36C78618Q0214-003.docx

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATION/STATEMENT OF WORK

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery 20953 West Hoff Rd Elwood, Illinois, 60421

Turf Maintenance Contract

To achieve and maintain healthy and aesthetic turf, the Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, professional expertise, equipment and supplies for:

A- Pre-emergence Herbicide Applications B- Fertilizer Applications C- Post-emergence Herbicide Sprays for Broadleaf Weeds D- Grub Control Insecticide Application E- Core Aeration F- Dethatching G- Yellow Nutsedge Treatment H- Waterway Herbicide Application

All equipment, supplies and activities shall be maintained, operated and performed in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, County, Village, and Township laws, ordinances and regulations including, but not limited to OSHA standards. Any damage to turf, landscaping, sprinkler heads, infrastructure, headstones, etc., by the Contractor shall be repaired or replaced at Contractor's expense, as directed by the COR.

(a) This service contract at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, IL, hereafter referred to as “Cemetery,” requires a contractor with past professional experience in turf maintenance.

(b) National cemeteries are a final resting place for our nation's heroes and as such, the standards for management, maintenance and appearance of these cemeteries have been established by the National Cemetery Administration to reflect this nation's concern and respect for those interred there. The contractor is to plan, coordinate, organize, manage, and perform the specified work to achieve and maintain turf at the quality required for a national shrine.

A. PRE-EMERGENCE HERBICIDE APPLICATION – April & June

The entire turf area (approximately 87 Acres) of the Cemetery shall be uniformly treated with pre-emergence herbicide twice a year. One application shall be in April/ May prior to crabgrass germination and when soil temperature reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius), or as directed by the COR. Second application shall be applied 60 days later, or as directed by the COR.

Work shall be coordinated and scheduled with COR and will be determined at the COR’s discretion.

The active ingredient and rate of the herbicide at each application shall be either:

dithiopyr at 0.25 pound active ingredient per acre (e.g., “Dimension”), or prodiamine at 0.5 lab active ingredient per acre (e.g., “Barricade”). If prodiamine is used, only a granular formulation may be applied to prevent headstone staining.

If fertilizer is used as a carrier for the herbicide for the early application, it shall contain no iron and the nitrogen rate should not be above 0.5 pounds per 1,000 square feet.

If a granular product is used, any deposited on impervious surfaces (walks/pavement) shall be removed or blown onto the turf immediately following application.

B. FERTILIZATIONS – October, June, & September

Fertilizer shall be uniformly applied to all turf areas (approximately 87 acres) at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery at approximately:

· June 1

· September 1

· October 15

Rate shall be 1.0 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet at each application. Fertilizer shall be applied with a properly adjusted and calibrated spreader. Overlap of spread pattern from adjacent passes shall be adequate to ensure uniform application. Streaks appearing in turf any time during the year as a result of non-uniform application are not acceptable. Fertilizer deposited impervious surfaces (walks/pavement) shall be removed or blown onto the turf immediately following application.

If weather conditions warrant, such as severe drought or extended wet conditions, applications can be delayed until conditions are suitable, with concurrence of the COR, but may not be made to frozen soil.

The fertilizer shall have the following properties:

· The nitrogen (N) content shall be 15% or more.

· 50% or more of the nitrogen in the fertilizer shall be in a slow or controlled-release form (e.g., sulfur coated, polymer coated, urea-form, isobutylidene diurea, etc.).

· It shall contain no phosphorous (P)

· Potash (K) content percentage shall be one third OR MORE of the N percentage (e.g., 15-0-5, 21-0-7, 21-0-10, 30-0-15 would all be acceptable).

· It shall contain no iron (to prevent headstone staining).

C. POST-EMERGENCE HERBICIDE SPRAYS FOR BROADLEAF WEED CONTROL – October, May & July/August

Herbicides for broadleaf weed control shall be sprayed by a licensed commercial applicator when weeds are actively growing and weather is conducive to effective weed control. Product label directions are the law and must be followed. Rate of each product shall be that recommended on the product label to control broadleaf weeds present in the cemetery, including common turf weeds such as dandelion, white cover, plantains, knotweeds, and black medic. The COR may require evidence at the time of application that an adequate rate is being mixed/applied, such as seeing the amount of product (emptied containers) used for treatment. Contractor shall post signs at each section indicating a spray operation is ongoing or recently completed, and any restrictions as indicated by the herbicide label.

