8730--Sources Sought JBNC Seed (September Delivery)

Update as of 10/15/2026 In accordance with FAR 15.101(c)(3)(i)(ii), (i) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of the RFI or otherwise pay for the information requested; and (ii) Responses will be treated as information only and not as a proposal. The government is currently reviewing and addressing industry’s feedback and will respond accordingly. Based on the feedback, the government will issue an additional Sources Sought Notice in the future. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE SUBMISSION OF PRICING, CAPABILITIES FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, AND OTHER MARKET INFORMATION IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND ALLOWED UNDER THIS RFI IN ACCORDANCE WITH (IAW) FAR 15.201(e). This is a SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. It is neither a solicitation announcement nor a request for proposals or quotes and does not obligate the Government to award a contract. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. Responses to this sources sought must be in writing. The purpose of this sources sought announcement is for market research to make appropriate acquisition decisions and to gain knowledge of potential qualified Service- Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses and Veteran Owned Small Businesses interested and capable of providing the services described below. Documentation on technical expertise must be presented in sufficient detail for the Government to determine that your company possesses the necessary functional area expertise and experience to compete for this acquisition. The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is NAICS Code 111998- All Other Miscellaneous Crop Farming ($2.5 Million) **Responses to this notice shall include Sources Sought number 36C78627Q0003 Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (JBNC) Grass Seed in the subject line of the email no later than 11/11/2026 @ 4:00 pm EST sent to April.Graves@va.gov **The following shall be provided in the capabilities statement or in body of email: Company name Address Point of contact Phone, fax, and email UIE number Type of Large or small business, e.g. Services Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran-owned small business? Must provide a capability statement that addresses the organizations qualifications and ability to perform as a contractor for the work described below. Provide any relevant FSS, NAC, GSA Contract vehicles the company holds if applicable. If you are an FSS GSA/NAC or NASA SEWP contract holder or other federal contract holder, are the items/solutions you are providing information for available on your schedule/contract? Please review salient characteristics/ and provide feedback or suggestions. If none, please reply as N/A. List any available options to meet needs as outlined in the statement of work below Include any resources to support suggested products. Please include any questions about the statement of work below. Please provide sample pricing for market research purposes if available. TURF TYPE TALL FESCUE SEED PROCUREMENT GENERAL INFORMATION This Statement of Work describes the basic objectives and materials needed for Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. INTRODUCTION The Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration (NCA), honors Veterans with a final resting place and lasting memorials that commemorate their service to our nation. There are approximately 156 National Cemeteries in 43 states and Puerto Rico that receive visitors, hold ceremonies, and conduct committal services on an ongoing basis. Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is one (1) of three (3) Missouri -based national cemeteries. It is located in St. Louis, Missouri. The address is 2900 Sheridan Rd., St Louis, MO 63125. BACKGROUND National cemeteries are National Shrines under 38 U.S.C. § 2403(c). The Contractor is responsible for planning and performing the activities described in this Statement of Work in a manner consistent with that standard and shall exercise special care not to interrupt or disrupt cemetery operations. Strict adherence to the specifications described herein based on NCA's National Shrine Commitment, Operational Standards and Measures is mandatory. APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS References to Missouri law in this document identify the applicable statute or regulatory scheme by title only (e.g., "Missouri Fertilizer Law"), without citing specific section or chapter numbers. Contractor shall remain responsible for independently confirming current compliance with the cited law or regulatory scheme. Where a requirement is imposed by VA rather than by Missouri law, it is labeled "VA-imposed" and is included only to the extent necessary to satisfy VA's actual need. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Cemetery Address Acreage Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery 2900 Sheridan Rd., St Louis, MO 63125 Approx +/- 372 acres of turfgrass A. PRODUCT REQUIREMENT CLIN Table as follows: CLIN Number Product - Brand Name or Equivalent Estimated Quantities Delivery Month CLIN 0001 Turf Type Tall Fescue Seed Blend, in not to exceed 50-lb bags. -see full specification below- 1614 ct.- 50lbs bags September Turf Type Tall Fescue Seed (CLIN 0001) Variety standard (A-LIST): The seed blend shall consist of Four (4) seeds [AG1.1] of turf-type tall fescue cultivars, each of which currently appears on the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program's A-LIST of top-performing tall fescue varieties (https://a-listturf.org/a-list/), Use the version of the A-List that has the same effective date as the solicitation s closing date. A four-cultivar blend is required to reduce the risk of widespread turf loss from a single cultivar's susceptibility to a given disease, pest, or drought stress, consistent with standard turfgrass industry blending practice. Each of the four named cultivars must independently meet the germination standard below; a blend average does not satisfy this requirement. No single cultivar shall constitute less than 10% of the blend by weight. Germination: Each of the four cultivars shall test at a minimum of 90% germination, independently verified on the seed label for that cultivar. Purity: The blend shall contain a minimum of 99% pure seed. Other crop seed: 0.00% Noxious weed content: Noxious weed seed