Attachment 02 SOW.docx

Statement of Work

Lawn Care and Grounds Maintenance Santee Experimental Forest 3734 Highway 402 Cordesville, SC 29434

16 June 2021 ii

Purpose

The purpose of this SOW is to obtain grounds maintenance services at Santee Experimental Forest, 3734 Highway 402, Cordesville, SC 29434 by means of a performance-based contract.

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, blowing, edging, collection and disposal of litter and trash, vegetation cutting and removal, and spring and fall clean-up as described herein.

Lawn cutting and edging/trimming will occur bi-weekly, for the period April thru October, and monthly, for the period November – March, to a uniform height between minimum of 2.5 inches and a maximum of 4 inches. Unless agreed upon by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) or the designated Government technical Monitor (GTM).

Hedge and shrub trimming will occur based on their natural growth habits or by the assigned schedule.

Blowing off of grass from sidewalks and driveways concurrently with grass cutting operations, or cleanup operations.

Maintenance of shrubs/flowers beds are to have fresh pine straw applied in designated areas according to the assigned schedule.

Contractor is responsible for all supplies to carry out the requirements of this contract such as gas, chemicals, pine straw.

The contractor is responsible for maintenance and operation of all ground’s equipment including lawnmowers, weed eaters. This includes all hand tools and equipment that are provided by the contractor to carry out the requirements of this contract.

The contractor is responsible for damages caused by flying debris while mowing, trimming/edging.

Removal of debris and trash prior to mowing. (Trash/garbage is to be placed in an onsite bin, tree limbs, branches, rocks etc…will be placed at the edge of the Forest on the NE side of the site).

The contractor shall keep all roads, walkways, sidewalks, and parking lots, clean of all debris. Clean-up must be completed the same day work is performed.

The contractor is not responsible for cleanup of down trees, branches, debris, or trash that is caused by an extreme weather event. The agency will provide the cleanup of the grounds when caused by extreme weather events, i.e. hurricanes, tornados.

Spring and Fall Clean-up This occurs monthly and includes the following.

The contractor is to remove dead vegetation from beds, trim bushes and trees around buildings and parking lot, and place pine-straw in beds.

The contractor may be subject to all weather conditions, hot, cold, wet, etc., and work in a dirty dusty environment.

The contractor is not responsible for cleanup of down trees, branches, debris, or trash that is caused by an extreme weather event. The agency will provide the cleanup of the grounds when caused by extreme weather events, i.e. hurricanes, tornados.

Work Outside Regular Hours Except when approved in advance, all work must be performed during regular working hours. (Monday thru Friday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM EST). If the Contractor desires to carry out work on Saturday, Sunday, or outside regular hours, he/she may submit a request to the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) or the designated Government technical Monitor (GTM). Work on federal holidays will not be authorized.

Federal Holidays

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.

Work Control The Contractor must implement all necessary work control procedures to ensure timely accomplishment of work requirements. 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 COR or GTM.

Herbicides and Pesticides 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). Herbicide and pesticide controls must be formulated to target specific pests and must be implemented only when pests have reached aesthetic or health thresholds verified by the COR. The Contractor must not perform regularly scheduled, periodic pesticide or herbicide applications except in situations where no other approach or technology is available to protect personnel or property of high value. If herbicides or pesticides 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.

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 COR. Additionally, the Contractor must control pests using integrated pest management principles (http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/ipm.htm).

Trash, Litter, and Vegetative Debris Collection and Disposal The Contractor must collect trash, litter, and vegetative debris (e.g., natural such as leaves, sticks and, limbs) in all grassed areas, plant and shrub beds, wooded areas, sidewalks, streets, and curbs in all areas after each cutting and/or trimming and dispose of it in the appropriate waste, recycling, or composting receptacles. In accordance with EO 13514, FAA is required to divert from landfill or incineration facility disposal a minimum of 50% of the non-hazardous waste generated as a result of its operations. In support of meeting this requirement, the Contractor must divert from landfill or incineration facility disposal a minimum of 50% of the non-hazardous waste generated as a result of the Contractor’s work, to the maximum extent feasible. All trash, liter, and vegetative debris must be removed off the activity the same day as collected.

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.

Protection of Government Property The contractor must ensure grass clippings, leaves, and other debris do not damage Government property. Grass clippings and leaves shall not be blown into generators, open windows, HVAC units, or HVAC intakes. When clearing debris from driveways and parking lots, blown debris shall not impact employee or Government vehicles.

