Solicitation
Camp Nelson National Cemetery, KY 833CM3030 – Correct FCA Deficiencies
Department of Veterans Affairs
AI summaryThe VA National Cemetery Administration wants a certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business to act as general contractor on a construction project at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The job fixes a long list of facility deficiencies (entrance, flagpole, retention pond, maintenance yard buildings, spoils area, cemetery expansion) and includes three priced add-on alternates. The government estimates the construction at $20 million to $30 million, and offers are due November 13, 2026 (an amendment moved it to Dec 7, 2026, 9:00 AM EST). More in the summary
A newer version of this notice was posted Nov 10, 2026. It moves the due date from Oct 15, 2026 to Dec 7, 2026, which is the date shown on this page. See the latest version.
AI summary Beta
Summary of the version posted Oct 8, 2026. The notice was amended Nov 10, 2026. The due date moved from Nov 13, 2026 to Dec 7, 2026. Check what else changed on SAM.gov. This summary may miss requirements: 17 of 29 attachments weren't read (S02 Fire Alarm Panel.pdf, S02 12 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 1_addendum01.pdf and 15 more). Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
The VA National Cemetery Administration wants a certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business to act as general contractor on a construction project at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The job fixes a long list of facility deficiencies (entrance, flagpole, retention pond, maintenance yard buildings, spoils area, cemetery expansion) and includes three priced add-on alternates. The government estimates the construction at $20 million to $30 million, and offers are due November 13, 2026 (passed).
Who can bid (7)
- Certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business (total SDVOSB set-aside)
- Comply with the limitations on subcontracting rules and sign the VA certificate of compliance (the percentage limits are in the solicitation clauses, not read here)
- Prime contractor (or joint venture) experience on recent, relevant projects of $9,000,000 or more; subcontractor experience does not count
Show all 7Show fewer
- Joint ventures: the SDVOSB must be managing venturer, own at least 51%, and perform at least 40% of the work
- Key staff: Project Executive, Project Manager and Construction Superintendent each need 10 years of similar experience; executive and manager need a related bachelor's degree; superintendent needs OSHA 30-hour training within five years
- Bid guarantee with the offer
- All contractor and subcontractor employees must have OSHA 10-hour construction safety training, and an OSHA competent person must be on site
How to submit: Email to the contracting officer, Clarelle Sylvain (Clarelle.sylvain@va.gov), as two separate PDF files. No hard copies or faxes., due November 13, 2026 at 9:00 am Eastern (extended by Amendment 0003; the original due date was October 15, 2026). What to include is under Full summary below. Check the solicitation's instructions on SAM.gov.
Things to watch (9)
- Serious: Only certified SDVOSBs can bid. This is set aside for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses certified by SBA (VetCert); others can't bid as the prime.
- Serious: Large project for a small firm. At an estimated $20-30 million, this needs strong bonding capacity, cash flow and a track record of projects at or above $9 million as the prime.
- Serious: Only prime experience counts. Experience as a subcontractor or as key personnel is not counted, so a firm without comparable prime projects will score poorly on the most important factor.
Show all 9Show fewer
- Worth checking: Price realism check. A price judged too low can be rated unacceptable, so you cannot win by underbidding.
- Worth checking: Bid guarantee and bonds. A bid guarantee is due with the offer and the contract includes bond clauses, which tie up credit and require a surety.
- Worth checking: Daily liquidated damages. Finishing late costs $1,375 for every calendar day of delay.
- Worth checking: Hazardous materials and historic work. Specs include asbestos abatement and lead-based paint removal plus historic wall and building preservation, which need specialized subs and add risk.
- Worth checking: Messy solicitation documents. Amendments admit typos (bridge construction, drawing books, missing RFI form), drawings were initially missing, and the main solicitation file is labeled a draft, so double-check you have the final package.
- Minor: Short time to prepare a full bid. The package has about 166 drawing sheets and a large spec book, and the site visit and question deadline have already passed.
Read from the notice and 12 attachments. 17 of 29 not read. Show which files.
