S--Shrine, North Atlantic District: Culpeper National Cemetery

VA786-17-R-0526 Amendment A00001 The following terms are hereby changed in the solicitation: B.2 Price / Cost Schedule the term Add Alternate will be replaced with the words Optional CLIN. Page 84, E.12 additional instructions, number 5 Past Performance Questionnaire - Fill out and return within 2 days of Proposal Package submission is hereby deleted. Past performance questioner are due with solicitation due date. Questions and Answers Question 1: On page 10 the paragraph says: Note #3: Water Availability: If a cemetery water source (fire hydrant) or irrigation system is used by the Contractor to obtain water and water sod, the Contractor shall be responsible to make sure that a water meter is used to measure the amount of water being used. However on page 16 the water usage say it's up to the contractor to provide the water.... A.1.15 AVAILABILITY & USE OF WATER The Contractor is required to provide water and to regularly water the sod (if turf renovation work is approved and added to the project) beginning during installation for a period of sixty (60) days to insure that it has adequately rooted into the soil and maintained in a healthy state. Can you please clarify? Answer: The contractor will be required to provide water to the turf for a period of sixty days regardless of where the water comes from. If the contractor uses a cemetery water source they must meter the usage and pay for the amount used. If there is no cemetery water source then contractor will need to provide their own water via a water truck or other means of conveying water to the sod. Regardless of where water is obtained there is a 60 day period of the need to keep the sod moist and watered to insure proper growth and rooting into the soil bed. Question 2: On page 21: (e) Roadways shall be cleaned with a street sweeper each day as needed to keep the existing roads free from dirt and mud resulting from Contractor operations. Are you asking the contractor to provide a street sweeper, or are you saying the roads just need to be kept clean each day and we will provide some type of cleaning service for that? Answer: Roadways just need to be kept clean on a daily basis, they do not need to be cleaned with a street sweeper. Question 3: Page 23: Is it required that we provide portable toilets for our workers or can we use the cemetery issued restrooms? Answer: Contractor employees may use cemetery bathroom. Question 4: Are we to use the Labor code listed below? 11210 - Laborer, Grounds Maintenance 13.82 Answer: Contractor will need to check with the labor department. Question 5: I see that in the bid requirements that you're requesting Past performance be filled out by our end user and emailed directly to Iris Chen. However in volume IV of the evaluation page 84 says that we need to email them in with our bid. Can you please clarify? Answer: Past performance shall be filled and emailed by the end user directly to Iris Chen by the solicitation due date. Question 6: I wanted to know if there are any union requirements for this project? Also is there a plan holders list and a start date for the work to begin? Answer: The Government has no information about the union. Check local regulations for any union requirements. No plan holders list. Start date is anticipated after award, which is unknown as of now. Question 7: What are the tolerances for raising the headstones? The solicitation states 24-26 , does that mean we can have a 2 variance from one headstone to the next? Answer: Headstones are to be set at 25 inches per the guidelines below as stated in the SOW : i. - - ALL headstones are to be extracted from the socket. ALL sockets are to be re-dug by hand or mechanical means to allow for a 3 perimeter around all sides of the headstone and to a sufficient depth so that a 3" compacted base can be established, allowing the stone to extend out of the ground at a height of 25" (20 for the older/smaller headstones) to the top of the arch on the headstone (Note: In areas where smaller than standard size headstones may occur, Contractor shall coordinate specified measurements and dimensions of required work with COR.) ii. - - Moistened Crushed Limestone Base Material (graded aggregate sizes ranging from crushed fines up to ¼" maximum) will be placed around all sides of the headstones and in the bottom of the socket before being thoroughly tamped to full compaction at each three (3) inch vertical interval, leaving the last 3 inches at the top to have tamped topsoil and grass seed applied. The government will not provide any grass seed, fertilizer, or base material. The Contractor is required to provide these materials. (Note: Moist Class II Road Base may be considered as an alternate. Contractor shall obtain approval from the COR for any substitute base material). iii. - - Straight Rows: Headstones shall be set vertically plumb in all directions, in all cases in a line vertically and laterally, and where possible transversely (coordinate