377 MDG Grounds Maintenance PWS 26Jun2026.docx

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

26 June 2026

Prepared by 377th Medical Group, Kirtland AFB

1. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

The Contractor shall provide non-personal services, to include all personnel, equipment, tools, supervision, and other items and services necessary to ensure that grounds maintenance is performed at 377th Medical Group, Kirtland AFB in a manner that will promote the growth of healthy grass, trees, shrubs, and plants and present a clean, neat, and professional appearance. Areas maps and workloads depicting the service described in this PWS are identified in the Appendices. The Contractor’s performance will be based on the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), and Contracting Officer’s (CO) evaluation of the results required by the Service Summary (SS) and not the method of performance. The evaluation of results will be based on COR surveillance, tenant satisfaction, and customer complaints. Final results of the evaluations will be the determining factor for the success or failure of this contract. The Contractor shall comply with applicable federal, regional, state, and local laws and commercial standards.

1.1. Planter Beds, Shrubs, & Ground Cover Requirements

1.1.1. Pruning (Shrubs)

Shrubs shall be pruned only as necessary to maintain natural form, keep within space limits, and remove damaged or diseased wood. This routine maintenance requirement excludes major storm damage, neglect, or winterkill mitigation.

1.1.2. Edging

Ground cover shall be edged periodically to remain within designated bounds and clear of any obstacles.

1.1.3. Weed Control

Planter beds and shrub areas must be monitored regularly for weeds. The contractor shall utilize an appropriate combination of pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides to maintain weed control.

1.2. Tree Maintenance Requirements

1.2.1. Scope Limits

Standard tree pruning shall be restricted to a maximum height of 10 feet. Branches greater than 3 inches in diameter shall not be addressed under standard maintenance.

1.2.2. Hazard Mitigation

For branches above the 10-foot limit, the contractor shall only address low-hanging branches that pose a direct hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

1.2.3. Schedule

Standard pruning must be executed during the winter months. Safety-related pruning shall be performed immediately as needed. Evergreen trees (under 10 feet) shall only be thinned and shaped as required to mitigate wind and storm damage.

1.2.4. Tree Staking

Existing tree stakes shall be inspected and adjusted as necessary. Stakes must be removed once the tree reaches a trunk caliper size of 4 inches.

1.3. Native Turf & Shrub Management

1.3.1. Native Turf

Native seed areas shall be monitored but must not be mowed or line-trimmed, except in instances where vegetation creates sightline hazards or encroaches onto curbs and sidewalks.

1.3.2. Native Shrubs

Native shrubs shall be pruned once per year, typically between January and March, to maintain a neat appearance and healthy growth. Shrubs encroaching on walks, driveways, or causing safety hazards must be cut back immediately as needed.

1.3.3. Evergreens

Evergreen shrubs shall be hedged and pruned as necessary to maintain a neat appearance and promote natural growth patterns.

1.4. Gravel Areas & Property Clean-Up

1.4.1. Gravel Beds

Gravel areas shall be inspected during every weekly service visit. Legally approved herbicides must be used to control weeds and grass only when necessary. The contractor shall report areas with excessive mulch buildup to discuss alternative mitigation solutions.

1.4.2. Weekly Service

Trash shall be cleared from all landscaped areas weekly. Sidewalks adjacent to lawns must be blown clear of grass clippings weekly; curb-lines shall be blown clear as needed.

1.4.3. Tumbleweeds

Minimal quantities of random fugitive tumbleweeds that blow onto the property shall be cleared during weekly service rounds.

1.4.4. Fall Clean -Up

Fallen leaves shall be cleared from turf and planting bed areas weekly during the fall season. Leaves settled under shrubs must be completely removed after all leaves have dropped for the season.

2. Quality Control The contractor shall provide a written description of the quality control system to include identification of the commercial practices and procedures to be used, such as those of the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS), Tree Care Industry Association, American Society of Landscape Architects, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and local Extension Offices of the Federal Cooperative Extension Service. Include the inspection system requirements of FAR 52.246-4 in this document. The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-performance and continual repeat of defective service does not occur. A written Quality Control Plan shall be submitted to the contracting officer for review and feedback. The plan shall be submitted no later than the pre-performance conference. The plan shall specifically address the contractor’s strategy to provide quality workmanship, continual process improvement and for correcting deficiencies as required.