- S06_36C78626R0058 Amend. 0003.pdf (read)
- S02 Amendement 36C78626R0058 0002.pdf (read)
- S02 Amendment 36C78626R0058 0001.pdf (read)
- S02 Camp Nelson Sol 36C78626R0058 draft 9-14-2026.pdf (read)
- S02 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD SPECIFICATIONS.pdf (read)
- S02 amendment 2.pdf (read)
- S02 Liquidated Damages 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections CONS.pdf (read)
- P07 Jessamine Camp Nelson Highway.pdf (read)
- S02_Price Proposal Breakdown.docx (read)
- P07 Jessamine Camp Nelson Heavy.pdf (read)
- P07 Jessamine Camp Nelson Building.pdf (read)
- S02_Attachment - Project Sample Template.docx (read)
- S02 Fire Alarm Panel.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02 12 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 1_addendum01.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02 11 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 2_05212026 1.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S09 09 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 1_05212026 1.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02 08 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 1_05212026 1.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02 06 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 1_05212026 1.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02 05 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 1_05212026 1.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02 07 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 1_05212026 1.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02 10 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 1_05212026 1.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02 01 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 1_05212026 1.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02 03 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 1_05212026 1.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02 04 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 1_05212026 1 (1).pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02 02 from 833CM3030_CNNC FCA Corrections_CONS_BD DRAWINGS_VOL 1_05212026 1.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02_Attachment - Standard Form 1413.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02_Attachment - DOL Payroll Form.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02_Attachment - Past Performance Questionnaire.docx: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- S02_Attachment - Davis-Bacon Act Poster.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
Full summary
What they want
- Base job: correct Facility Condition Assessment deficiencies throughout the cemetery, including main entrance, flagpole, retention pond, maintenance yard facilities, spoils area and expansion areas
- Provide temporary trailers for staff and public restrooms during the work
- Renovate several existing buildings (public restroom and wash bay, maintenance garages, equipment storage, historic brick stable), including demolition, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, fire alarm, security and telecom work
- Alternate 1: restore the historic cemetery wall (repair or replace capstones, repoint masonry with lime mortar, fix structural issues)
- Alternate 2: demolish and build a new roughly 1,200 square foot, three-bay covered storage building
- Alternate 3: replace the Section C-C identification layer (remove topsoil, fill and hardened layer, expose crypt lids, rebuild backfill, topsoil, turf and irrigation)
- Paving, grading, storm water, utilities, irrigation, landscaping, signage and hazardous material abatement shown on the drawings
- Work only during normal hours (8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, except federal holidays) and restore anything damaged
- Contract type
- Fixed-price construction: lump-sum base job plus three priced bid alternates (competed as a negotiated best-value tradeoff)
- Period of performance
- Not clearly stated in the text provided. The SF 1442 form text appears to show start within 10 calendar days and completion within 360 calendar days of award, but the form text is jumbled. Late completion costs $1,375 per calendar day in liquidated damages.
- Place of performance
- Camp Nelson National Cemetery, 6980 Danville Road, Nicholasville, Kentucky 40356
- Estimated value
- Construction magnitude estimated between $20,000,000 and $30,000,000
- Contract vehicle
- None. Total set-aside for certified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (NAICS 237990, size standard $45,000,000).
- How they'll choose
- Best-value tradeoff (FAR 15.103-1). Non-price factors are listed in descending order of importance and together are significantly more important than price. Price is checked for both realism and reasonableness.
- Offers due
- November 13, 2026 at 9:00 am Eastern (extended by Amendment 0003; the original due date was October 15, 2026) (from the version posted Oct 8, 2026; amended since)
- How to submit
- Email to the contracting officer, Clarelle Sylvain (Clarelle.sylvain@va.gov), as two separate PDF files. No hard copies or faxes.
- Page limits
- Volume I (technical) is one PDF of no more than 40 pages and under 8 MB: Factor 1 experience max 8 pages, Factor 3 technical max 10 pages (4-page narrative, 2-page schedule, 4-page management qualifications). Volume II (price) is one PDF under 8 MB.
