Sources Sought - Turf-care Supplies & Application Services at Salisbury National Cemetery

Sources Sought Notice Sources Sought Notice Page 3 of 20 Sources Sought Notice *= Required Field Sources Sought Notice Page 1 of 20 THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/SOURCES SOUGHT IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. The National Cemetery Administration is issuing it as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for turf-care supplies, materials, equipment, labor, and application services required at Salisbury National Cemetery. Additional information regarding the requirement is available in the Statement of Work (SOW), found in the Appendix accompanying this notice. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of acquisition. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this acquisition is 561730 with a size standard of $9.5 Million. There is no solicitation at this time. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. If your organization is capable of providing turf-care supplies, materials, equipment, labor, and application services at Salisbury National Cemetery, please provide the following information: Company Info, Business Size, & Socioeconomic Status - Business name, address, email address, website address, telephone number, SAM Unique Entity ID (UEI), business size and socioeconomic status NAICS code compatibility Confirm whether your company qualifies as a small business under NAICS 561730 Capabilities & Experience - Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability, to include whether you have the proper licensing and certifications required by the state of North Carolina. Self-Performance & Subcontracting - If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated to deliver technical capability, address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements (i.e. detailed percentage breakdowns related to subcontracted work and identify anticipated percentage of self-performed work). Federal Contracting Information Identify any current Federal Supply Schedule, Multiple Award Schedule, NAC, or other federal contracts. Markert Research Pricing (OPTIONAL) Provide general pricing rangers for planning purposes only (non-binding). Pricing will be used for market research purposes only. Feedback Provide any recommended clarifications, additions, or concerns you may have with the draft Statement of Work, if applicable. Interest in Future Solicitation Indicate whether your company intends to submit a quotation if a solicitation is issued. *** Submissions should show clear, compelling and convincing evidence that the services you can provide meet all the salient characteristics.*** The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to: 1) provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated; 2) and determine what socio-economic categories can provide these services. Based on the responses to this Sources Sought Notice/Market Research, this requirement may be set aside for small business categories or procured through full and open competition. The government will not provide feedback or evaluations to companies regarding their submissions in response to this notice. Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by October 13, 2026 at 4:00 pm EST. All responses under this notice must be emailed to Sarah Poole at [email protected] and use the following title in the Subject Line: 36C78626Q0126 Turf Applications for Salisbury National Cemetery. DESCRIPTION Page 20 of 20 Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to [email protected]. Telephone responses shall not be accepted. Responses must be received no later than October 16, 2027, 4:00PM EST. If a solicitation is issued it shall be announced later, and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from the responses to this source sought. Responses to this source sought notice are not a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation. THIS NOTICE IS FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES. APPENDIX 1: Statement of Work STATEMENT OF WORK Description / Specifications / Work Statement A.1 BACKGROUND The Salisbury National Cemetery (annex), located in Salisbury, NC, contains grounds that encompass approximately 52 total acres of land with 34 developed acres of turf to be treated. Cemetery turf grass is comprised of 23 acres of turf type Tall Fescue mixture while a recent expansion area consists of 11 acres of Bermudagrass and two acres of planting beds. There will be two different application schedules for these separate turf grass species. National cemeteries are National Shrines that honors veterans with a final resting place and lasting memorials that commemorate their service to our Nation. The cemeteries receive visitors; hold ceremonies and conduct committal services. Because of their special significance and attention, they receive from the public, strict adherence to contract specifications is essential. Every action by contractor personnel at a national cemetery must be performed with the special care, reverence, dignity, and respect that acknowledges the cemetery as the final resting place that commemorates the service and sacrifice that service members, Veterans and their families made for our Nation. Critically important is the awareness required of the Contractor employees of the remains buried in the grounds where the work is performed. The utmost care must be given to these remains and the headstones and flat grave markers that mark those gravesites and memorialize the service of individuals. A.2 PLACE(S) OF PERFORMANCE The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, materials and supplies necessary to provide