Natchez National Cemetery Tree Maintanence

This contract, solicitation number 36C78626Q50176, is a Firm Fixed Price procurement issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration, for tree maintenance services at Natchez National Cemetery in Mississippi. The acquisition is fully set aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), with a NAICS code of 561730 and a size standard of $9.5 million. Vendors must be actively registered in SAM.gov at the time of submission and award; otherwise, their quotes will be rejected as non-responsive. The scope includes performing one-time tree maintenance tasks such as deadwood pruning and removal of one large tree each, defined as exceeding 40 feet in height and 24 inches in diameter at breast height. Work must include stump grinding to a depth of six to eight inches below grade, restoration of the site with weed-free topsoil, and careful lowering of limbs over 3.5 inches in diameter to prevent damage to headstones and structures. All work must comply with industry standards including the 2018 ISA Best Management Practices for Tree Pruning and ANSI A300 (Part 1)-2017 or its latest edition. Performance is limited to the Natchez National Cemetery location with work to be completed under a “lowest price technically acceptable” (LPTA) evaluation method, meaning the Government will award to the responsible offeror with the lowest priced proposal that meets all technical acceptability requirements. Technical acceptability is a pass/fail gate—failure to satisfy any technical criterion eliminates eligibility for award. The contractor must provide all labor, tools, materials, equipment, and necessary certifications including arborist credentials, liability insurance, workers' compensation, permits, and vehicle registration, submitting documentation immediately after award. Payment requests must be submitted electronically via VA’s Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment System or through X12 EDI formats; facsimiles, emails, and scanned documents are prohibited. The contractor is required to adhere to strict professional standards including appropriate dress code, professional appearance of personnel and equipment, and full compliance with OSHA safety regulations. A mandatory site visit is scheduled for June 17, 2026, at the Administration Building on site, with no additional visits permitted. All vendor questions must be submitted via email to david.hester@va.gov by June 19, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. CT,