B08_-_SOW_-_2025_Eastern_Neck_Grass_Mowing.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complex Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge

1730 Eastern Neck Road Rock Hall, MD 21661

410-639-7056

February 20, 2025

Description of Service- Landscape Maintenance

This contract includes mowing grass, trimming around trees, buildings, fences, etc., removing debris/clippings as necessary, at the sites specified below and on the attached maps.

Work is to be accomplished within one day each week (preferably the same Weekday each week) from April through November as needed to maintain grass height below 3”. Work schedule is to be coordinated through Government Point of Contact, Dustin Murray (contact # 667-372-8348). Contractor is to supply all labor, equipment, and supplies needed. Contractor shall conduct all work in a safe, responsible manner, taking care to avoid damaging Service or Public property. Any damage caused by contractor will be repaired in a timely manner, at contractor’s expense. Contractor shall remove any debris, clippings, grass, etc. from paved/bricked/graveled walkways and parking areas, particularly at the Lodge and Bayview Bunkhouse/trail areas.

Prospective bidders are highly encouraged to attend the pre-bid meeting on-site to view all areas encompassed in this Statement of Work prior to bidding on this contract.

This contract will cover one calendar year, with the option to renew this contract an additional four times (without further competition), for a potential total of five years. When submitting bids, please list the bid amount for each year separately. Submit bid figures as a per-year amount, not a per week or month amount.

The decision to exercise the additional year option(s) lies solely with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Contractor is responsible for meeting all OSHA safety regulations, EEO guidelines, Federal drug-free workplace requirements, and Service Contract Act wage rates, which can be found at http://www.wdol.gov/ .

Registration in the System for Awards Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/SAM is required before contract is awarded to company. Invoices must be submitted through the invoicing electronic payment system, IPP, at https://www.ipp.gov/index.html. Vendor will need to register in both systems in order to get paid.

Payments will be received from the FWS Finance Center within 30 days after invoice submission in compliance with the Prompt Payment Act of 1989. Payments will be received via electronic funds transfer to contractor’s bank. No other payment method is available.

http://www.wdol.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM https://www.ipp.gov/index.html

JOB SITES See attached maps (NOTE: Maps are for reference purposes only and are not necessarily to scale. Contractor shall verify with refuge staff that all areas are being accurately maintained.)

1. Tubby Cove boardwalk parking area as noted on map.

2. Duck Inn trail parking area as noted on map.

3. Junction of Ingleside road and Eastern Neck road, and around roadside signage as noted on map.

4. Wildlife Trail parking area noted on map.

5. Junction of Bayview/Headquarters road and Eastern Neck road, both sides of entire length of

Headquarters/Bayview road. Noted on map.

6. Junction of Headquarters/Bayview road and maintenance shop access road. Both sides of maintenance access road into maintenance yard.

7. Maintenance yard as noted on map.

8. Around Bayview Bunkhouse and Butterfly Garden as noted on map. Care must be taken around

Garden so as not to disturb/harm plantings.

9. Both sides of Bayview Loop Trail, also around Bayview platform as noted on map.

10. Lodge, Lodge parking, shoulders of nature trail behind Lodge, and shoulders of gravel road leading from Lodge to Eastern Neck Road as noted on map.

OPTIONAL ITEM JOB SITE:

1. Wicke’s picnic area/parking lot, as noted on the maps, is an optional bid item. Prospective bidders are not required to bid this item if they do not wish to include this site in the contract.

Additionally, the government may choose to either award or not award the option item for the base year and any subsequent option year based on available funds and other factors. When bidding on this option item, bid this site separately from the main job for every year. So two line items per option year: main job and optional item job site.

Note that in all areas, string trimming around structures, trees, signs, fences, etc. will be required. Contractor shall take care that string trimming does not cause undue damage to wooden posts/poles/etc. Debris and grass shall be blown off/removed from sidewalks, paved or bricked areas, etc. Application of herbicide is NOT approved for weed/grass control. Additionally, no other landscaping chemicals are to be used without prior consent from Government Rep.

PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND ADHERENCE

The government shall conduct spot monitoring throughout the period of performance to ensure contractor adherence to schedule and specifications. It will be contractor’s responsibility to correct any deficiencies by the next week’s scheduled service. Any lack of government monitoring does not alleviate contractor from resolving deficiencies. Repeated failures to correct deficiencies will result in reduced payments to the contractor as follows:

NUMBER OF UNREMEDIED

DEFICIENCIES

MONTHLY PAYMENT REDUCED BY

0-1 0% 2-4 20% 5+ 50%

Deficiencies and missed weeks are at times excusable for weather related events and will not be considered unremedied deficiencies subject to reduced payments:

1. Dry weather/drought. In times of hot, dry weather, grass often stops growing and does not need a weekly cut.

2. Extremely wet weather/storms. Due to active hard precipitation or extremely wet ground, it may be impossible or impractical to cut on the scheduled day. Contractor will make every effort to come out later that week to cut, assuming the conditions allow it.

3. Tides. The road leading into the Refuge is subject to occasional tidal flooding, making roads at times impassable. Should the contractor encounter this, they should make every effort to come out later that week, assuming tides allow it.

If the contractor expects any of the above-listed conditions may affect their next scheduled service day, they MUST contact the government rep beforehand for their concurrence/approval. Contractor must also let government rep know when they intend to make up the missed service as appropriate.