36C78626R50138 -- S208

Solicitation

This solicitation is for grounds maintenance services at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, CA. The contract will be a hybrid fixed-price Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, encompassing services subject to the Service Contract Act (SCA) and construction efforts subject to the Davis Bacon Act (DBA). The objective is to maintain the cemetery grounds, ensuring an aesthetically pleasing landscape and care for burial sections and memorial sites.

The contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, materials, and supervision for the following services:

• Headstone Services (Setting, Raising, Lowering, Realigning, Resetting, Cleaning, and Disposal)

• Gravesite Maintenance (Sunken Grave Renovation)

• Turf & Grasses Maintenance (Renovation, Fertilization, Pest Control, Mowing, Trimming, Edging, Aerification, Topdressing, Dethatching, Seeding, Sodding, Interseeding)

• Tree, Shrub & Planting Bed Maintenance (Planting, Pruning, Fertilizing, Pest Control, Weed Control, Mulching, Staking, Irrigation)

• Irrigation System Services (Management, Maintenance, Minor Repairs, Pump Station Maintenance, Filter Maintenance, Weather Station Maintenance, Backflow Prevention Device Maintenance, Master Valve Maintenance, Flow Meter Maintenance, etc.)

• Drainage System Maintenance (Stormwater Pond and Wetland Maintenance, Vegetation/Debris Control, Drainage Structure Maintenance)

• Trash & Debris Removal

• Pavement Sweeping & Cleaning

• Artificial Turf Maintenance

• Structure Cleaning & Light Maintenance (Columbaria Complexes, Main Entry Sign, Walls, Gates, Rostrum, Site Signage, Memorial Plaques, Flag Poles, Buildings, Gutters, Committal Shelters, etc.)

• Contract Type: Hybrid Fixed-Price IDIQ

• Period of Performance: 12-month base year plus two 12-month option years.

• Guaranteed Minimum Amount: $9,038.80

• Maximum Aggregate Value: $6,500,000.00

• Offer Due Date: July 13, 2026, 17:00 PT

• Proposals must be submitted via email to Ralph.Crum@va.gov.

• Evaluation Factors: Technical Capability and Past Performance (combined, significantly more important than price), and Price.

• A vendor site visit is scheduled for June 24, 2026, at 8:30 AM PST.

• Set Aside: Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) 100.00%

• NAICS Code: 561730 (Landscaping Services)

• Size Standard: $9.5 million

• Offerors must complete and return SF 1449, Price Schedule, and acknowledge amendments.

• Past performance information will be obtained from available sources.

• The solicitation includes numerous FAR and VAAR clauses, many with deviations.

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for comprehensive grounds maintenance and improvement services at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, California. The primary objective is to maintain the cemetery's grounds to ensure an aesthetically pleasing landscape, care for burial sections, and honor veterans.

The contractor will be responsible for providing all labor, equipment, materials, and supervision for the following services:

• Headstone Services (setting, raising, realigning, cleaning)

• Gravesite Maintenance

• Turf and Grasses Maintenance (mowing, fertilization, pest control, renovation)

• Pest Control (weeds, diseases, insects, vertebrates)

• Tree, Shrub, Planting, and Bed Maintenance (pruning, planting, weed control, mulching)

• Irrigation System Services (management, maintenance, minor repairs)

• Drainage System Maintenance

• Trash & Debris Removal

• Pavement Sweeping and Cleaning

• Structure Cleaning and Light Maintenance (columbaria, buildings, signage, etc.)

• Artificial Turf Maintenance

• Period of Performance: Twelve (12) month base year plus two (2) twelve-month option years.

• Type of Contract: Hybrid fixed-price Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, subject to the Service Contract Act (SCA) and Davis Bacon Act (DBA).

• Place of Performance: Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122.

• Quality Control: Contractor must develop and maintain an effective quality control program.

• Reporting: Requires submission of a Grounds Management Plan (GMP), weekly work plans, daily completed work reports, and various inspection/maintenance reports.

• Personnel: Site Manager and Alternate Site Manager must be designated with specific experience and qualifications. All personnel must possess required licenses and certifications.

