1_SOW_697DCK-24-R-00441 Vegetation Control at Maui ATCT.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Vegetation Maintenance at Kahului Air Traffic Control Tower

SCOPE

The contractor will furnish all supervision, labor, equipment, materials, supplies, and tools required to control vegetation by pruning shrubs, watering, fertilizing, mowing, or by herbiciding at the Kahului ATCT Facility and by other methods specified in these specifications. Contractor will also furnish all transportation to and from the work site for contractor personnel, equipment, materials, supplies and tools required.

All vehicles, mowing and spray equipment or other machines that equipped with spark plugs will have appropriate radio frequency (RF) suppression devices.

The herbicides used for vegetation control and prevention will be of industrial grade quality as generally used per the landscaping trade. Herbicides will be applied by qualified and trained personnel who are thoroughly familiar with this type of work. Any required pre-treatment will be performed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Application of herbicide by the contractor will be performed under calm weather conditions and with the nozzle or any spray equipment used, adjusted or modified to prevent over-spray.

All refuse, such as fallen trees, pruned tree limbs, shrubbery cuttings, leaves, weeds, as well as grass cuttings, will be removed by the contractor at the end of each workday.

The contractor will also maintain no grass at the following nearby graveled facilities:

OGG RTR, OGG ASR, OGG VOR, and VYI NDB. Herbicides will be used to prevent growth of all vegetation and control weeds.

Table of Contents

1.0 PURPOSE

1.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

2.0 RESERVED

3.0 REQUIREMENTS

3.1 WORK OUTSIDE REGULAR HOURS

3.2 MANAGEMENT

3.2.1 Work Control

3.2.2 Herbicides

3.2.2.1 Control Methods

3.2.2.2 Herbicide use records

3.2.3 Trash, Litter, and Vegatative Debris Collection and Disposal

3.2.4 Contractor’s Superintendent

3.2.5 Uncertified Personnel

3.3 CONTINUITY OF SERVICES

3.4 MAINTENANCE OF KAHULUI AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER

3.4.1 Grass Cutting

3.4.2 Edging

3.4.3 Plant and Shrub Pruning

3.4.4 Tree Pruning

3.4.5 Herbicides

3.4.6 Trash and Litter Collection and Disposal

3.5 MAINTENCE OF OGG RTR, OGG ASR, OGG VOR, AND VYI NDB

3.5.1 Grass cutting and Edging

3.5.2 Access roads

3.5.3 Herbicides

3.8 INDEFINITE QUANTITY WORK ITEMS

3.8.1 Raking

3.8.2 Grassing

3.8.3 Underbrushing

3.8.4 Irrigation

3.8.5 Ditch Cleaning

4.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY AND SERVICE

4.1 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES

4.2 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT

4.3 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED MATERIAL

4.4 AVAILABILITY OF UTILITIES

4.5 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS

5.0 DEFINITIONS

6.0 ATTACHMENTS

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this SOW is to obtain grounds maintenance services at Kahului Air Traffic Control Tower by means of a combination firm fixed-price and indefinite quantity contract.

1.1 General Requirements

The Contractor must furnish all labor, supervision, equipment, and materials necessary to provide grounds maintenance services in accordance with the requirements specified herein. The operations to be performed must include cutting grass, edging, fertilization, collection and disposal of litter and trash, vegetation cutting and removal, under brushing, grassing, sodding, sprigging, erosion control, tree and shrub pruning, tree and stump removal, irrigation, ditch cleaning, and other miscellaneous services as described herein. All operations will be performed pursuant to Executive Orders 13423 and 13514, and the FAA Green Procurement Plan (GPP). As such, the Contractor must use environmentally preferable products and services. These program elements include, but are not limited to: products and services that are energy-efficient, water-efficient, bio based, non-ozone depleting, contain recycled-content, and non-toxic or less-toxic alternatives; diversion of non-hazardous waste and construction and demolition debris from landfills, including composting; alternative fuels use and fuel efficient vehicles and equipment, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. These program elements are described on the Office of the Federal Environment Executive website (http://www.ofee.gov).

2.0 Reserved

3.0 Requirements

3.1 Work Outside Regular Hours

Except as may otherwise be specified, all work must be performed during regular hours. If the Contractor desires to carry on work on Saturday, Sunday, holidays, or outside regular hours, he/she may submit application to the ACO for approval.

