Professional Cemetery Staff Services

The Vendor is required to provide professional cemetery staff services, ensuring dignified and respectful handling of all headstone setting, casket burial, cremation burial, and grounds keeping activities.
- Headstone setting
•    Headstones shall be government-furnished (marble, granite, or bronze) or privately purchased, as provided by the national cemetery administration (NCA) or families, per VA form 40-1330. 
•    Headstones shall be set on a stable, level gravel base to prevent settling or tilting, per NCA specifications (e.g., upright headstones: 42” x 13” x 4” for single graves; flat markers: 24” x 12” x 4” for casket burials, 12” x 18” x 3” for cremation burials). 
•    Headstones shall be aligned with existing markers in the burial section, maintaining a uniform grid layout (e.g., 5’ x 10’ for casket graves, 3’ x 3’ for cremation graves). 
•    Clean headstone post-installation to remove debris or marks. 
•    The setting of headstones must be completed by at least 2 staff members as headstones weigh 249lbs each.
- Casket burial
•    Graves shall be excavated to a minimum depth of 5 feet (or per local regulations, if deeper), with dimensions of approximately 8’ x 3’ x 5’ to accommodate a standard casket and vault/liner. 
•    Concrete vaults or grave liners are required per state not-for-profit corporation law § 1510(e), unless waived for religious reasons, in which case a refilling fee may apply. 
•    Burial services shall include coordination with funeral directors and next of kin for committal services at the cemetery’s committal shelter. 
•    Post-burial, graves shall be backfilled, compacted, and leveled to prevent settling, with temporary markers placed until permanent headstones are installed. 
•    Excavate grave using backhoes or mini excavators.
•    After burials, area is backfilled, compacted and leveled. 
•    New sod is then laid over the prepared area to create a seamless, uniform, clean appearance with the surrounding lawn.
- Cremation burial
•    In-ground cremation burials shall be excavated to a depth of 2 feet, with dimensions of approximately 3’ x 3’ x 2’. 
•    Cremation burials may occur in columbarium niches (if available) or in-ground sites, with bronze or granite markers (12” x 18” x 3” for in-ground; 5½” x 8½” for niche). 
•    Burial services shall include coordination with funeral directors and next of kin for committal services. 
•    Post-burial, sites shall be backfilled, compacted, and leveled, with temporary markers placed until permanent markers are installed. 
•    Excavate in-ground site or prepare columbarium niche. 
•    After burials, area is backfilled, compacted and leveled. 
•    New sod is then laid over the prepared area to create a seamless, uniform, clean appearance with the surrounding lawn. 
•    Place urn and coordinate committal service.
- Grounds keeping
•    Mowing and trimming around headstones, markers, and trees to maintain a neat appearance. 
•    Snow removal of sidewalks, shelter, and small parking lot.