S-- LONG ISLAND NATIONAL CEMETERY GROUNDS MAINTENANCE CONTRACT. BASE + 4 OPTION YEARS, IF EXERCISED.

RE: VA786-16-R-0219 Amendment A0001 C.18 52.212-5 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (MAR 2015) on page 50, under (14) (i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644), is hereby unchecked. Questions and Answers: Question 1) Ref: Section A.1. The grounds encompass 350 acres with 275 acres being turf. Base Year CLIN 002 addresses 'Trash and Debris Removal' for 275 acres. Question: Wouldn't it be fair to assume the remaining 75 acres would also need to be litter-free and serviced appropriately? Answer: Includes all cemetery acreage (Mow 275 acres listed in CLIN 002, 103, 203, 303 & 403 is a misprint). Please see below from section A.4.3 of the SOW: (i) Work consists of collecting and removing all loose trash, dead or unsightly flowers, tree limbs, regular floral grave pick-up as well as any other debris within the Long Island National Cemetery. (ii) Trash, debris and leaf removal at Long Island National Cemetery includes all areas within the cemetery property lines and cemetery perimeters bordering Wellwood Ave. to the West, Little East Neck Road to the East and Colonial Springs Road to the North. (iii) Trash & Debris are defined as any item, material or foreign object not permanently attached to or planted within Cemetery grounds and boundaries. Items include, but are not limited to: Twigs and branches that are less than ten (10) inches in diameter. Paper products, cigarette-butts, gum, glass and metal products. Plastic and any other synthetic items. Loose rock and stone over three (3) inches in diameter that are not the apparent result of an interment. Regular Floral pick-up at gravesites. Emptying of all trash receptacles. Question 2) Ref: Section A.1 'Trash and Debris Removal CLIN 002' involves a quantity of '33' - when paired with the Table at Section A.4.2, presumed to be the 33 weeks between 1 April and 30 November. Question: What about such services (to include floral pickup and trash receptacles) between 1 December and 31 March; are they performed by the Government, another contractor? Answer: The service will be performed by the Government. Question 3) Ref: Section A.1 'Tree Pruning / Trimming / Removal, CLIN 004' apparently involves 'approximately 4,000 trees in the cemetery burial section' (as quantified in CLIN 102). Comment: The 300 hours allocated per year to prune, trim, and remove trees is pruning, trimming, removing' is the equivalent of 5 hours 45 minutes per week. Or, while every tree may not need servicing, 300 hours throughout the year is the equivalent of 4 ½ minutes per tree. Question a: Is the 300-hour workload estimate consistent with prior years? Answer: You are confusing the work being requested. CLIN 102 references trimming the grass around the base of the trees when performing headstone trimming operations. This has nothing to do with tree removal or tree pruning. CLIN 105 references the need for tree removal and pruning as requested by the COR for up to 300 hours per year. If more hours are required to perform tree maintenance, then the COR will notify the Contracting Officer and request a modification to the contract. Question b: With the requirement to have our ISA-Certified Arborist direct and guide all tree pruning and removal, unless we have a full-time Arborist on-site, is it feasible to schedule/task our Arborist one-day-a-week. Answer: The tree pruning & removal services will not be a weekly requirement of the contract and the COR will notify the Contractor when there will be a need for these specific services. The Contractor will then insure that the ISA certified arborist is onsite when the requested services are being performed. Question 4) Ref: Section A.4.2 (b) Trimming Schedule. The Table is introduced with "shall commence annually April 1st", however, the dates throughout the Table are April 15th and elsewhere in the SOW, Trash-Debris and Mowing begin April 15th. Question: Does the Trimming Schedule begin April 1st or 15th? Answer: April 15th Question 5) Ref: A.4.3 Trash & Debris Removal, (c)(ii) states 'Dumpster placement areas are not available'. Question a: Are dump truck, garbage-truck placement/parking areas available? Answer: There is a staging area available for all dump truck and vehicles used for trash collection Question b: Are there, or would the Government consider on-site Recycling Bins for the recyclable trash collected (paper, plastic, glass)? Answer: Yes, any on-site recycling will be the responsibility of the contractor and the contractor only. Question 6) Ref: A.4.5 Tree Removal / Stump Grinding ... addresses the requirement to fill stump cavities with topsoil, grade, then seed. Comments: A.3, General Requirements states the 'Contractor shall furnish all … materials …'. The CLIN 004, 300 hours per year doesn't allow for pricing these materials. Question: On average how many trees, and what sizes, are typically removed each year? Answer: This varies from year to year and will need to be discussed with the COR. It is strongly suggest that you perform a site visit to the location Question 7) Ref: B.2 Price/Cost Schedule: On Page 10, the 'Estimated Quantities' paragraph states in reference to the possibility of extreme weather conditions, that "Changes in quantity shall not constitute an equitable price adjustment." The subsequent 'Additional Items' paragraph states: "The Government reserves the right to add line items … " - and - "… will do so via a modification to the contract and SOW after obtaining fair and reasonable pricing from the contractor." Comment: The potential to absorb an increase in mowing more than 33 weeks seems real, with 'just two' additional mowing cycles being a 6% increase. As such, suggest the Government consider folding the 'Changes in Quantity' caveat into the 'Additional Items' method where fair and reasonable pricing can occur. Question: With regard to the potential for increasing or decreasing the number of mowing and trimmings required, will the Government please clarify and distinguish between 'Changes in Quantity' and 'Adding Line Items' with respect for the potential, risk to the contractor, and fair and reasonable pricing? Answer: Changes in quantity - see clause C.8 52.216-21 REQUIREMENTS (OCT 1995) on page 44 of the solicitation. Additional items - this is just in case the Government will need to add additional new line items relating to grounds maintenance that are not currently in the solicitation/future contract. If and when we do so during the contract period, the CO will evaluate the additional item/s price quoted for fair and reasonable price. Question 8) Can the government provide mowing maps or other service maps of the cemetery? Answer: General cemetery map is attached at the end of this document. Question 9) Can the government explain why trimming services of headstones will not be required in