3.2 Management

The Contractor must manage the total work effort associated with the grounds maintenance services required herein to assure fully adequate and timely completion of these services.

Included in this function will be a full range of management duties including, but not limited to, planning, scheduling, report preparation, and quality control. The Contractor must provide an adequate staff of personnel with the necessary management expertise to assure the performance of the work in accordance with sound and efficient management practices.

3.2.1 Work Control

The Contractor must implement all necessary work control procedures to ensure timely accomplishment of work requirements, as well as to permit tracking of work in progress.

The Contractor must plan and schedule work to assure labor, equipment, and material are available to complete work requirements within the specified time limits and in conformance with the quality standards established herein. Verbal scheduling and status reports must be provided when requested by the Government Representative.

3.2.2 Herbicides

The Contractor must manage invasive and noxious weeds via the least toxic means available. The Contractor must also use bio-based products (designated BioPreferred by the U.S. Department of Agriculture). The Contractor must not perform regularly scheduled, periodic herbicide applications except in situations where no other approach or technology is available to protect personnel or property of high value. If herbicides are to be used, the application must occur during unoccupied hours and the Contractor must be licensed by the applicable State agency to provide pesticide application in the categories specified in this contract. All work must be under the superintendence of a certified, responsible individual, and in accordance with Federal, State, local laws and requirements. The Contractor must submit Material Safety Data Sheets meeting the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1200(g) and the latest version of Federal Standard No. 313 for all hazardous chemicals to be used.

3.2.2.1 Control Methods

The Contractor must utilize only herbicides registered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Use must be in strict compliance with label directions for the control of the target weeds. Herbicides selected, application rates, and application techniques must have the prior approval of the ACO. Additionally, the Contractor must control pests using integrated pest management principles (http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/ipm.htm).

3.2.2.2 Herbicide Use Records

The Contractor must prepare, submit, and maintain daily records of herbicide usage. This record must be filled out daily as weed control operations are performed, and all entries must be completed within 24 hours of chemical usage.

Completed records must be made available upon request for inspection, and must be forwarded to the ACO with the monthly invoice for each month following the month of operation. Records which are rejected by the ACO due to improper preparation must be resubmitted by the Contractor at no additional cost to the Government.

3.2.3 Trash, Litter, and Vegetative Debris Collection and Disposal The Contractor must collect trash, litter, and vegetative debris (e.g., natural vegetation, such as leaves, pine straw, limbs, and stumps) in all grassed areas, plant and shrub beds, wooded areas, sidewalks, streets, and curbs during maintenance activities and dispose of it in the appropriate waste, recycling, or composting receptacles. All trash, liter, and vegetative debris must be removed off the activity the same day as collected.

3.2.4 Contractor's Superintendent

During the execution of all work involving the handling and/or use of herbicides, the Contractor must give the job his personal supervision or must have on the job a responsible and competent representative with the authority to speak and act for him.

The whereabouts on the activity of the supervisor must be made known to the Government Representative at all times when work is performed.

3.2.5 Uncertified Personnel

Uncertified personnel who apply herbicides must have been employed in weed control for a minimum of 30 days and have received training in:

a. Selection, application, and evaluation of appropriate control procedures.

b. Safe and effective application techniques, and the calibration and use of all equipment required.

c. Handling, storage, and transfer of pesticide materials as required.

d. Reading, interpreting, and following herbicide label instructions.

e. Use and maintenance of all required safety equipment.

f. The consequences of preparing a herbicide to be given or sold to an individual other than an authorized employee of the Contractor or regulatory official.

g. Procedure for handling herbicide spills, including reporting procedures.

h. The security of vehicles and equipment.

3.3 Continuity of Services.

To ensure continuity of essential services, the successful bidder must be prepared to fully commence work on the start date of this contract, and should not assume that Government or previous Contractor employees will be available to guide, direct, or specifically orientate each Contractor employee.

3.4 Maintenance of Kahului Air Traffic Control Tower

The Contractor must provide maintenance services at intervals not to exceed 15 calendar days.