with COR), with headstones of other graves using a top string, a back of headstone string line, and a side of headstone string line. Maximum vertical, lateral, and transverse tolerance of any headstone off the alignment string lines and/or marks shall be 1/8" or less. - All measurements and string line set ups shall be taken from established section layout control points, not from previously set headstones, unless otherwise directed by the COR. In situations whereas there is no monumentation, a top string shall be centered over the arc of the headstone for vertical alignment. The consistency of the row will be used as the medium. At no time will any headstone be reset in a totally new socket unless otherwise directed by the COR. Raised and realigned headstones in all soil and terrain shall be firmly in place so that headstones are rigid with no give or play. iv. - - Irregular Terrain: When sloping and uneven ground conditions exist in burial sections, all headstones and markers will be set at field approved heights and levels through use of multiple keystones, back strings, top strings and side strings to provide a flowing transition through the uneven terrain. Field guidance will be provided by the COR upon the written request from the Contractor. The established field guidance will overrule the height requirements that will be found in other parts of this specification. v. - - In cases where headstone sockets need to be realigned/shifted, and/or re-dug, the headstone sockets (holes) to receive headstones shall be dug by hand and/or mechanical devices to a sufficient depth so that 25 inches of the headstone is extending from the soil level to the top of the arc on the headstone. Contractor shall not dig a headstone socket wider than twelve (12) inches, twenty (20) inches in length, or exceed a depth of 20 inches that may cause the headstone to settle below height requirement. vi. - - The measurements between rows of headstones and headstones within each row may differ from one section to the next, discuss with COR where this is found to occur. These measurements must be adhered to as closely as possible. Some variances may be allowed in order to keep a uniform appearance of headstones being aligned. Headstones will be accurately and precisely reinstalled on the correct gravesites with the utilization of temporary grave plotting maps, existing permanent control markers where available and temporary Contractor installed control markers accurately and precisely installed at the ends of each gravesite row. vii. - - The realign crew is to start on a row of headstones close to the center of the section to be realigned. Headstones are chosen to be "key" stones. These keystones are ones that are visibly in line with the majority of the rest of the headstones in the row, and are as close as possible to the proper measurements for that section of headstones. "Key" stones are to be chosen and utilized at a maximum of every 10th headstone (or more frequently in areas of rolling terrain). These keystones are then aligned by leveling front and back and side-to-side, and raised or lowered to a height of 25 inches above topsoil level. viii. - - At the start of work in each burial section, the first row of reset/realigned headstones in each burial section is to be inspected by COR for appearance, spacing, depth, alignment, plumbness, height, accuracy, and smoothness in grade transition. - No further setting of headstones shall be done until this first row has been inspected and accepted by the COR. It is the Contractors responsibility to notify the COR 24 hours in advance of when each of these inspections will be needed. ix. - - Tape measures and heavy strings or lines must run along the backs, sides, and tops of these keystones. The Contractor shall mark the lines with the proper measurements for the section being aligned. All remaining headstones in the row are then aligned along the strings front to back and side-to-side even with the measured marks on the line. Each headstone is leveled and plumbed front to back and side-to-side keeping the back of the headstone along the string and the side of the headstone along the measured mark. Maximum vertical, lateral, and transverse tolerance of any headstone off the alignment string lines and/or marks shall be 1/8", or less. Each headstone is also raised or lowered as necessary to ensure a uniform measurement of 25 inches above topsoil level. The headstone is then aligned along the string front to back and side-to-side even with the measured mark on the line. The headstone is leveled and plumbed front to back and side-to-side keeping the back of headstone along the string and the side of the headstone along the measured mark. x. - - The alignment of the headstones shall be checked frequently during this process because the tamping may move the headstone out of level or off the mark on the line. This process of raising and realigning is repeated for each row of headstones. Upright headstones in all completed work areas