Spraying shall be done three times per year: once in the spring before May 15; then again in July or August; and again in Oct. Weather and field conditions must be favorable for herbicide efficacy, as well as for minimal risk of damage such as herbicide injury to off-target plants, or of equipment making ruts. Work to be performed during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, unless arranged otherwise with the COR. No work will be performed on Federal Government Holidays. Work dates and locations are to be coordinated with the COR in advance of work being performed to accommodate burials or other activities. All mowing burial and non-burial areas, high visibility areas, public gathering areas, and administration/maintenance areas of the cemetery shall be treated All burial and administration areas of the cemetery shall be treated, approximately 87 acres, unless the COR specifies certain sections or parts of sections that are not to be treated. To schedule an application the contractor must coordinate the date and time with the COR. The government reserves the right to reschedule an application at no additional cost if 24 or more hours prior notice is given.

The herbicide product(s) shall be effective at controlling broadleaf weeds, and shall result in a spray mixture containing three or more active ingredients.

The herbicide product(s) applied shall be in a spray mixture of three or more active ingredients from the following list:

2, 4-D Carfentrazone Clopyralid Dicamba Diclorprop Fluroxypyr

MCPA

Mecoprop (MCPP) Pyraflufen Quinclorac Sulfentrazone Triclopyr

(Some examples of individual products meeting these criteria include “Battleship III,” “Cool Power,” “Millennium Ultra,” “Momentum FX2,” “Onetime,” “PowerZone,” “Speed Zone,” “Trimec,” “Triamine II,” “Tri-Power,” “Triplet.”)

Preparation of the spray mixture may be done on site, and VA will provide water for mixing. Contractor shall provide SDS documents prior to or at time of application. Equipment, herbicides, or other supplies shall not be stored on site. Any re-treatment needed as a result of the Contractor’s failure to follow manufacturer’s instructions shall be done at the Contractor’s expense.

D. INSECTICIDE TREATMENT FOR GRUBS

Grub control insecticide shall be uniformly applied to turf by a licensed commercial applicator between mid-June and mid-July. The maximum commercial label rate for the site of one the following insecticides shall be used:

· clothianidin (e.g., Arena)

· imidacloprid (e.g., Merit)

· thiamethoxam (e.g., Meridian)

· Chlorantraniliprole (e.g., Acelepryn) if applied in May or June

If a granular product is used, any deposited on impervious surfaces (walks/pavement) shall be removed or blown onto the turf immediately following application.

Insecticide shall be applied to 1 - 40 acres of the Cemetery. Number of acres and type of insecticide must be approved by the COR before application.

E. CORE AERATION _-- Late Aug-Early Sep

Core Aeration of turf grass in Cemetery will be done around September 1st, or as directed by the COR. All irrigation heads, valve boxes, markers, or any other in-lawn structure will be flagged by contractor before core aeration equipment is operated in irrigated turf areas. Irrigation maps will be provided to the contractor by the COR. All flags marking irrigation and other structures will be removed by the contractor after the core aeration is done in the area. Core cylinders (plugs) shall be extracted from a minimum depth of 3 inches and left lying on the aerified turf.

The Contractor shall be responsible for repair or replacement of any contractor damaged cemetery structure, to include: turf, curb, road pavement, headstones or markers, valve boxes, grid monument control markers, trees, plant beds, irrigation etc., which are chipped, marred, damaged and/or ruined at the fault of the Contractor and shall bear all costs associated with replacement and reinstallation. Any such damage shall be brought to the immediate attention of the appointed Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) prior to repair/replacement/installation.

Core Aeration of 1 – 87 acres of the Cemetery must be approved by the COR before core aeration operation.

F. DETHATCHING -- Late Aug-Early Sep

Areas needing to be dethatched will be specified by the COR. A vertical mower/power rake shall be used for dethatching, with blades adjusted so they barely scratch the soil surface beneath the thatch. Debris resulting from this operation shall be picked up and removed from the area by the contractor, leaving a clean surface. All irrigation heads, valve boxes, markers, or any other in-lawn structure will be flagged by contractor before dethatching equipment is operated in the turf areas. . Any damage shall be brought to the immediate attention of the COR.

Dethatching of 1 – 10 acres of the Cemetery must be approved by the COR before dethatching operation.