What they'll judge offers on
- Factor 1 - Prime Contractor Experience (including joint ventures): recent (within 10 years) and relevant prime projects of $9,000,000 or more
- Factor 2 - Past Performance (CPARS or Past Performance Questionnaires)
- Factor 3 - Technical (approach, schedule, key personnel, quality control, subcontractor management)
- Factor 4 - Price (realism and reasonableness)
What to include when you submit
- Do not put any price information in Volume I; Volumes I and II are evaluated separately
- Both volumes must show company name, UEI, business address and solicitation number; Volume I also needs a one-page title page
- Factor 1: use the Project Sample Template for up to four recent, relevant projects you performed as prime or joint venture
- Factor 2: submit CPARS reports, or completed Past Performance Questionnaires if no CPARS exist, for each project in Factor 1
- Volume II: signed SF 1442, acknowledgment of all amendments, completed price schedule, Price Proposal Breakdown by division, and bid guarantee (FAR 52.228-1)
- Sign and include the VAAR 852.219-75 Limitations on Subcontracting certificate of compliance
- Include responses to FAR provisions 52.209-7(b), 52.209-12(b), 52.209-13(b), 52.219-1(c) and 52.229-11(d)
- Joint ventures must include a certification of compliance with JV standards at submission
- Questions were due September 30, 2026 and the site visit was held September 25, 2026 (registration was not required)
Not in the notice text
- The drawings (about 13 large PDF files) were not read, so exact quantities and scope details are not known
- Fire alarm panel photo and several attachments (SF 1413, payroll form, past performance questionnaire) were not read
- The middle of the main solicitation (other Section C text, Section F details, clauses including the limitations on subcontracting percentages) was cut off
- Exact performance period is unclear because the SF 1442 form text is jumbled
- Which bid alternates will actually be awarded and how they factor into the evaluated price
- Whether performance and payment bonds are required after award, and the bond amounts
- Which of the three Davis-Bacon wage determinations (highway, heavy or building) applies to which part of the work
Eligibility and how to respond
- Only service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) certified through SBA's VetCert can bid as the prime contractor. Not certified through VetCert yet? Apply on VetCert (SBA), or start with the SDVOSB guide. More open service-disabled veteran-owned set-asides under NAICS 237990
- How to submit, from the AI summary: Email to the contracting officer, Clarelle Sylvain (Clarelle.sylvain@va.gov), as two separate PDF files. No hard copies or faxes. Check it in the notice before you send anything.
- Construction contracts over $2,000 pay at least the local Davis-Bacon wage rates, from the wage determination in the solicitation. Price your labor from it: How to price a government contract, and how Davis-Bacon differs from the Service Contract Act.
Notice details
- Posted
- Sep 22, 2026
- Notice type
- Solicitation
- Office
- National Cemetery Admin (36C786), Quantico, VA
- Product/service code
- Y1PZ · Construction of Other Non-Building Facilities
- Business type
- Construction & renovation (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 237990)
- Versions
6 versions have been posted, newest first.
- Nov 10, 2026 · AmendmentDue Dec 7, 2026 (changed)
- Oct 8, 2026 · AmendmentDue Nov 13, 2026 (changed)
- Sep 22, 2026 · AmendmentDue Oct 15, 2026
- Sep 22, 2026 · Amendment 0004 (this version)Due Oct 15, 2026
- Sep 17, 2026 · AmendmentDue Oct 15, 2026
- Sep 14, 2026 · SolicitationDue Oct 15, 2026
- Attachments
Past awards and competition
Who has won work like this before, the likely incumbent, and what similar contracts paid, from USAspending.gov.
Before you respond
- How to respond to a solicitation (8 steps)
- How to read a government solicitation
- How to price a government contract
- Open SDVOSB set-aside contracts
Terms on this notice: Solicitation, SDVOSB (service-disabled veteran-owned small business), Set-aside
Full notice text from SAM.gov
Project Title: CAMP NELSON NATIONAL CEMETERY, KY Project Location: Camp Nelson National Cemetery, 6980 Danville Road, Nicholasville, Kentucky 40356. NAICS code 237990 is applicable for this procurement with the small business size standard of $45,000,000. The magnitud of construction for this project is estimated between $10,000,000.00 and $20,000,000.00. NOTICE OF SERVICE-DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS (SDVOSB) SET-ASIDE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 109-461 Contractor is to provide all construction services necessary to complete this project in accordance with the attached statement of work, construction drawings, construction specifications, and all other applicable supporting documents. There will be an organized site visit conducted on September 25, 2026, at 10:00 EST. Attendees will meet at the Camp Nelson National Cemetery Administration Building located at 6980 Danville Road, Nicholasville, KY 40356 11/10/2026 - Amendment 0004 published extending hour and date offerors are due. See attached amendment for details and all associated attachement to the Amendment.
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