Cemetery Grounds Maintenance Support Services

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a pre-solicitation notice for Cemetery Grounds Maintenance Support Services at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland. The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) is seeking proposals for these services.

Services include full maintenance of the cemetery and surrounding grounds. Specific tasks include:

• Landscaping

• Tree trimming and removal

• Weed control

• Fertilization

• Cleaning of headstones

• Maintaining pathways, parking areas, fencing, and site features

• Trash removal

• Excavation for interments

• Mowing, aeration, overseeding

• Headstone alignment and installation

• Overall grounds beautification

• Type: Firm Fixed Price

• Duration: 5 years

• Proposals will be evaluated by ACC-APG.

• This acquisition will comply with FAR Part 12, FAR Part 15, and FAR Part 19.

• The solicitation is expected to be posted on or about May 27th, 2026, on SAM.gov.

• Proposals will be requested through the solicitation module of the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE).

• This is a 100% Competitive small business set-aside per FAR Part 19.

• NAICS Code: 561730 Landscaping

• Size Standard: $9.5 Million

• Interested vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to contract award.

• Interested vendors must be registered for PIEE.

• Attachments include a Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Quality Assurance and Surveillance Plan (QASP).

• Written inquiries should be directed to Mrs. Amy M. Bowen (amy.m.bowen.civ@army.mil) or Ms. Samantha Hayes (samantha.c.hayes.civ@army.mil). No telephone inquiries will be answered.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for Cemetery Operations at the U.S. Army Garrison at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland. The objective is to provide non-personal services for cemetery grounds maintenance and operations.

• General Grounds Maintenance: Includes mowing approximately 8 acres of turf on a 7-day cycle, trimming headstones and adjacent areas, sidewalk, fence, and curb lines, and collecting/removing trash and debris.

• Seasonal Tasks: Includes weekly leaf cleanup from October 15th to December 30th (and potentially a follow-up in March), and bi-annual headstone cleaning using an eco-friendly solution.

• Specialized Services: Includes fertilizer and lime treatment based on soil analysis, biannual herbicide treatment for weeds, overseeding with Creeping Red turf grass seed (August 15 – October 15), and aeration after Memorial Day.

• Headstone Maintenance: Includes bi-annual cleaning and quarterly checks for height and plumb of 415 headstones.

• Interment Services: Includes casketed and cremation interments, involving grave probing, old headstone removal/destruction, vault installation, and final landscaping.

• Grounds Beautification: Encompasses fence repair, planting, mulching, flower bed establishment, tree removal, stump grinding, and sunken grave repair.

• Mowing: 100% completion with 0 defects per cycle.

• Incidentals: 100% completion with 0 defects per occurrence.

• Performance will be evaluated IAW the Government's Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP).

• Place of Performance: Locations listed in Technical Exhibit (TE-001).

• Hours of Operation: Government regular hours are 0700-1630, excluding Federal holidays. Contractor must maintain workforce for uninterrupted performance.

• Non-Personal Services: Contractor personnel are not subject to Government supervision or control.

• Transition: A 60-day transition period is required, with a 30-day phase-out for incumbent contractors.

• Personnel: Key personnel, including a Project Manager with a baccalaureate degree and 5 years of experience, are required. PM must have a NACI clearance and be available 24/7/365.

• Security: Compliance with installation security policies, PIV requirements, and specific training (iWATCH, AT Level 1, OPSEC) is mandatory.

• Safety: Compliance with OSHA standards and Army Safety Program (AR 385-10) is required. A Safety Plan must be submitted.

• Environmental: Compliance with Federal, State, and Local environmental laws. Use of recycled/recovered products is required where feasible. A Spill Plan is necessary.

• Contingency Plans: Plans for mobilization, disaster, and labor disputes are required.

• Pesticide Use: Only state-permitted pesticides may be used, with annual reporting on active ingredient usage.

• Contract Administration: The Contracting Officer (KO) is the sole authority for changes. A Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) will be appointed.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for Cemetery Grounds Maintenance services at U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG). It outlines the government's procedures for evaluating contractor performance against the requirements specified in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• Purpose: To ensure contract standards are achieved by monitoring contractor performance for each listed performance objective.
• Government Roles: Defines the responsibilities of the Contracting Officer (KO), Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), and Technical Monitor (TM) in overseeing contractor performance.
• Surveillance Methods: Details how the government will monitor performance, including:
  • Customer Feedback (formal surveys or complaints)
  • Periodic Inspections (as specified in task orders)
  • Observation of Performance (verifying adherence to schedule, safety, and the contractor's Quality Control Plan).
• Performance Requirements Summary (PRS): Identifies key areas to be monitored, with detailed metrics and acceptable quality levels (AQLs) found in Attachment I.
• Ratings: Defines performance evaluation levels: Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, and Unsatisfactory.
• Remedies for Failure: Outlines potential consequences for non-performance, including notifications (cure notices, show cause notices), payment deductions (as detailed in Attachment I), and termination for default.
• Attachments: Includes the Required Performance Metrics (RPM) Table, Quality Assurance Monitoring Form, and a Customer Complaint Investigation Form.

This QASP provides insight into how the government will measure and evaluate the contractor's performance. Bidders should review the performance standards, acceptable quality levels, and surveillance methods to understand the expected quality of service and the potential impact of performance shortfalls on contract payments and continuation. It highlights the importance of the contractor's own Quality Control Plan (QCP) in meeting these government-defined standards.