3.4.1 Grass Cutting

All grassed areas must be cut to a uniform height not to exceed 2 inches. The grassed areas outside the fenced perimeter, that are accessible, will be cut to clear a six (6) foot section beginning at the fence line. The grass will be cut from the front fence line to the access road. If any bare ground within the limits of an area becomes vegetated with grass, weeds, or other similar growths through natural spread, i.e., not artificially planted, it must be maintained as part of the basic contract. Prior to cutting, any trash, paper, or other debris that would detract from the finished appearance of the cut or present a safety hazard must be disposed of in the appropriate waste, recycling, and/or composting receptacles. Such debris includes but is not limited to paper, cans, bottles, limbs, pine cones, rocks, and other such objects within the maintenance area, and must include trash, paper, dead leaves, and other debris lodged in shrubs, hedges, fences, and along foundation and other walls. Debris must be disposed of the same day as collected. Grass cutting is to be accomplished free of scalping, rutting, bruising, and uneven and rough cutting. Cutting equipment must have sharp cutting edges which produce a neat, clean, even cut. Use of cutting equipment which is out of adjustment, thereby causing streaks or irregularities, uneven cutting, plowing, or gouging of the soil must not be permitted.

Ground speeds and mower speeds must be synchronized to assure effective cutting action. After cutting, grass must have a uniform height. Grass clippings must not be windrowed or allowed to be deposited in piles or clumps. Grass clippings must be uniformly distributed over the mowed area. Grass areas close or adjacent to buildings, hydrants, parking lots, manholes, fences, trees, hedges, and shrubs are included in mowing requirements, and may require hand mowing. Trimming around trees, shrubs, flower/shrub beds, cultivated areas, poles, walls, valves, and other similar objects must be accomplished to match the height and appearance of the surrounding mowed grass.

Trimming may be accomplished by hand clipping, or by use of "weed eater" type equipment. Trees and shrubs must not be damaged by trimming operations. Grassed areas, trees, or shrubs which are killed or damaged as a result of Contractor's work must be repaired or replaced by the Contractor at no cost to the Government. Trimming operations must be considered a part of grass cutting and must be accomplished concurrently (same day) with grass cutting operations. Grass cutting will not be considered complete until all trimming operations are accomplished. Grass clippings and trimmings must be removed from sidewalks and other paved areas the same day the grass is cut.

3.4.2 Edging

All sidewalks, driveways, street edges, curbs, other paved areas, and shrubbery areas must be edged. All edging must be by mechanical means. The edging operation must include removal of grass and other vegetation which has encroached onto street and other paved surfaces from adjoining grassed areas. Where driveway or street pavement edge is not discernable due to grass encroachment, a straight and even line approximating the edge of pavement must be established and maintained. The edging operation must produce neat, clean lines along the sides of sidewalks and other areas edged, and must be accomplished free of scalping, rutting, bruising, uneven and rough cutting. All vegetation growing in the following areas must be removed during the edging operation:

1. Sidewalk and driveway expansion joints and cracks.

2. Street/driveway curbing expansion joints.

3. Cracks between curbing and street/driveway pavement.

For continued maintenance of vegetation growing in cracks and expansion joints, herbicide treatment may be utilized to reduce the amount of mechanical work. The use of herbicides must not be allowed for the purpose of eliminating or reducing normal mechanical edging along straight paved edges (sidewalks, etc.). Debris generated by edging operations, which falls on or is thrown on sidewalks, on curbs, in gutters, streets, or is thrown on nearby sod, causing an unsightly appearance, must be removed from the site the day of the edging operation and disposed of.

3.4.3 Plant and Shrub Pruning

Shrubs, bushes, hedges and cultivated plants must be kept pruned. All clippings and debris must be removed from the site the same day and disposed of [see Section 3.2.3 for waste management requirements]. Pruning must be accomplished so as to:

1. Remove new growth attaining a manicured presentation per the industry trade.

2. Evenly form and balance the shrub, bush, or plant in order to shape it according to its natural growth habits. "Box" or "circular" shaping is not acceptable, except with hedges. Hedges must be sheared or pruned, as appropriate, to maintain their established shape and appearance.

3. Remove dead, damaged or diseased wood. If the entire shrub should die, remove the entire shrub to 6 inches below ground level. The hole and any other surface damage caused by removal must be filled with topsoil, fertilized, raked and seeded.

4. Remove vines, tree sprouts or any other extraneous vegetative growth from under or on the shrubbery.

5. Prune or remove growth in front of windows, over entrance ways or walks, or where vision is obstructed at street intersections.