shall be firmly set and anchored in place with no movement from forces subjected by the COR. xi. - - After the headstone has been raised and realigned and the base of the stone tamped, clean topsoil will be placed around the base of the stone covering any holes, depressions or crushed limestone. The soil will then be evenly graded and tamped. Grass seed will then be applied to the top soiled area evenly around the entire headstone. The grass seed mixture will consist of a blend of 100% Turf Type Tall Fescue. A seed accelerator such as Penn Mulch, which is a pelleted seed establishment mulch will also be applied around the entire base of the headstone with the grass seed to help insure a higher rate of grass seed germination. xii. - - Any upright headstones broken or damaged by the Contractor shall be reported to the Cemetery Administrator or COR by close of business each working day in order that the grave can be properly marked. The Contractor shall be responsible for the cost of the headstone replacement. All headstone replacements must be coordinated with the COR. Any grid or sectional monuments disturbed, displaced or broken shall be replaced by the Contractor at his cost. All grid or sectional monuments disturbed, etc., shall be properly reset by a licensed land surveyor at Contractor's expense. Curbs, roads, walks, turf, trees, utilities, etc. existing above and below the ground that are damaged or disturbed by the Contractor during performance of contract work shall be repaired at the expense of the Contractor. Repairs to the above shall be corrected by the Contractor within fourteen (14) workdays, unless otherwise agreed to with the COR. xiii. - - Guaranty: The Contractor shall guaranty all work for a period of three months (90 calendar days) after final inspection and acceptance of the entire project by the Government. Any headstone adjust, realign, reset, and/or backfill workmanship that does not meet the specified requirements (including specified tolerance requirements) at the end of this guaranty period is to be reworked, adjusted, and corrected by the Contractor at no additional cost to the government. Remainder of all other work related to this project is to be warranted for a period of one (1) year after final acceptance by the government. Work performed under the Guaranty shall be corrected within ten (10) workdays from receipt of notification or as directed by the COR. Question 8: Is the sod to be replace in sections 1,2,3,10, and 12 only the sod in between the headstones? How far outside of the headstone area will we be required to replace sod? Answer: Installation of sod if approved will be for the entire burial section. Please reference the SOW which provides estimates square footage for turf renovation for each section - Question 9: Is there a hydrant that we can hookup to for the watering of the sod? Answer : Cemetery does have an available water source. If a cemetery water source (fire hydrant) or irrigation system is used by the Contractor to obtain water and water sod, the Contractor shall be responsible to make sure that a water meter is used to measure the amount of water being used. Based on these meter readings, the Contractor shall reimburse Culpeper National Cemetery for all water costs associated with the performance of this contract based on the current costs that the cemetery pays for its water from the local municipality. Water is not free for the Contractor if obtained from a cemetery water source. If a cemetery water source is not used or available, then the Contractor shall be responsible to provide water to the turf areas in the SOW via truck. Question 10: Will the contractor be responsible for replacing the sod if it is walked on and trampled by cemetery visitors? Answer: No, they will not be responsible for replacement of sod if it is walked on by visitors. - Per SOW: 2 - TURF ESTABLISHMENT PERIOD: The Establishment Period for turf which is sixty (60) days shall begin immediately after the complete sod installation of a section(s) with the approval of the COR or designee. During that period the Contractor shall: § Eradicate all weeds. Fertilize, re-sod, and perform any other operation necessary to promote the growth of uniform, healthy, high quality turf. § Replant areas void of turf 1 ft (one square foot) and larger in area. § Begin mowing when grass is firmly rooted into the soil and the turf growth is 4 inches in height. Turf shall be mowed to and maintained at a height of 3 inches. § Apply water to the sod immediately after installation and regularly until the sod a root into the soil bed and is healthy. § The contractor shall mow the new grass a minimum of three times once the grass reaches a height of 4 . The final height after each cutting is to be 3 . The VA shall not accept the new turf before the three cuttings have been performed. In areas where turf work has been completed, clear the area of all debris. Any areas damaged during establishment operations must be restored to their original condition.