the base year of the contract? Answer: The services will be covered under another contract for FY17. When that contract expires, the services will kick in under option year I of this contract. Question 10) How many acres does the fall leaf removal and clean-up encompass? Does it include the 275 acres of turf or 350 acres of land? Answer: The entire cemetery. See below from section A 4.4 of the SOW: Leaf removal at Long Island National Cemetery includes all areas within the cemetery property lines and cemetery perimeters bordering Wellwood Ave. to the West, Little East Neck Road to the East and Colonial Springs Road to the North. Question 11) In reference to CLIN 003, Trash and Debris Removal, can the government provide a quantitative measure of how many regular floral pick-up there are each year or other measurable time frame? Answer: No. The amount of trash collected has never been measured but there is a significate amount of trash during the collection periods. Question 12) In reference to Snow Removal, what is the square footage of sidewalks and walkways? Answer: It is the Contractors responsibility to determine this via site visit. Question 13) Who is the current contractor? Answer: KNIGHTO, LLC, DBA Knight Solutions Question 14) What is the current annual contract price and what line items does that include? Does the total price include all line items exercised fully? Answer: approx. $1,126,783 for FY16/ mowing, trash & debris removal, holiday wreath pick up, snow removal, tree pruning and approx. $ 4,344,184.00 for the contract duration, not including modifications or other changes. Keep in mind that this new requirement has additional line items. Question 15) Can herbicides be used to control vegetation along fence lines in lieu of trimming? Answer: No Question 16) Will the government provides a dumpster for removal of floral and commemorative arrangements? Answer: Yes Question 17) Can an office trailer with electricity be set up in the laydown area? Is there electricity hook-up available? Answer: Due to the limited, space available at LINC there is no room available for a trailer. However, the current contractor does have office space that the cemetery has given them for administrative operations. Question 18) Is there any fertilization or herbicide application on the incumbent contract? If not, are there any fertilization applications made to the cemetery turf areas? Answer: This is performed under a separate contract, not the incumbent contract. Question 19) What are linear footage or other measurable distance between each headstone broken down by area? Answer: Contractor responsibility to determine this Question 20) What is the total acreage of areas with headstones? Answer: Contractor responsibility to determine this via site visit. Question 21) What is the total acreage of areas with flat markers? Answer: Contractor responsibility to determine this via site visit. Question 22) What is the total acreage of areas with no headstones or flat markers? Answer: Contractor responsibility to determine this via site visit. Question 23) How many trash receptacles are on-site and must be emptied as a part of trash and debris removal? Answer: Contractor responsibility to determine this via site visit. Question 24) How often is floral pickup required? Answer: Monthly for dead and unsightly floral arrangements. Question 25) How much space: (acers /square feet) does the Contractor have to store equipment in the laydown area? Answer: The Government would estimate about ½ acre is available. I would suggest doing a site visit to see the space available. Question 26) How much snow will have to accumulate before snow removal services begin? Answer: Snow accumulation is based on the snows ability to impede the movement of customers throughout the cemetery. Once enough has fallen to impede movement it is considered enough to activate the contract and have it removed. This is based on a minimal of 4 inches. It should be noted that during snow fall walkways and areas will need continuous clearing, which will constitute one occurrence per the specifications of the contract. Question 27) Will an onsite storage area be provided for contractor's maintenance equipment/storage container or must the equipment be moved from the cemetery daily? Answer: The contractor shall be responsible for providing his/her own containers and storage facility. An area for storing mowers and equipment will be provided. Question 28) Are there any headstone turf and realignment contracts ongoing or planned during the term of this contract? Answer: Yes there are current renovation projects ongoing and a possibility that additional ones will begin at some point during the course of this contract. Sections under renovation are 2N, 2J, 2T, 2G, 2E & 2H. Question 29) Will the contractor be provided an equipment laydown area for mowers, trucks, trailers dedicated 100% to this contract by the contractor? Answer: Yes an equipment storage area will be provided. Question 30) Will the Government allow the contractor to place a secure office/storage unit, and equipment yard anywhere on the property if it is determined to be required or practical? Answer: This area will be determined by the COR Question 31) Is weed control the responsibility of the contractor? Answer: No, weed control and turf fertilization is performed under a separate contract. Question 32) Are there any employee break areas designated at long Island National Cemetery that the Grounds Contractor employees may use? Answer: This area will be determined by the COR. Question 33) Are electric and Water services available for the contractor? Answer: NO Question 34) Are we seeding or laying sod on the new plots? Answer: NO Question 35) How many trashcans are there in the premises of the cemetery? Answer: This needs to be determined by the contractor. Question 36) Can you provide us with the square footage for the areas we need to perform snow removal? Answer: This needs to be determined by the Contractor. Question 37) Can the contractor have a designated place on premise to place dumpsters? Answer: 5. This must be discussed between the contractor and the COR. Question 38) SOW makes reference to sections of the cemetery (A.4.2 (c) ) for trimming of headstones. Can you provide us with a site plan of the cemetery with marked sections? Answer: A general map is attached at the end of the document. Question 39) Is sodding/seeding of bold patches and/or newly buried gravesites the responsibility of the contractor? Answer: No, this is performed under a separate contract. Question 40) Snow removal is for sidewalks / walkways only? Answer: Snow removal is for sidewalks only. Question 42) Contract states a maximum of 12 snow events. What happen after the 12th snow event? Answer: If more than 12 snow removal events are required, the COR will request that a contract modification be completed for any additional snow removal events.