3.4.4 Tree Pruning

Trees must be pruned in accordance with the following guidelines to selectively remove unwanted growth and encourage trees to grow or respond in a desired manner. All tree pruning must be accomplished under the supervision of an individual furnished by the Contractor, who is trained, experienced, and otherwise qualified in proper tree pruning techniques. Verification of such training, experience, and qualifications must be acceptable to the ACO prior to initiation of any tree pruning. Prior to starting work the Contractor must propose a pruning plan for each tree for the approval of the ACO. Trees must be pruned according to their natural growth habit to evenly form and balance the tree, to promote proper health and growth, to respond to damage inflicted by natural or human causes, and to prevent interference with pedestrian and vehicular traffic. All clippings and debris must be removed and disposed of the same working day. Pruning must be accomplished in a manner so as to:

1. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood, or structurally weak limbs that may cause a safety hazard or unsightly appearance, including the removal of dead palm fronds.

2. Remove branches that extend over buildings and endanger roofs, eaves, and windows, or hang within eight feet vertically of sidewalks, parking lots, and driveways.

3. Provide clearance for buses, moving vans, and similar vehicles along streets.

4. Cut back branches that overhang or grow into powerlines. Anticipate the effects of wind on branches which might fall on powerlines. Shape the entire tree rather than notch the top.

5. Remove growth of small trees in front of windows, over entrance ways or walks, and those which will obstruct vision at street intersections.

6. Remove sprouts which grow from the trunk. Remove sprouts to the height of the first major lateral limb.

7. Branch stubs must not be allowed. All branches must be pruned (removed) back to the next major limb or the tree trunk. Pruning cuts must be performed in a manner which leaves the branch collar exposed (with no stub beyond the branch collar).

3.4.5 Herbicides

Herbicides must be used to prevent all vegetation growth in graveled areas. The contractor will use herbicides to control weeds in all grass areas per manufactures guidelines and industry standards.

3.4.6 Trash and Litter Collection and Disposal.

The Contractor must collect trash and litter in all grassed areas, plant and shrub beds, wooded areas, sidewalks, streets, and curbs during maintenance activities and dispose it in the appropriate waste, recycling, or composting receptacles [see Section 3.2.3.2 for waste management requirements]. Trash and litter does not include natural vegetation, such as leaves, pine straw, and limbs. All trash and liter must be removed the same day as collected.

3.5 Maintenance of OGG RTR, OGG ASR, OGG VOR, and VYI NDB

The Contractor must provide grounds maintenance services intervals not to exceed 15 calendar days.

3.5.1 Grass Cutting and Edging

There will be no grass within the fenced perimeter, which includes around the paved areas, structures, foundations, etc. All grass areas outside the complete perimeter fence, that are accessible, will be mowed to clear a six (6) foot section beginning at the perimeter fence line.

3.5.2 Access Road

The front entrance location of each facility will be mowed from the front perimeter fence line to the access road.

3.5.3 Herbicides

Herbicides will be used to prevent growth of vegetation within the fenced perimeter and control weeds on all areas.

3.8 Indefinite Quantity Work Items

All indefinite quantity work items will be ordered giving exact location and type of work to be accomplished. The Contractor must be required to complete the required services within 30 calendar days.

3.8.1 Raking

Includes the raking and removal of leaves, limbs, and other debris from the raked area.

All debris must be disposed of the day of collection.

3.8.2 Grassing

Bare and slightly eroded areas (areas which vary in size from l0 to l000 square feet and can be repaired with the placement of four inches or less of topsoil) must be filled with topsoil, raked, fertilized, seeded, and watered to establish a healthy grassed covering.

Establishment must include providing the necessary care to firmly establish new grass growth. The Contractor must water and otherwise care for new grassed areas sufficiently to ensure proper development. Grassed areas which die or fail to develop noticeable growth for a period of one year after seeding must be re-grassed by the Contractor at no additional cost to the Government.

3.8.3 Under brushing

All brush, weeds, and small trees (three inches and below in diameter at ground level) must be cut back to within one inch of ground level, removed from the site, and disposed

of. Any material to be saved will be marked by the ACO prior to starting work. Any debris (i.e., limbs, dead trees, trash, etc.) found in the under brushing area must be removed from the site and disposed of.

3.8.4 Irrigation

Irrigation involves the artificial application of water to promote proper health, growth, color, and appearance of cultivated vegetation. Contractor must be WaterSense certified, and provide WaterSense certification to ACO, prior to contract award. Grassed areas, shrubs, trees, and ground cover plants must be irrigated in accordance with the following directions.