G. Yellow Nutsedge Herbicide Treatment

Postemergent herbicides for yellow nutsedge control shall be sprayed by a licensed commercial applicator when weeds are actively growing and weather is conducive to effective weed control. Product label directions are the law and must be followed. Rate of each product shall be that recommended on the product label to control the yellow nutsedge present in the cemetery. The COR may require evidence at the time of application that an adequate rate is being mixed/applied, such as seeing the amount of product (emptied containers) used for treatment. Contractor shall post signs at each section indicating a spray operation is ongoing or recently completed, and any restrictions as indicated by the herbicide label.

Contractor shall applied herbicide in late spring/early summer when the yellow nutsedge is young and actively growing. Herbicide treatment must be before the fifth-leaf stage and tubers are produced.

Herbicide shall be applied to 1 - 10 acres of the Cemetery twice a year. Number of acres and type of herbicide must be approved by the COR before application.

H. Waterway Herbicide Application- October, May & July/August

Contractor shall be in compliance with the provisions of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, the Illinois Pollution Control Board and Rules and Regulations (35 III. Adm. Code, Subtitle C, Chapter 1) and the Clean Water Act.

Obtain any permit that operators/contractors need to apply chemical pesticides near waters of the State.

The waterway herbicide application shall be done three times per year and coincide with the post-emergence herbicide application. All vegetation within the rock areas of culvert inlets and outlet areas shall be treated with a non-selective herbicide, approximately 8,000 square feet at 30 locations throughout cemetery property. A map of all locations of rock areas /culverts will be provided to the contractor by the COR.

ADDITIONAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL CEMETERY

PROJECT INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS

1. CEMETERY LOCATION: The work will be performed at one (1) location:

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery 20953 West Hoff, Rd Elwood, IL 60421

Telephone (815) 423-9958 Fax (815) 423-5824

2. GENERAL INFO:

a. Job Foreman: A job foreman shall be provided whenever work is being performed to ensure employees are adequately supervised and proper conduct is maintained.

Period of Performance: The period of performance of the base contract is from Date of Award through the date of award through September 30, 2018 plus (4), one year options, if exercised.

Work Hours: All work shall be performed between the normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday.

Pre-bid Site Visit: Bidders are highly encouraged to make a pre-bid site visit. Such visits must be pre-scheduled and arranged by contacting the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery office.

b. The National Cemetery Administration honors veterans with a final resting place and lasting memorials that commemorate their service to our Nation. National Cemeteries are national shrines. The standards of work, appearance, and procedures performed by the contractor at this cemetery shall reflect this nation’s concern for those interred there. Due to the sensitive mission of the cemetery, contractor personnel must exercise and exhibit absolute decorum, composure, and stability at all times.

c. The Contractor is responsible to ensure that all work shall be done in a manner that safeguards all NCA visitors, employees, and public. The Contractor shall provide an English-speaking crew leader ensuring clear communication between the cemetery COR and contractors leadership, ensuring contractors employees are adequately supervised and proper conduct is maintained.

d. Be required to be fully clothed at all times, to include upper garment with company name and logo to cover body from the waist to the neck and long pants or slacks.

e. The Contractor/personnel shall not engage in loud or boisterous behavior, angry outbursts or use profane or abusive language at any time on Government property.

3. CONSEQUENCES OF CONTRACTOR’S FAILURE TO PERFORM REQUIRED SERVICES:

a. In the case of unperformed work, the Government:

i. May, at its option, afford the contractor an opportunity to perform the unperformed work, at no additional cost to the Government. This performance must take place within a reasonable period subject to the discretion of the COR, but in no event longer than the next workday.

ii. May, at its option, perform the services by Government personnel or other means.

b. In the case of unsatisfactory work that was not resolved, the Government:

i. Will deduct from the contractor’s invoice all amounts associated with such unsatisfactory work at the prices contained in the Schedule or provided by other provisions of the contract; unless the contractor is afforded an opportunity to re-perform the work as outlined in the next paragraph, and satisfactorily completes the work;

ii. May, at its option, afford the contractor the opportunity to re-perform the unsatisfactory work, at no additional cost to the Government, within a reasonable period, subject to the discretion of the COR, but in no event longer than the next workday;

iii. May, at its option, perform the services by Government personnel or other means.

4. Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR)

a. For serious contract performance deficiencies, or when less formal communications fail to resolve minor performance deficiencies, the COR will issue a Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR) to the Contractor. The criticality of the offense(s) will govern whether to issue the CDR immediately or at the end of the monthly invoicing period.

i. The CDR will require the Contractor to respond in writing why the performance was unacceptable, what corrective actions have been/will be taken to fix the discrepancy, and how avoidance of a recurring problem will be prevented in the future.

ii. If the Contractor does not achieve satisfactory performance by correcting the discrepancy identified in the CDR by the end of the next period or agreed suspense date, the Contracting Officer may consider further actions, to include a determination on whether continued performance by the contractor is feasible.

iii. The contractor shall be held to the full performance of the contract. The COR will not approve the payment of invoices for items which were not completed in compliance with the specifications outlined in this Statement of Work.

iv. When a CDR is issued for a service, the Contracting Officer and/or the COR may exercise any contractual remedy available for non-performance, in accordance with FAR 52.212-4, “Inspection and Acceptance”.

v. The COR will consult the Contracting Officer prior to submission of CDRs and include the Contracting Officer on all correspondence pertaining to the CDR until the discrepancy is resolved

vi. If the Government created any of the discrepancies, these will not be counted against the Contractor's performance. When the Government has caused the Contractor to perform in an unsatisfactory manner, the COR will forward a written notice to the responsible organizational element requesting corrective action be taken.

vii. The CO will be the final arbitrator on all contract issues. Any disputes involving payment must be resolved by the CO.

5. STANDARDS OF EMPLOYEE CONDUCT

a. Contractor personnel shall be required to adhere to the following standards of dress and conduct, as briefly mentioned here, while performing work in the National Cemetery. These standards and regulations are enforceable under Title 38, U.S.C., Part I, Chapter 9, Section 5901.

b. Clothing shall be presentable and suitable to the work while maintaining proper appearance and decorum indicative for a National Shrine. Uniform shirts and hats are preferred. Clothing shall be clean and cleanliness and personal hygiene are imperative. T-shirts and/or tank tops as outer garments are prohibited. Protective/safety clothing and shoes shall meet or exceed OSHA and state requirements.

c. Behavior and language must be appropriate, reverent, and respectful at all times.

d. Eating and drinking (except water) is prohibited in the work areas and within sight of a committal shelter during a service.

e. Use of intoxicating beverages, any tobacco products, and illegal drugs on the Cemetery premises is strictly prohibited.

f. Contractor personnel shall not lean, sit, or stand on or against headstones or monuments. No tools, equipment or other items shall be placed or leaned on headstones or monuments.

6. OPERATIONS DURING CEMETERY FUNCTIONS

Contractor personnel shall not operate motorized equipment or conduct other commercial activities within a designated area during interment services. The COR will identify the designated area. The COR or his/her representative will furnish the Contractor with a schedule of all interments and/or ceremonies no later than the close of business of the day prior to the scheduled interment, and a minimum of three (3) days before any ceremonial events.

7. CONTRACTOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall obtain all necessary licenses and/or permits required to perform this work. The Contractor shall take all precautions necessary to protect persons and property from injury or damage during the performance of this contract. The Contractor shall be responsible for any injury to himself, his employees, or others, as well as for any damage to personal or public property that occurs during the performance of this contract that is caused by his or her employees’ fault or negligence. Further, it is agreed that any negligence of the Government, its officers, agents, servants, and employees, will not be the responsibility of the Contractor hereunder with the regard to any claims, loss, damage, injury, and liability resulting there-from. The Contractor shall maintain workmen’s compensation, personal liability, automobile liability, and property damage insurance, as prescribed by the laws of the state of Kentucky, and in accordance with FAR 5.2282-5(c). Evidence of coverage is required before commencing work under this contract (copy of Certificate of Insurance), and it may not be changed or cancelled without thirty calendar days prior written notice to the Contracting Officer.

