What this opportunity is
The Department of the Interior, National Park Service is seeking small businesses to provide hazardous tree removal and pruning services at Wolf Trap National Park in Vienna, VA, under NAICS code 561730. This is a total small business set-aside, and interested contractors must be registered in SAM. The solicitation follows simplified procedures and requires compliance with specific technical acceptability criteria. Quotes are due by June 24, 2026, and all questions must be submitted by June 15, 2026, via email.
Analysis by Mindy, grounded in the SAM.gov notice.
Description
Remove or Prune Hazardous and Diseased Trees at Wolf Trap National Park for the
Performing Arts
Solicitation 140P3026Q0015
Questions and Answers
Question 1: I do not see reference to FAR 52.219-14 on the June 22 solicitation. Can you
please confirm that there are no limitations on subcontracting for this project?
Answer 1: The clause is not required as this solicitation follows procedures under FAR part
12 using simplified procedures (RFO 12.201-1). In accordance with FAR 19.507(e), the
contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, in
solicitations and contracts for requirements expected to exceed the simplified acquisition
threshold.
Question 2: Total evaluated price and award mechanics. Section B requires lump-sum
pricing for CLINS 00010A-C plus hourly rates at quantity 1 HR, and Attachment 4 requires
DBH-banded unit prices’ Attachment 4 instructions further state that WOTR and the
contractor will come to agreement on per-item pricing at the post award pre-work meeting.
Please confirm: (i) how the Government will calculate each offeror’s total evaluated price;
(ii) whether the awarded firm-fixed price is the Section B total; and (iii) whether the per-item
pricing agreed at the pre-work meeting may adjust the contract price if field verified
quantities differ from the estimates in SOW C.3.
Answer 2: Amendment 1 of the solicitation is issued and revised Section B Price Schedule
to calculate each offeror’s total evaluated price using the same number of units. The
awarded firm-fixed price is the total in Section B. Please note Attachment 4 is removed
from this solicitation requirement.
Question 3: Tree work data. Attachment 1 is marked as a sample containing fictional data.
Can the Government provide the estimated DBH ranges and species (or the actual tree
work list) for the approximately 13 removals, 8 selective prunings, 4 prune-or-remove trees,
and 5 stump grindings referenced in SOW C.3?
Answer 3: There is no data provided at this time for the tree work data. It is expected that
the Contracting Officer Representative and/or park staff will identify the actual data along
with the Contractor to confirm the actual work list at the post award pre-work meeting.
-- 1 of 4 --
Question 4: Creek woody-debris removal. SOW C.3 requires removal of accumulated
dead trees and woody debris from the creek behind the maintenance yard, but Attachment
4 contains no corresponding price category. Where should offerors price this work, and
can the Government provide an estimate of the affected creek length or debris volume?
Answer 4: Under CLIN 00010A Labor of Section B Price Schedule. If you require additional
line items, please add it below CLIN 00010C Please note Amendment 1 of the solicitation
is issued and removes Attachment 4.
Question 5: Site visit. Will the Government host a site visit prior to the quote due date? If
so, please provide the date and attendance instructions.
Answer 5: There is no site visit scheduled for this project.
Question 6: Subcontractor qualifications under Factor 1. Where a small business prime
proposes a teaming arrangement, will the Government accept the ISA certification,
licenses, and past project experience of the proposed subcontractor’s personnel –
performing the on-site work under the prime’s management – to satisfy Factor 1 subfactors
(a) and (c)?
Answer 6: The Offeror must meet the technical acceptability requirements as described in
FAR 52.212-2.
Question 7: Bat habitat season. SOW C.6. requires working around the bat habitat season
(June 1 – July 31, 2026), and the period of performance begins June 30, 2026. Please clarify
which activities (e.g. tree felling, pruning, stump grinding) are restricted during that window,
and whether the restriction recurs in June 2027, given the period of performance runs
through June 29, 2027.
Answer 7: As stated under SOW C.6, the Contractor will be required to work around the
season of bat habitats as directed by the park. Please see Section M, Factor 1(b), the
Offeror shall demonstrate the approach how they intend to complete the work described
including the period of performance.
-- 2 of 4 --
Question 8: Hourly-rate lines in Section B. Please confirm whether the hourly rates
requested under CLIN 00010A (ISA Certified Arborist – Supervisor, Tree Climbers, Ground
Workers) are for the Government’s price analysis only and are not separately summed into
the total firm-fixed price.
Answer 8: Amendment 1 of the solicitation is issued for the revision of Section B Price
Schedule. Please see highlighted yellow portion of the Amendment.
Question 9: SCA labor category mapping. Wage Determination 2015-4281 Rev 37 lists
Pruner (11260) and Laborer, Grounds Maintenance (11210) but no tree-climber
occupation. Please confirm which SCA labor categories The Government considers
applicable to tree climbers and the ISA-certified supervisor, or whether conformance under
FAR 52.222-41 (SF-1444) is expected.
Answer 9: Amendment 1 to the solicitation is issued to remove tree climbers in Section B
Price Schedule. The contract requirement can be covered by an existing category of
grounds workers/maintenance and does not require the duties of a tree climber. In
accordance with FAR 52.222-41, the conforming procedures shall be initiated by the
Contractor.
Question 10: Would it be possible to arrange a site visit or are we welcome to visit and look
at the work on our own time?
Answer 10: There is no site visits scheduled for this project. The park is open to the public,
however some areas are restricted and may not have access to all of the work site. At this
time, there are no park staff available to accommodate site visits.
Question 11: What was the previously awarded contract amount for this project?
Answer 11: There are no previously awarded contracts for this requirement. Previous
awards may have slightly different requirements.
Question 12: What is the maximum procurement or budget allocated for this opport…
Source: SAM.gov, as posted. Verify the current solicitation before responding.