turf fertilization and broadleaf / crabgrass weed control services to the following VA National Cemetery: CEMETERY ADDRESS ACREAGE REQUIRED SERVICES SALISBURY NATIONAL CEMETERY (ANNEX) 501 Statesville Boulevard, Salisbury, NC 28144 23 acres to be treated (Tall Fescue) and 11 acres (Bermudagrass) 2 acres of planting beds Turf Fertilization & Herbicide / Applications A.3 TURF APPLICATION SCHEDULE Contractors shall provide turf fertilization, pre/post-emergent crabgrass, post emergent broadleaf weed and post emergent nut sedge control services at the Salisbury National Cemetery in accordance with the following Application Schedule. If any weather occurrences interfere with the recommended schedule dates, the Contractor shall notify the COR and District Agronomist within one (1) business day to get approval for alternate application dates. TURF APPLICATION TURF APPLICATION ANNUALA D DESCRIPTION TALL FESCUE APPLICATION SCHEDULE Soil Sample January Contractor will submit soil samples to the local agricultural extension agency for testing. Samples will be taken from various areas of multiple sections in both the Tall Fescue sections and the Bermudagrass sections. Results of the tests will be provided to the COR by the contractor upon receipt. #1 March Applied in spring 1 to 2 weeks prior to the expected germination of crabgrass (when soil temperatures at 2-inch depth reach 55 degrees, in March) - Pre-emergent control for annual weed grasses such as crabgrass applied in liquid form at the manufacturers recommended label rate, and a liquid post emergent application for control of broadleaf weeds such as clover, dandelion, plantain & spurge. #2 April 15th 20th Pre-emergent control for crabgrass / weed grasses as well as a post emergent control of broadleaf weeds applied in liquid form. #3 May 15th 20th Granular turf fertilization using a fertilizer with a 30-0-10 NPK ratio with a minimum 50% slow release SCU (sulfur coated urea). Fertilizer will be applied to the entire turf acreage at a rate of 4 lbs. of total fertilizer per 1000 sq. ft. #4 July 15th 20th Post emergent treatment of crabgrass, other weed grasses, broadleaf weeds and nut sedge applied in liquid form. #5 August 15th 20th Tall Fescue grass - Post emergent treatment of crabgrass other weed grasses, broadleaf weeds and nut sedge applied in liquid form. #6 August 15th 20th Application of pre-emergent weed control / herbicide to two acres of cemetery planting beds. #7 September 10th 15th Granular turf fertilization using a fertilizer with a 30-5-10 NPK ratio with a minimum 50% slow release SCU (sulfur coated urea). Fertilizer will be applied to the entire turf acreage at a rate of 4 lbs. of total fertilizer per 1000 sq. ft #8 October 1st 10th Post emergent treatment of crabgrass, other weed grasses, broadleaf weeds and nut sedge applied in liquid form. #9 Nov 10th 15th Granular turf fertilization using a fertilizer with a 30-0-10 NPK ratio with a minimum 50% slow release SCU (sulfur coated urea). Fertilizer will be applied to the entire turf acreage at a rate of 4 lbs. of total fertilizer per 1000 sq. ft. BERMUDAGRASS APPLICATION SCHEDULE #10 February 28th March 3rd Bermuda Grass Sections Only - This is a suggested time frame only and contractor will monitor current weather conditions and soil temperatures to ensure that soil temperatures are at the appropriate level for germination of crabgrass seed before application of herbicide. This application will be a pre-emergent control for annual weed grasses focusing mainly on crab grass and will be applied in granular form per manufacturers recommended label rate. The product to be used will be specified for safe use on Bermuda grass. #11 March 20th 25th Application of pre-emergent weed control / herbicide to two acres of cemetery planting beds. #12 April 1st 5th This application will be a granular fertilization using a fertilizer with a 20-0-15 NPK ratio (30% slow release SCU) with 3% Fe, Mn & Mg applied at a rate 1 lb. N per 1,000 Sq. Ft.  #13 May 15th May 20th  This is recommended time frame only - all turf grass must be completely out of dormancy and actively growing before application of herbicide is completed. This application will be a post emergent control application for broadleaf weeds such as dandelion, clover and other broadleaf weeds applied in liquid form at manufacturers recommended labels using an approved herbicide for use on Bermuda grass. Also included will be a granular fertilizer using a fertilizer (recommend Andersons HCU) with an 44-0-0 NPK ratio applied at a rate of 1 lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft  #14 June 28th Jul 15th Bermuda Grass Sections Only (contractor will monitor current temperatures and weather conditions to ensure that application of broadleaf herbicide will not injure the turf grass due to excessive heat above 90 degrees) - This application will be a post emergent control application for broadleaf weeds such as dandelion, clover and other broadleaf weeds applied in liquid form at manufacturers recommended label rate, using an approved herbicide for use on Bermuda turf grass. Also included, there will be a granular fertilizer using a fertilizer with a 20-0-15 NPK ratio (30% slow release SCU) with 3% Fe, Mn & Mg applied at a rate of 1 lb. N per 1,000 sq. ft. #15 Aug 15th 25th This application will be a treatment for post emergent control of crab grasses and other weeds, broadleaf weed and nut sedge.  #16 Sep 20th Oct 5th This application will be a granular turf fertilization using a 0-0-21 NPK ratio (KMag product) applied at a rate of 8 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. OPTIONAL As Needed Grub / Mole Crickets / Fire Ant Control: Contract…