Great Lakes National Cemetery Trash Services

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To obtain the services of a qualified and experienced Contractor for trash removal services at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan. The services include collection, transportation, and disposal of solid waste in a safe, timely, environmentally responsible, and compliant manner.

• Provide and service one (1) 8-cubic yard waste container weekly (52 pickups/year).

• Provide 30-cubic yard roll-off dumpsters on an as-needed basis for general waste and construction material.

• Billing for 30-yard dumpsters will be on a per-ton basis, with an estimated annual average of 60 tons.

• Pickup fees for 30-yard dumpsters are all-inclusive and cover removal, pickup, exchanges, relocation, dig-out, and trip charges.

• Containers must be painted a uniform color, pre-approved by the COR, washable, leak-proof, and equipped with tight-fitting lids.

• Contractor is responsible for delivery, maintenance, and removal of all containers and dumpsters.

• Maintain containers free of holes, vermin, or foreign matter, and ensure they do not emit unpleasant odors.

• Clean and sanitize containers in accordance with sanitation codes.

• Provide substitute containers within one (1) business day for critical areas and three (3) business days for non-critical areas upon notification of a defective container.

• Contractor vehicles must be equipped with standard safety equipment and spill kits.

• Contractor is responsible for immediate cleanup, proper disposal, and reporting of hazardous waste spills.

• Containers must be emptied, picked up, and returned/replaced empty on the same day.

• All container/dumpster lids shall be closed tightly after emptying.

• Leave service/loading areas clean and orderly after each pickup.

• Collect any debris or trash within a 10-foot radius of the receptacle after servicing.

• Unscheduled pickups must be coordinated and completed within three (3) business days of notification.

• Failure to remove recyclables or waste within specified timeframes or comply with contract terms may constitute default.

• Period of performance includes one (1) Base Period and four (4) Option Periods, with a potential six (6) month extension per FAR 52.217-8.

• Majority of work performed during normal cemetery hours (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday).

• Other work may be required outside normal hours due to interments or ceremonies.

• Place of Performance: Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Rd, Holly, Michigan 48442.

• Contractor personnel must perform all actions with special care, reverence, dignity, and respect, acknowledging the service and sacrifice of Veterans.

• Strict adherence to the National Cemetery Administration's Operational Standards and Measures is required.

• Contractor employees must be aware of and exercise utmost care regarding buried remains and headstones.

• Contractor shall obtain prior written approval from the COR before applying any chemical or biological agents and provide a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

• Contractor shall have rights of ingress and egress to Government facilities Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM, excluding Federal holidays.

• Contractor employees may be required to sign in and out upon entering/leaving facilities.

• Keys to Government facilities will not be issued.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial trash services for the Great Lakes National Cemetery. It serves as the sole solicitation, and quotes are requested. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration, intends to award an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

• Trash and garbage collection services.

• Detailed requirements are outlined in the Statement of Work (Attachment A) and Cemetery Operational Standards (Attachment B).

• Contract Type: Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).

• Period of Performance: One (1) base year with four (4) one-year option periods.

• Minimum Contract Value: $1,000.

• Maximum Contract Value: $60,000 (inclusive of all options).

• Pricing: FOB Destination, all-inclusive of labor, supervision, equipment, materials, and supplies.

• Proposal Submission Deadline: February 17, 2026, 4:00 PM EST.

• Questions Due Date: February 12, 2026, 4:00 PM EST.

• Submission Format: Quotes must be submitted via email in Adobe PDF format, organized into four volumes (Administrative, Technical Proposal, Past Performance, Pricing).

• Evaluation Basis: Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA).

• Evaluation Factors: Factor 1: Price (Lowest Price), Factor 2: Technical Acceptability (Pass/Fail).

• Award: The Government intends to make award without discussions.

• Set Aside Type: Unrestricted.

• NAICS Code: 562111 (Solid Waste Collection), with a business size standard of $47 million.

• Registration: Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and complete online representations and certifications.

• Attachments include: Statement of Work, Cemetery Operational Standards, Dignity Clause, SCA Wage Determination, Past Performance Questionnaire, and Pricing Schedule (Excel).

• No pre-bid site visits are scheduled; offerors may tour the cemetery at their leisure.

• Potential bidders are responsible for checking SAM.gov for amendments.

Other / Unclassified

This document is NCA Directive 3000, "Operational Standards and Measures for VA National Cemeteries," dated September 19, 2024. It establishes and updates policies and procedures for operational standards and performance measures for all VA national cemeteries. It also outlines responsibilities for implementing and maintaining these standards.