1. Care must be exercised by regulating time and equipment to prevent wasting of water. Watering must be accomplished in a manner that avoids erosion, run-off, or ponding due to excessive quantities or rate of application. The minimum amount of water to be applied to all lawns, and planted areas must be one inch of water per application. Irrigation operations must be completed by 3:00 PM daily.

2. The Contractor must be held responsible for any damage to plants, lawns, or buildings caused by careless handling of irrigation equipment. Sprinklers must not be set in such a position as to throw water into doorways, windows, porches, parked cars, parking areas, or to impede vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic.

3. Water will be furnished by the Government from the most convenient existing source of water. If a fire hydrant must be used for watering, clearance must be obtained from the ACO before use. All other required supplies must be furnished by the Contractor, except that Government owned and permanently installed sprinkler systems may be used where available.

a. Sprinkler riser connections and sprinkler heads must be maintained, repaired, or replaced by the Contractor as necessary to eliminate obstructions, leaks, and other defects which would prevent proper operation, at no additional cost to the Government. Sprinkler heads must be maintained clear of dirt and other debris for approximately one inch around their outside circumference.

b. The Government will provide all other required maintenance to installed sprinkler systems due to normal wear and tear, to include time clocks, valve systems, and underground piping up to, but not including the sprinkler riser connection and sprinkler heads. Any damage to such systems caused by the Contractor must be repaired or replaced by the Contractor at no expense to the Government. The Contractor must promptly report damage to or malfunction of any sprinkler system to the

ACO.

4. Hoses, portable sprinklers, portable pipe, and similar irrigation equipment must be removed from lawn areas at the end of each work day or when not actually in use. All valves, covers, and valve box covers must be kept closed at all times except when in actual use.

5. The Contractor must abide by any local, state, or other water agency regulations or controls in force at the time of this contract.

3.8.5 Ditch Cleaning

All wood and brush cuttings, trash, and debris must be removed and disposed of the same day of cleaning. Mouths of ditches, inlets, and outlets must be cleared of sediment, vegetation, and debris to allow unrestricted flow of water. Where ditch bottoms are paved, all mud and debris must be removed from the paved surface and disposed of the same day of cleaning. Where ditch bottoms are not vegetated and have intermittent water flow, woody and aquatic vegetation must be removed or chemically treated. Approved herbicides for vegetation control will be permitted.

4.0 Government Furnished Property and Service

4.1 Government Furnished Facilities

The Government will not provide office space operational facilities, or lay down areas to the Contractor. The Contractor must secure and maintain the necessary office space, facilities, and equipment storage areas required for the performance of this contract at his/her own expense.

4.2 Government Furnished Equipment

The Contractor must furnish all tools and equipment required for the performance of this contract.

The Government will not provide tools or equipment to the Contractor.

4.3 Government Furnished Material

The Government will furnish the material required to repair the sprinkler systems due to normal wear and tear, to include time clocks, valve systems, underground piping, sprinkler riser connections, and sprinkler heads. Any damage to such systems caused by the Contractor must be repaired or replaced by the Contractor at no expense to the Government. The use of Government furnished material for any other purpose is prohibited. The Contractor and the Government Representative must conduct a joint inventory before commencing work under this contract to determine the exact amount and serviceability of Government furnished materials. The Contractor must then certify the findings of this inventory, assume accounting responsibility for all materials supplied, and must provide documentation supporting issue/use of such material.

Upon depletion of material provided to the Contractor by the Government, the Contractor must furnish all material to perform the work of the contract, except as otherwise specified herein.

Upon completion or termination of this contract a second joint inventory must be conducted, if necessary, of all unused Government furnished materials. The Contractor must be held liable for all materials which cannot be accounted for by issue/use documentation

4.4 Availability of Utilities

The Government will furnish the following utility services at existing outlets for use in those facilities provided by the Government and as may be required for the work to be performed under the contract: electricity, steam, natural gas, fresh water, and sewage service. Information concerning the location of existing outlets may be obtained from the Government Representative.

The Contractor must provide and maintain, at his/her expense, the necessary service lines from existing Government outlets to the site of work.

1. Utilities specified above will be furnished at no cost to the Contractor.

2. The Contractor must be responsible for instructing employees in utilities conservation practices. Water faucets or valves must be turned off after the required usage has been accomplished. To conserve water, only the minimum quantity of water needed for the required usage must be expended.

