Houston Tree Maintenance

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding solicitation 36C78626Q50180 0001. The offer due date has been extended to May 19, 2026, at 11:00 AM due to the late posting of these answers.

• Limb Removal Flexibility: While branches/tree material 3 1/2" in diameter or larger must be lowered using ropes, there may be flexibility for smaller limbs in areas not near gravesites or headstones, provided they do not damage turf.
• Equipment Operation on Turf: Contractors must "board-in" and "board-out" heavy equipment over turf using plywood or mud tracks to prevent damage. Protection boards must be removed daily. Operation of trucks, tractors, and other heavy equipment on turf requires written authorization from the COR.
• Chipping Trees Near Veterans Memorial: Throwing limbs over the fence for chipping from the main street side is not permitted as it is city property. This raises concerns for safety, traffic, and adjacent property use.
• Avant Loader Operation: Operation of an Avant (small four-wheel loader) on sidewalks and driveways is at the station's discretion and must not impede cemetery operations. Confirmation is needed that the equipment will not damage hardscape surfaces and consideration of load limits and turning radius.
• Parking Dump Trucks/Chippers: Parking dump trucks and wood chippers on driveways is at the station's discretion, provided they do not block access. Staff will help designate acceptable areas.

The offer due date has been extended to May 19, 2026, at 11:00 AM.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Products and Commercial Services, specifically a Request for Proposal (RFP). It is issued by the National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

While the specific services or products are not detailed in this form, it serves as the primary document for submitting an offer. It references FAR clauses 52.212-1, 52.212-3, and 52.212-4, indicating compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations for commercial items.

• Solicitation Number: 36C78626Q50180 0001

• Solicitation Issue Date: 05/01/2026

• Offer Due Date: 05/18/2026 at 11:00 AM

• NAICS Code: 561730 (Size Standard: 9.5 million)

• Delivery Location: Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77038

• Payment Address: Tungsten Network (http://www.tungsten-network.com/customer-campaigns/veterans-affairs/)

• Offerors must complete blocks 12, 17, 23, and 30.

• The solicitation is set aside for Small Business.

• Offers are requested under the RFP method.

• The acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• This is a standard form (SF 1449) for soliciting offers and awarding contracts for commercial products and services.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for tree maintenance services, specifically tree pruning and removal, at the Houston National Cemetery. The contract will be firm-fixed-price and awarded on a one-time basis.

• Tree removal (3 large trees)

• Routine pruning (64 large trees)

• Deadwood pruning 1 (1 large tree)

• Deadwood pruning 2 (50 large trees)

• Stump removal and disposal of resulting waste and debris.

• Services must be performed by a "Certified Arborist" with at least three years of experience.

• Work must comply with "Best Management Practices: Tree Pruning (2018 ISA or latest edition)" and "ANSI A300 (Part 1) -2017 or latest edition: Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices, Pruning."

• All debris must be disposed of at a licensed off-site landfill or recycling center.

• Period of Performance: From award of contract/notice to proceed until accepted completion, not to exceed sixty (60) calendar days.

• Offer Due Date: 05/18/2026, 11:00 AM.

• Site Visit: Scheduled for 05/07/2026 at 10:00 AM at the Houston National Cemetery.

• Vendor Questions: Must be submitted via email to david.hester@va.gov by 05/08/2026, 9:00 AM CT. Answers will be provided via amendment.

• Quotes must be submitted by the closing date and time; late quotes will not be accepted.

• Evaluation Factors: Technical Approach and Understanding of the Work, Past Performance, and Price. Award will be made to the responsible offeror with the lowest price, whose quote is found to be reasonable and technically acceptable.

• The solicitation is set aside for Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) at 100%.

• Vendors must be actively registered in SAM.gov at the time of quote submission and award.

• Attachments include a Tree Worksheet, CLIN Sheet, and Site Plan.

• Offerors must complete and sign clause 852.219-75 on page 55, or the offer will be considered unresponsive.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a map of the Houston National Cemetery, indicating various sections, roads, shelters, and points of interest. It appears to be used for navigation and identification of burial locations within the cemetery.

• Labeled sections (e.g., A, B, C, D, E, F, G, G1, G2, G3, G4, H, I, J, K, K1, K2, L, M1, M2, N1, N2, N3, N5, O, P, Q, R, R1, R2, S1, S2, S3, T, T1, U, U1, U2, V, V1, W, W1, X, X1, Y, Y1, Z, 1, 2, 10, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 22, 23, C-1 through C-14, C-20 through C-23).
• Roads and pathways (e.g., Aldine Western Rd, Veterans Memorial Dr, Military Dr, Lakeside Dr, Memorial Dr, Patriot Dr, Pecan Dr, Oak St, Pine St, Woodlawn St).
• Designated areas (e.g., Shelters A, B, C, D; Public Information Center - P.I.C.; Admin. Bldg; Restrooms; Maintenance Area; Ossuary).
• Specific burial designations (e.g., C-15 thru 19, MW-1 thru 3).
• North arrow and date "FEB 2025".

This map is likely provided as an attachment to a solicitation or SOW/PWS related to cemetery maintenance, groundskeeping, or construction. Bidders may need to use this map to understand the scope of work, identify specific areas for service, or plan logistics for accessing different parts of the cemetery. It helps in visualizing the physical layout and operational areas relevant to the opportunity.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "TreeMaintWorksheet FY26 Houston FINAL.xlsx", is an Excel spreadsheet detailing specific tree maintenance tasks required for Fiscal Year 2026 in Houston. It serves as a detailed breakdown of individual trees, their locations, species, dimensions, and the required maintenance actions, linked to specific CLINs (Contract Line Item Numbers).

• Individual Tree Identification: Each tree is assigned a unique number.
• Location: Specific section and location within the area are provided.
• Tree Species and Dimensions: Includes species, Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) in inches, and estimated height in feet.
• Maintenance Task: Describes the required action (e.g., Routine Pruning, Deadwood Pruning, Removal).
• CLIN: Assigns the task to a specific Contract Line Item Number.
• Notes: Provides additional details, such as reasons for removal (e.g., 'Dead') or specific pruning objectives ('Structural correction to balance canopy weight').

This worksheet is crucial for bidders to understand the specific scope of work related to tree maintenance. It provides granular detail on the quantity, type, and location of trees requiring attention, enabling accurate cost estimation and resource planning for proposals. Bidders should carefully review the CLINs associated with each task to ensure proper pricing and contract alignment.