• Security: Contractor personnel must abide by all cemetery security rules and regulations, maintain lists of personnel and vehicles on-site, and safeguard government property.

• Conduct: Personnel must maintain professional conduct, proper dress code, and show reverence within the cemetery. Possession of weapons is prohibited.

• Government Furnished Property: Includes parking/staging areas, temporary storage for branches/leaves, a roll-off dumpster for trash/headstones, water, new/replacement headstones, and floral vases.

• Contractor Furnished Items: Includes all other labor, equipment, materials, transportation, permits, and dumpsters for debris/soil removal.

• Phase-In/Phase-Out: A period for familiarization and preparation is expected.

• Quality Control Plan (QCP) draft due with proposal; formal QCP due within 30 days of award.

• Grounds Management Plan (GMP) due within 30 workdays of contract award.

• Personnel lists due within ten (10) workdays of contract award.

• Specific task deadlines are detailed throughout the PWS (e.g., headstone setting within five working days of delivery, turf renovation within 15 days of identification).

Amendment / Modification

This document is Modification Number 3 to General Decision Number CA20260001, dated 05/18/2026. It supersedes Modification Number 2, dated 01/23/2026.

This modification updates the wage determination rates and fringes for various construction classifications.

This modification does not appear to directly impact proposal submission deadlines or evaluation criteria, but it does update the prevailing wage rates that may be applicable to the opportunity.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is an addendum to FAR 52.212-1, providing specific instructions for offerors responding to a competitive solicitation for commercial items. It outlines general proposal preparation guidance, submission requirements, and evaluation factors. The government intends to award a single contract to the offeror representing the best value.

Offerors must thoroughly review the specifications and familiarise themselves with the requirements. The proposal must be complete and compliant with all instructions. Key items to review and complete before submission include:

• Form 1449

• Miramar NC_PriceSched (Price Schedule)

• Acknowledgement of any amendments

• Requested information for non-price and price evaluation factors

• VAAR 852.219-75 VA NOTICE OF LIMITATIONS ON SUBCONTRACTING-CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

• Two or more completed Past Performance Questionnaires

• Type: Competitive solicitation, best value source selection.

• Period of Acceptance: Offerors must hold prices firm for sixty (60) calendar days from the solicitation closing date.

• Award: A single award contract is intended.

• Evaluation Factors:

  1. Technical Capability (equal importance to Past Performance)
  2. Past Performance (equal importance to Technical Capability)
  3. Price Non-price factors (Technical Capability and Past Performance) combined are more important than Price.

• Technical Capability requires demonstration of understanding the PWS and meeting objectives, including specific plans for Headstone Services, Turfgrass Management, and Irrigation Management (each limited to 20 pages).

• Past Performance will be evaluated based on the prime vendor's record, using sources like CPARS and provided questionnaires. At least two relevant past performance references are required.

• Price will be assessed for reasonableness. Proposed prices exceeding available funding may lead to rejection.

• Proposal Submission: Via email to Ralph.Crum@va.gov with subject line "36C78626R50138_Company Name" by July 13, 2026, 5:00 PM PST.

• Questions Deadline: June 26, 2026, 5:00 PM PST via email to Ralph.Crum@va.gov. All questions will be addressed via amendment.

Not specified in this document.

• A Vendor Site Visit is scheduled for June 24, 2026, at 8:30 AM PST at Miramar National Cemetery. RSVP is encouraged by June 23, 2026.
• Offerors are strongly discouraged from using AI software to interpret requirements.
• Do not alter solicitation files. Incomplete submissions may be rejected.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document specifies the guaranteed minimum and maximum aggregate value for the contract.

• Guaranteed Minimum Amount: $9,038.80 for the life of the contract.
• Maximum Aggregate Value: $6,500,000.00, inclusive of three one-year ordering periods.

This information is crucial for bidders to understand the potential financial scope of the contract. It clarifies that while a minimum amount is guaranteed, the government does not commit to ordering beyond this minimum, and there is a ceiling on the total contract value.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a Wage Determination from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, specifically for the Service Contract Act. It lists various occupational codes, titles, and their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates and required fringe benefits for services performed in the counties of San Diego, California. The document is revision number 30, with the last revision dated May 13, 2026.