content must be label as None meaning no noxious weed seed is present; The seed label shall state "None" for [AG2.1] noxious weed seed, as permitted under the Missouri Seed Law's labeling requirements. Germination test currency: The germination test date on the label shall be no more than 10 months old, measured from the date of sale, offer for sale, or distribution, consistent with the Missouri Seed Law. This measurement point matches the statutory standard; VA is not imposing an additional or stricter requirement. Missouri Seed Permit (eligibility requirement required prior to award): The apparent successful vendor shall submit a copy of its current, valid Missouri Seed Permit issued by the Missouri Department of Agriculture with the solicitation. Labeling: The seed label shall include the name and address of the dealer/labeler, kind or variety (all four cultivars named), lot number, origin, pure seed %, germination %, germination test date (month/year), inert matter %, and weed/noxious weed content, as required under the Missouri Seed Law. The Government will accept the original lawful manufacturer or seed-labeler tag; the Contractor is not required to alter or append information to that tag unless the Contractor itself is the labeler of record. Pre-award documentation: Respondents are not required to hold final production-lot inventory, lot numbers, or lot-specific tags at the time of quote submission. Respondents shall instead identify, at the time of quote, the four proposed A-LIST cultivars and a representative commercial label or specification sheet for each. Final lot-specific tags reflecting the germination test-currency requirement above shall be provided no later than the delivery date. If a proposed cultivar becomes unavailable prior to delivery, the Contractor may substitute another cultivar meeting all standards in this section with COR approval, provided the substitution is documented in writing before delivery. Inspection and acceptance: The Government will rely on the lawful seed label for each delivery lot. Government reserves the right to independently sample the shipment. Where independent sampling occurs, the Government will collect a representative sample from the delivered lot(s), and the Contractor may request a split sample at the time of collection. A lot failing to meet the standards in this section is subject to rejection and replacement; rejection of one production lot does not automatically constitute rejection of the entire shipment unless the failed lot cannot be segregated from the balance of the delivery. B. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Damages caused by Contractor's neglect "Neglect" means the Contractor's failure to exercise reasonable care. The Contractor is responsible for damage to JBNC property or materials, or to third parties, proximately caused by that failure to exercise reasonable care during delivery. C. GENERAL SEED COMPLIANCE This product remains subject to review for compliance with applicable Missouri Department of Agriculture laws, Missouri Seed Law and regulations, as identified in Section A above. D. DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS Notice period Delivery hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. CST, excluding federal holidays, unless an alternate time is coordinated with the COR. The Contracting Officer or authorized COR shall provide the Contractor with written notice of the required delivery no fewer than thirty (30) calendar days before the first business day of a specified delivery week. Anticipated month of September is the planning target only. It does not shorten the 30-calendar-day notice period. If a delivery notice is issued fewer than 30 calendar days before the end of the anticipated delivery month, the resulting delivery week may fall in the following month without that delay constituting a default, corrective action, or adverse past-performance event for either party. Excusable delay / weather If a documented Government closure, National Weather Service warning, state or local road closure, unusually severe weather, unsafe unloading condition, or common-carrier delay beyond the Contractor's reasonable control prevents delivery during the specified window, the parties shall promptly establish a replacement delivery window. The Government will determine, in consultation with the Contractor, whether an unloading condition is unsafe, and will make that determination as promptly as circumstances allow. Coordination The actual delivery day, delivery appointment, driver call-ahead, and any required advance-shipment notice shall be coordinated between the Contractor and the COR. Contractor must coordinate with COR of any potential delivery concerns. (i.e. moving of cemetery property to accommodate delivery) E. PERFORMANCE OF WORK ON CEMETERY GROUNDS Conduct Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is a National Shrine. Personal appearance and conduct shall be professional and unobtrusive. Loud talking, boisterous behavior, or inappropriate language is prohibited. Smoking is not permitted while performing duties at the cemetery. Questions from cemetery visitors shall be politely referred to by cemetery office personnel. The Contractor shall observe traffic, parking, directional signs, and roadway regulations. Vehicles shall not be driven off paved roadways without permission from the Cemetery Director or COR. The Contractor shall leave all delivery areas free of debris and take necessary precautions to protect cemetery grounds, facilities, and property during delivery. Use of Cemetery Facilities (a) The Government shall not be responsible for any loss, damage, or theft of Contractor equipment, supplies, items, or personal property. (b) Government buildings, service shelters and customer public bathrooms are off limits except for necessary work. Performance Ethics The Contractor shall be truthful regarding its services and qualifications and shall not make false promises or false claims in advertising. The Contractor shall be fair, honest, impartial, and act in good faith in dealing with the public, the Government, or any other entity as required by law. Dress Code for Contractor Employees All employees shall wear the Contractor's company uniform, including long- or short-sleeved shirts, long pants, and shoes. T-shirts, tank tops, shorts, and sandals are not acceptable. Caps, if worn, must bear the Contractor's logo or be free of any other message or design. ---END---