4.5 Contractor Furnished Items

Except for the items listed in the "GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY AND SERVICES" clause, the Contractor must provide all equipment, materials, and services to perform the requirements of this contract. The Contractor must ensure that all items furnished exclusively for use in support of government contracts are:

• Less toxic or non-toxic.

Examples include:

o Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment (DfE) label (http://www.epa.gov/dfe) o Green Seal certified (http://www.greenseal.org) o CRI Green Label (http://www.carpet-rug.org/commercial-customers/green-building-and-the-environment/green-label-plus) o Products that meet/exceed DfE, Green Seal, CRI Green Label, and/or SCAQMD specifications;

• Environmental Protection Agency designated recycled content items

(http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/cpg/products/index.htm);

• Designated as BioPreferred by the U.S. Department of Agriculture

(http://www.biopreferred.gov);

• WaterSense certified (http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense) or meets/exceeds WaterSense specifications.

• Non-ozone depleting chemical substitutes identified by the Environmental Protection

Agency’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/index.html)

These program elements are described on the Office of the Federal Environment Executive website (http://www.ofee.gov).

5.0 Definitions

As used throughout this sow, the following terms must have the meaning set forth below. Additional definitions are in the "DEFINITIONS" clause, Section I.

a. Where "as shown", "as indicated", "as detailed", or words of similar import are used, it must be understood that reference is made to this specification and the drawings accompanying this specification unless stated otherwise.

b. Where "as directed", "as required", "as permitted", "approval", "acceptance", or words of similar import are used, it must be understood that direction, requirement, permission, approval, or acceptance of the ACO is intended unless stated otherwise.

c. Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO). The individual designated by the Contracting Officer to administer the contract. Throughout this contract, the term ACO will be used to refer to the individual designated to administer the contract or his/her designated representative. See the "DEFINITIONS" clause, Section I.

d. Contractor. The term Contractor as used herein refers to both the prime Contractor and any subcontractors. The prime Contractor must ensure that his/her subcontractors comply with the provisions of this contract.

e. Contractor Representative. A foreman, superintendent, or manager assigned in accordance with the "CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES" clause, Section H.

f. Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR). A report issued by the ACO to the Contractor when performance is unsatisfactory. The Contract Discrepancy Report requires the Contractor to explain, in writing, why performance is unsatisfactory, how performance will be returned to satisfactory levels, and how reoccurrence of the problem will be prevented in the future.

g. Debris. Debris includes, but is not limited to, paper, cans, bottles, limbs, pine straw and pine cones, leaves, rocks, and other similar items.

h. Diameter at Breast Height (DBH). Diameter at Breast Height, as measured 4.5 feet above ground level.

i. Engineered Performance Standards (EPS). Engineered Performance Standards is a

Department of Defense standard for determining man-hour requirements to perform various types of maintenance, repair, and housekeeping tasks.

j. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Federal agency delegated with authority to enforce the Federal laws which are concerned with pollution of the environment.

k. Fertilization. Fertilization is the process of applying nutrient elements to the soil where the soil has become deficient in nutrients essential for proper plant growth.

l. Government Representative. The person(s) whom the ACO will designate by name and/or position title to conduct liaison between the Contractor and the ACO on matters pertinent to this contract and be his/her authorized representative.

m. Grass Cutting. Grass cutting must include cutting and trimming, within the designated area, all grasses, weeds, and other vegetation which is one inch or less in diameter (at ground level).

n. Maintenance Level. A designation used to specify the frequency of services and type of grounds maintenance required on a land parcel.

o. Parcel. A given area of land. Each area shown on maps accompanying this specification is divided into various parcels.

p. Pruning. Pruning is selectively removing unwanted growth to make a plant or tree grow or respond in a desired manner. Pruning differs from "shearing". Pruning involves selection and judgment. "Shearing" means clipping all growth on a plant at a uniform distance and shape.

q. Quality Assurance Program. A program implemented by the Government to provide some measure and control over the quality of services received. It is emphasized that the Government's quality assurance program is not a substitute for the quality control program implemented and administered by the Contractor.

r. Quality Assurance Evaluator (QAE). The Government employee responsible for the daily monitoring of Contractor performance.

s. Quality Control (QC). A method used by the Contractor to control quality of goods and/or services provided.

t. Regular Hours. The Government's regular (normal) hours are from 0700 to 1630, Mondays through Fridays, except (a) Federal Holidays and (b) other days specifically designated by the

ACO.

6.0 Attachments