This document is crucial for potential bidders on Service Contract Act-covered contracts in the specified geographic area. It establishes the minimum wage and fringe benefit rates that must be paid to employees performing services under such contracts. Bidders must use this information to accurately calculate their labor costs and ensure their proposals comply with federal labor laws, specifically the Service Contract Act and Executive Orders related to paid sick leave and minimum wage.

Key information includes:

• A comprehensive list of occupations with corresponding wage rates.
• Details on required fringe benefits, including Health & Welfare rates.
• Specific notes regarding Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (Minimum Wage).
• Procedures for conforming unlisted classifications and wage rates (SF-1444 process).

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a pricing sheet for the opportunity, detailing the line items, quantities, units of measure, and period of performance for services. Bidders are expected to use this format to propose their pricing.

• Base Period (09/01/2026 - 08/31/2027):
  • Setting New & Replacement Headstones: 1800 EA
  • Upright Headstones Raise/Lower/Realign & Set: 250 EA
  • Headstone Fine Tuned Alignment: 1000 EA
  • Headstone Cleaning and Maintenance: 10000 MO
  • Gravesite Maintenance: 12 MO
  • Turf & Grasses Maintenance: 12 MO
  • Pest Control: 12 MO
  • Tree, Shrub & Planting Bed Maintenance: 12 MO
  • Irrigation System Services: 12 MO
  • Drainage System Maintenance: 12 MO
  • Trash & Debris Removal: 12 MO
  • Pavement Sweeping & Cleaning: 12 MO
  • Artificial Turf Maintenance: 12 MO
  • Structure Cleaning & Light Maintenance: 12 MO
• Option Period 1 (2027-09-01 - 2028-08-31): Quantities and services mirror the base period, with headstone cleaning specified in EA instead of MO.
• Option Period 2 (2028-09-01 - 2029-08-31): Quantities and services mirror the base period, with headstone cleaning specified in EA instead of MO.
• All line items are designated as Indefinite Quantity (IQ) with a Fixed-Firm Price (FFP) contract type.
• Proposed Unit Prices and Extended Proposed Prices are listed as 0.0 USD, indicating that bidders must fill in their proposed pricing.

This pricing sheet is critical for bidders to understand the scope and estimated quantities of work for both the base period and potential option periods. Bidders must use this document to formulate and submit their price proposals, ensuring all line items and services are accounted for according to the specified units of measure and performance periods.

Other / Unclassified

This document outlines the "Dignity Clause" which specifies mandatory conduct and handling procedures for contractor personnel working within national cemeteries. It emphasizes the need for special care, reverence, and dignity when performing any actions on cemetery grounds, acknowledging them as final resting places.

• Respect for Gravesites: Contractors must not walk, stand, lean, sit, jump on, or drive over headstones or markers. Tools, equipment, or other items must not be placed or leaned on headstones or markers.
• Damage Prevention: Extreme care must be taken to avoid scratching or damaging markers. Contractors are responsible for replacing any damaged headstones or markers and restoring damaged turf.
• Handling of Remains: If any activity results in the exposure or damage to remains, containers for remains (caskets, urns), or outer burial containers, the contractor must immediately contact the COR, Director/Assistant Director, or Contracting Officer (CO).
• Guidance and Compliance: Any doubts regarding proper procedures must be brought to the attention of the COR, Director/Assistant Director, or CO. While these individuals can provide guidance on the dignity clause, only the CO can authorize changes to contract terms.
• Employee Training and Sign-off: Contractors are required to discuss this guidance with all employees and subcontractors. Each employee must sign a statement of compliance and deliver it to the COR before work can commence.

This clause imposes specific operational constraints and responsibilities on contractors working in national cemeteries. Bidders must understand these requirements to assess their ability to comply and to factor any associated costs or procedural changes into their proposals. Failure to comply can result in responsibility for replacement costs and potential contractual issues.