8. Damage to Government Property The Contractor shall be responsible for repair or replacement of any contractor damaged cemetery structure, to include: turf, curb, road pavement, headstones or markers, valve boxes, grid monument control markers, trees, plant beds, etc., which are chipped, marred, damaged and/or ruined at the fault of the Contractor and shall bear all costs associated with replacement and reinstallation. Any such damage shall be brought to the immediate attention of the appointed Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) prior to repair/replacement/installation.

a. The Contractor shall be responsible for cleaning cemetery structures, headstones, monuments, and roadways that are soiled or stained as a result of Contractor’s performance. The Contractor shall wash-down with water all soiled or stained structures, headstones, and monuments at the end of each workday. Roadways shall be cleaned with a street sweeper each day, as needed, to keep the existing roads free from dirt and mud resulting from Contractor operations. No hazardous chemicals shall be used at any time on Government property. The Contractor shall bear all costs associated with washing and cleaning. Any such washing/cleaning shall be brought to the immediate attention of the COR prior to washing/cleaning.

b. At the end of each day the Contractor shall remove all debris from the cemetery site resulting from the work. The Contractor shall ensure at all times that rubbish and trash generated by the Contractor is kept clear of vehicular and pedestrian traffic throughout the site. The Government will not provide receptacle(s) for disposal of debris related to this contract. The Contractor will be permitted to place his trash receptacle dumpsters in the COR approved “Contractor Staging Area”.

c. Adequate warning devices, barricades, guards, flagmen or other necessary precautions shall be provided by the Contractor at work site to eliminate hazards and for the protection, safety, and warning of all public visitors, pedestrians, cemetery employees, and vehicular traffic within the area.

d. The Government may undertake or award other contracts for additional work at or near the site of work for this contract. The Contractor shall fully cooperate with any other contractors and with Government employees and shall carefully adapt scheduling and performance of work, and needing any direction, it will be provided by the COR(s). The Contractor shall be responsible for reporting to the COR(s) any problems or questions that may arise with any other personnel on site during the period of performance of this contract. The Contractor shall not take it upon him or herself to resolve any problems or issues with other on-site contractors or employees, but rather shall leave it to the COR(s) to resolve the issue.

e. The Contractor (including his or her employees, subcontractors, consultants or the like) shall not operate trucks, tractors, and other heavy equipment on any turf area except as provided in this contract to perform work or as authorized by the COR. The Contractor shall be responsible for repairing turf damage caused by the Contractor ‘s equipment and staff at no additional cost to the Government.

9. SAFETY

Matters related to safety, and any actions of the Contractor, shall meet all safety requirements of the COR, Safety Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, OSHA, and the State. It is incumbent upon the Contractor to be familiar with these requirements. "Safety" shall also include the Contractor having a safety representative who maintains regular and routine contact with the Safety Officer at Camp Nelson National Cemetery.

10. PROTECTION OF EXISTING VEGETATION, STRUCTURES, EQUIPMENT, UTILITIES, AND IMPROVEMENTS

a. The Contractor shall preserve and protect all structures, equipment, and vegetation (such as trees, shrubs, and grass) on or adjacent to the work site. If any limbs or branches of trees are broken during contract performance, or by the careless operation of equipment, or by workmen, the Contractor shall trim those limbs or branches with a clean cut and remove and properly dispose of from the site as defined herein.

b. The Contractor shall protect from damage all existing improvements and utilities at or near the work site and on adjacent property of a third party, the locations of which are made known to or should be known by the Contractor. The Contractor shall immediately notify the COR of any such occurrence and repair any damage to those facilities, including those that are the property of a third party, resulting from failure to comply with the requirements of this contract or failure to exercise reasonable care in performing the work. If the Contractor fails or refuses to repair the damage promptly, the Contracting Officer may have the necessary work performed and charge the cost to the Contractor.

11. RESTORATION

a. Upon completion of contract, deliver work complete and undamaged. Existing cemetery features (lawns, paving, roads, walks, etc.) disturbed or removed as a result of performing required new work, will be patched, repaired, reinstalled, or replaced with new work, and refinished and left in as good condition as existed before commencing work. All restoration work shall be accomplished without undue delay.

b. The Contractor shall be responsible for restoration and the Contractor shall bear all costs associated with restoration. Any such restoration to service and repair as a result of damage caused by Contractor’s workmen/subcontractors to existing cemetery infrastructure shall be brought to the immediate attention of the appointed Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) prior to restoration.

12. DISPOSAL OF WASTE

The Contractor shall not dispose of any waste materials at any location on the cemetery premises. All waste materials shall be removed from cemetery property and disposed of in full accordance with local and state requirements.

END OF STATEMENT OF WORK