This directive supersedes a previous version dated January 4, 2010. It updates references and incorporates the current organizational structure of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), including program and district offices, service lines, and cemeteries. It also revises roles and responsibilities. The "NCA Operational Standards and Measures Guidebook" is accessible online and contains the detailed standards and measures. This directive is relevant for understanding the operational framework and compliance requirements for VA national cemeteries, which may impact vendors involved in services or projects related to these cemeteries.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, titled "DIGNITY CLAUSE," outlines specific requirements for handling headstones and markers in National Cemeteries. It emphasizes the need for special care, reverence, dignity, and respect when performing work in these sensitive locations.

• Handling of Markers and Headstones: Contractors must exercise utmost care to protect remains, headstones, and flat grave markers.
• Prohibited Actions: Contractors are explicitly forbidden from walking, standing, leaning, sitting, or driving over headstones or markers.
• Equipment Use: Tools, equipment, or other items must not be placed on or leaned against headstones or markers.
• Damage Prevention: Contractors must take care to avoid scratching or damaging markers in any manner.
• Responsibility for Damage: The contractor is responsible for replacing any damaged headstones and markers, as well as restoring any damaged turf.
• Exposure/Damage to Remains: In the event of accidental exposure or damage to remains, caskets, urns, or outer burial containers, the contractor must immediately contact the COR, Director/Assistant Director, or Contracting Officer (CO) for guidance.
• Doubt Resolution: Any uncertainties regarding proper procedures must be brought to the attention of the COR, Director/Assistant Director, or CO.
• Employee Communication: Contractors are required to discuss this guidance with their employees and subcontractors.

This clause is critical for any bidder whose work may involve or occur within national cemeteries. It details specific operational constraints and responsibilities related to the preservation and respect of gravesites, which could impact project planning, execution, and cost.

Wage Determination

This document is a Wage Determination issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, under the Service Contract Act. It specifies the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations in the specified geographic area.

• Geographic Area: Michigan Counties of Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, St Clair.
• Applicability: This wage determination applies to contracts covered by the Service Contract Act. It lists numerous occupations with corresponding minimum hourly wage rates and required fringe benefits.
• Occupational Listings: The document provides a comprehensive list of occupations, categorized by general areas such as Administrative Support and Clerical Occupations, Automotive Service Occupations, Health Occupations, Information Technology Occupations, and many others. Each occupation is assigned a code, title, and a minimum hourly rate.
• Fringe Benefits: Required fringe benefits are listed separately and follow the occupational listings. The document also specifies health and welfare benefits rates.
• Executive Orders: Notes on Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (minimum wage) are included, outlining contractor obligations and minimum wage requirements for covered contracts.
• Conformance Process: Information is provided on the process for requesting additional classifications and wage rates if a required occupation is not listed in the determination.

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the labor costs associated with performing services under a federal contract in the specified region. It dictates the minimum wages and benefits that must be paid to employees, directly impacting the cost proposal. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages and benefits meet or exceed these requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment B: Past Performance Questionnaire. It is designed to collect information about a contractor's previous relevant experience for evaluation purposes.

• Instructions: Contractors must list at least three (3) previous federal, state, local government, or private contracts completed within the last five (5) years that are comparable in size, complexity, and scope to the contract being evaluated. National Cemetery Administration (NCA) contracts should be listed first, followed by non-NCA contracts.
• Questionnaire Fields: The form requires detailed information for each contract, including:
  • Contract Number
  • Contractor Name, Address, Zip Code
  • Telephone Number
  • Email Address
  • Type of Contract
  • Contract Dollar Value
  • Date of Award (or status if not completed)
  • Type/Extent of Subcontracting
  • Percentage of Work completed by the Contractor
  • Description of Supply/Services provided, location & relevancy of work
  • Address, Telephone Number & Email of the Contact Person and Position

Bidders must complete this form accurately and thoroughly to provide evidence of their past performance and capability to meet the requirements of the opportunity. This information will be used by the government to evaluate the bidder's suitability for award.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet containing pricing information for services related to waste management. It is intended for potential contractors to return their best and final pricing in the requested format. Bidders are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their pricing prior to the solicitation closing.

• The spreadsheet contains multiple sheets: BASE, OY1, OY2, OY3, and OY4, likely representing a base year and four option years.
• Each sheet details services including '8 Yard Waste Container', '30 Yard Roll-Off Dumpster', 'Billing For Tonnage of 30yd', and 'Pickup Fees for 30yd Dumpster'.
• Columns include Line Item, Description (Job, Labor Category), Est. Qty, Unit, Unit Price, and Extended Price.
• All 'Unit Price' and 'Extended Price' fields are currently populated with 0.0 across all sheets and line items.
• Subtotals and aggregated totals are also listed as 0.0.

This document serves as a template for bidders to submit their pricing. Bidders must accurately fill in the unit and extended prices for each service line item for the base year and all option years. The government has requested pricing in Excel format, and bidders must ensure their submissions are accurate before the solicitation deadline.