9930--Supply & Inscribe W1 Granite Headstones for MPS

Active

Contract Opportunity

Supply & Inscribe W1 Granite Headstones for MPS
The purpose of this amendment is to address submitted questions and to provide a revised Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Price/Cost Schedule and Statement of Work documents.
The response due date and time is NOT extended and remains on 28 July 2025 at 2:00 p.m. CST.
The Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Price/Cost Schedule and Statement of Work have been revised and are attached separately to this amendment.
The Combined Synopsis/Solicitation has been revised to include but not limited to, add clarifying information regarding sample and remove references to Service Contract Act Wage Determinations, including Attachment D.
The Price/Cost Schedule was revised to correct the title of the sheet within the document to W1.
The Statement of Work has been revised, to include but not limited to, to solidify the requirement delivery of 26 calendar days for normal orders and to add clarifying information regarding assessorial items.
Note: There will not be a SF30 to sign for this amendment. Quoters shall provide a statement of acknowledgement and receipt of any and all amendments. Failure to acknowledge all amendments will result in the Interested Quoter being considered non-responsive and ineligible for award.
Questions and Answers:
Q: In the Statement of Work, 10.0 FOB Destination Procedure and Responsibilities: it lists the basic costs that contractors are normally responsible for on FOB Destination contracts, but on the last line of page 9 it states "Accessorial charges that the contractor could include:" and on the next page lists 4 items that are outside the contractors control. Does this mean that we can include these charges on our invoice? I see on the Price / Cost Schedule there is a pre-filled $2,000 for these items for each year.
A: Assessorial Charges are additional fees imposed by freight companies for services beyond standard shipping. Â For the delivery of the headstones, VA has designated assessorial charges for which vendors can invoice for after receiving written authorization from MPS transportation manager or clerk. Per the note on Attachment A Price/Cost Schedule regarding Assessorial Charges: Quoters shall provide individual pricing for the four (4) listed items under the Description portion of that CLIN. Do not change the unit price. Individual pricing for these items will be evaluated for reasonableness. The unit of measure (1 Lot) and Unit Price ($2000) has been given to promote an even playing field.

Why do you have this contract as a Service Contract instead of a Supply Contract? It is clear by the statement of work that this is classic example of a Supply Contract. 3.0 General: "This contract shall include all labor and materials necessary to furnish upright granite headstones, to each consignee's address" providing a tangible finished product. Unit price: "the unit price is all-inclusive and covers the completed monuments delivered FOB destination." Again an all inclusive tangible finished product. This is much different than for instance an on-site engraving contract where the government is furnishing stones and the contractor is only doing the engraving. That is clearly a service contract. This contract is for an all-inclusive delivered finished product and the core purpose of the contract is for the government and its veterans to receive finished goods. I'm pretty sure this was litigated a few years back and it was determined that these contracts are in fact Supply Contracts.
A: The NAICS used for this requirement is 327991, Cut Stone and Stone Product Manufacturing, and the PSC is 9930, Memorials; Cemeterial and Mortuary Equipment and Supplies. Reference to the Service Contract Act Wage Determinations and Attachment D are removed from the solicitation. The combined synopsis/solicitation document has been revised to reflect this.
Q: In the Statement of Work, 3.1 Performance Period it states, The contractor shall have 26 calendar days to deliver. But on 9.1 Normal Delivery it states, All headstones shall be manufactured and delivered to the consignee within 15 calendar days. Which is it supposed to be? FYI... the U1 and V1 contracts currently have a delivery period of 26 days.
A: Section 9.1 has been revised to 26 calendar days excluding accelerated delivery orders. See revised SOW.

Attachments/Links