA, MORTIMER CAMPGROUND), West (e.g., CURTIS CREEK CAMPGROUND, CATAWBA FALLS TRAILHEAD, OLD FORT PICNIC AREA), and Linville (e.g., LINVILLE GORGE INFORMATION CABIN, WISEMANS VIEW TRAILHEAD, TABLE ROCK PICNIC AREA) zones.
• Tasks: Janitorial Cleaning and Garbage Collection.
• Frequencies: Varies by location and season, ranging from 1x per week to 3x per week.
• Service Periods: Specific date ranges for services, with some services being seasonal (e.g., May 15 to September 15).
• Quantities: Specified in 'EA' (Each) units for each item.
• Contract Period: Covers a base year (4/1/2026-3/31/2027) and four option years (4/1/2027-3/31/2031).
• Pricing: Unit Price and TOTAL columns are present but show 0.0, indicating this is a schedule of requirements rather than a pricing proposal template.

This attachment is crucial for bidders as it defines the scope of work for janitorial and garbage collection services across multiple recreation areas. Bidders must use this schedule to understand the volume, frequency, and locations of services required to accurately price their proposals and assess their capability to perform the work. The detailed breakdown by zone, site, and item number is essential for developing a comprehensive bid.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides maps detailing the locations of janitorial sites within three zones of the Grandfather area: East Zone, West Zone, and Linville Zone. It is intended to help bidders identify the specific sites requiring janitorial services.

• Grandfather East Zone: Includes Mortimer Campground, Wilson Creek Take Out, and Brown Mountain OHV Trailhead. A link to a Google Maps view is provided.
• Grandfather West Zone: Includes Curtis Creek Campground, Old Fort Gateway Trailhead, Old Fort Picnic Area, and Catawba Falls Trailhead. A link to a Google Maps view is provided.
• Grandfather Linville Zone: Includes Linville Gorge Information Cabin, Wiseman's View Scenic Overlook parking lot, and Table Rock Mountain Parking Area. A link to a Google Maps view is provided.

This attachment is crucial for bidders to understand the geographical distribution and specific locations of the janitorial work. It directly informs logistical planning, resource allocation, and the scope of services required for each site within the opportunity.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "Register of Wage Determinations Under the Service Contract Act" for the State of North Carolina, specifically for the areas of Burke and Caldwell counties. It lists the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations employed under service contracts in this region.

• Occupational Codes and Titles: A comprehensive list of job titles with corresponding codes.
• Wage Rates: The minimum hourly wage rate for each listed occupation.
• Footnotes: Indicate specific conditions or requirements related to certain occupations (e.g., computer employees, air traffic controllers).
• Fringe Benefits: Specifies that fringe benefits required follow the occupational listing, and details Health & Welfare rates, Vacation, and Holiday provisions applicable to covered contracts.
• Executive Orders: Mentions applicability of Executive Orders 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and 13658 (Minimum Wage).

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the labor costs associated with performing services in the specified North Carolina counties. It establishes the minimum wages and benefits that must be paid to employees working on a contract covered by the Service Contract Act, directly impacting proposal pricing and overall cost of labor. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages meet or exceed these determined rates.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "Past Performance Reference Information Worksheet" intended for bidders to provide details about previous contracts. It serves as a template for gathering information that will be used to assess a bidder's past performance.

• Contract Identification: Name of the organization, address, contract number, and dates of contract, work start, and work completion.
• Contract Value: Initial contract price/estimated cost and final invoiced amount.
• Points of Contact: Technical and contracting/purchasing points of contact for the customer.
• Location of Work: Country, state, province, county, and city where the work was performed.
• Description of Work: Nature and scope of the contract work, including any performance issues, conflicts, litigation, or corrective actions.
• Current Status: A selection of checkboxes to indicate the contract's current status (e.g., continuing, completed, terminated).

Bidders must complete this worksheet accurately and thoroughly for each relevant past contract. The information provided will be used by the government to evaluate the bidder's past performance, a key factor in determining award. It requires detailed information about the scope of work, performance, and customer satisfaction.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment 6, the "Subcontractor Information and Consent Form," for Solicitation 12444126Q0011. It is required for any major subcontractor or teaming partner to provide consent for the release of their past performance information to the prime contractor. This consent is necessary for the government to assess past performance relevancy during source selection.

• Firm Information: Name of the subcontractor/teaming partner firm.
• Opportunity Details: Identifies the specific Request for Quote (RFQ) 12444126Q0011 for Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for Janitorial Services in National Forests of North Carolina on Grandfather Ranger District (RD) Recreation areas.
• Consent Statement: Acknowledges understanding of the government's emphasis on past performance and grants permission for the prime contractor to discuss past and present performance information.
• Signature and Authority: Requires a signature, title, company name, address, and telephone number of an individual authorized to bind the company.
• Reference List: Requires three references (contract number and title), a description of the role (Prime/Sub) and work performed, the reference POC name, phone number, and email address. References must not be from the proposing prime contractor.

Potential bidders acting as prime contractors must ensure that all major subcontractors and teaming partners complete and submit this form as part of their proposal. Subcontractors and teaming partners must accurately provide their company and past performance information, including three valid references, to be considered for participation in the opportunity.