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.

Santee Experimental Forest Grounds Maintenance Tasks The Contractor must provide the following grounds maintenance services in the areas shown in Attachment 1, IITF Site Plan.

Grass Cutting All grassed areas will be cut bi-weekly, for the period April thru October, and monthly, for the period November – March, to a uniform height between minimum of 2.5 inches and a maximum of 4 inches. The Contractor will the cut grasses areas which includes the inside and outside of the front perimeter fence and the inside of the two fenced enclosures within the site (e.g. weather station, hydroedaphytron). 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 the same day as collected. Trash and garbage to be placed in an onsite trash bin. Tree limbs, branches, rocks etc., can be placed at the edge of the forest on the NE side of the site. 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, 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, by use of "weed eater" type equipment, or by herbicide treatment. Trees and shrubs must not be damaged by trimming operations. Trimming with herbicide treatment must be confined to an area extending l2 inches from the object being trimmed. Grassed areas, trees, or shrubs which are killed or damaged because 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.

Edging All sidewalks, driveways, street edges, curbs, other paved areas, and shrubbery areas located within this maintenance level must be edged monthly. Edging must create a l/2-inch-wide and l inch deep clear zone immediately adjacent to the paved surface. 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 the activity.

Shrub Pruning Shrubs, bushes, hedges, and cultivated plants must be pruned as necessary to keep sidewalks, driveways, buildings, HVAC systems, and other travel ways clear. Limbs up to 15 feet above roads, driveways, sidewalks, and parking areas shall be trimmed. Roadsides shall be cleared to a shoulder width of at least three (3) feet. Sidewalks shall be cleared to a width of two (2) feet on both sides. All clippings and debris must be removed from the site the same day and disposed of, recycled, or composted off the activity [see Section 3.2.3.2 for waste management requirements]. Pruning must be accomplished so as to:

1. Reduce the size and growth rate of each shrub by clipping approximately 20% to 30% of the total surface area approximately 3 to 6 inches inside the normal "pruned surface". This interior clipping (20% to 30%) must be uniformly distributed over the entire shrub. This procedure must be performed as a part of the normal pruning operation (when new growth is removed).

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

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

Cultivation and Mulching of Shrubs, Hedges, and Flower Beds Shrubs, hedges, must be cultivated and mulched (pine straw) during the spring and fall clean-up. Cultivation includes weeding of shrubs, hedges. Cultivation must be extended a sufficient distance from bases of shrubs to ensure their protection from damage by lawn mowers, and trimmer/edges, and to provide proper care for the plants, but in no case less than l8 inches. Cultivation must be extended to a depth of 2 inches, care being taken that the roots of the plants are not damaged. Removal of grass, weeds, rocks, and debris encountered during cultivation must be considered part of cultivation. All edges must be worked to a neat and true line. All timber, brick, concrete, aluminum, or plastic bed edging must be realigned as needed. Mulch in bed areas such as wood bark chips, pine straw, etc., must be well groomed after removal of weeds, rocks, etc. Additional mulch, of the same type as existing, must be provided and placed around all shrubs and flower beds as required to maintain a minimum depth of three inches. Shrubbery without existing mulch must be mulched to a minimum depth of three inches with pine-straw mulch.

Trash and Litter Collection and Disposal.

The Contractor must collect and dispose of trash and litter in all grassed areas, plant and shrub beds, wooded areas, sidewalks, streets, and curbs in maintenance level II at the frequency specified in Attachment Trash and litter does not include natural vegetation, such as leaves, rocks, and limbs. All trash and liter must be disposed the same day as collected. Trash and garbage to be placed in an onsite trash bin. Tree limbs, branches, rocks etc., can be placed at the edge of the forest on the NE side of the site.

Definitions As used throughout this sow, the following terms must have the meaning set forth below.

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. Contracting Officer (CO). The individual with sole authority to bind the Government on contractual matters. Individual has the authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate the contract.

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

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

h. 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.

i. Contracting Officer’s Representative. The person(s) whom the CO will designate in wiring to perform specific technical or administrative functions. Responsible for monitoring of Contractor performance as per the contractor’s QCP submitted and approved by the government..

j. 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).

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

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

m. 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.

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

o. Regular Hours. The Government's regular (normal) hours are from 0830 to 1630, Mondays through Fridays, except (a) Federal Holidays and (b) other days specifically designated by the CO.