3. Quality Assurance The government shall inspect and evaluate the contractor’s performance to ensure services are received in accordance with requirements set forth in this contract. The CO or COR shall inspect by validating actual work performance, physically checking an attribute of the completed task, checking a management information report, investigating customer complaints, conferring with facility managers, or otherwise inspecting the task or its results to determine whether or not performance meets the standards contained in this PWS. The CO or COR will use the contractor’s work schedule or modified version thereof, to record validation results. Results of the validation then become the official Air Force record of the Contractor’s performance. When a performance threshold has not been met or contractor performance has not been accomplished, the COR will initiate and provide the Contracting Officer a Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR) DD Form 2772 for issuance to the contractor. The contractor shall respond to the CDR IAW instructions provided and return it to the Contracting Officer within 1 calendar days of receipt.

4. GENERAL INFORMATION

4.1. Damages to government buildings, equipment, or vegetation Damages to Government buildings, equipment, or vegetation are addressed in clause 52.237-2 – “Protection of Government Buildings, Equipment, and Vegetation.”

4.2. Environmental Requirements

In addition to all applicable Federal, State and local environmental codes and regulations, the following specific guidance is provided:

4.2.1. Hazardous Materials

The CO shall approve all hazardous materials brought on-site by the contractor prior to use. The contractor shall obtain approval using the application requirements of the AF Form 3952. Once the process is implemented and contractor is trained, the contractor may submit the AF Form 3952 electronically. The CO has the right to prohibit the use of hazardous materials it deems to be especially hazardous to human health and environment. In the event the CO does not approve a hazardous material for use, the CO may provide the contractor a list of suitable substitutes; however, the contractor shall retain responsibility for finding an acceptable substitute. The contractor shall take appropriate actions to comply with waste minimization and pollution prevention practices and policies

4.2.2. Spill Controls.

The contractor shall maintain spill control material on hand at all times sufficient to contain a worse case spill, both volume and hazard level.

4.2.3. Pesticides

The contractor shall provide an inventory of hazardous materials with the applicable Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) that will be used to perform the required services. In addition, use reasonable care to avoid releasing hazardous material or hazardous waste, which may cause environmental damage to government structures, public land, water, or other natural resources. If the Contractor’s failure to use reasonable care causes damage to any of this property, the Contractor shall replace or repair the damage at no expense to the Government as the CO directs. If the Contractor fails or refuses to make such repair or replacement, the Contractor shall be liable for the cost, which may be deducted from the contract price.

4.2.3.1. Pesticide Storage and Mixing

Perform pesticide storage and mixing operations off base.

4.2.4. Hazardous Materials Inventory

The contractor shall maintain an up-to-date hazardous material inventory with copies of MSDS(s) for all materials used on the job site. The contractor shall maintain a complete copy of all approved MSDS and AF Form 3952s.

4.2.5. Hazardous Materials Management

The contractor shall remove all hazardous materials by the end of each workday. Contractor shall not conduct process treatments (e.g. paint thinner solvent recycling) on site.

4.3. Permits, Licenses, and Certifications

Unless otherwise specified in this contract, obtain necessary permits, licenses, and certifications; give all required notices; and comply with applicable Federal, State, County, and local laws, codes, and regulations in performance of the requirements of this contract. Maintain records of such requirements and make the documentation available to the Government for review. All pesticide application will be made by State or Host Nation certified applicator as prescribed in DoDI 4150.07.

4.4. Hours of Operation

Perform grounds maintenance services during normal duty hours which are 0730 – 1630, Mondays through Fridays, excluding federal holidays, unless otherwise required in the contract or approved by the CO. There may be situations that require the contractor to work at times other than normal working hours. When the contractor’s work schedule conflicts with an Air Force mission requirement, advise the CO and reschedule the work to minimize disruption.

4.5. Recognized Holiday

Federal holidays will be observed by the contractor except where Service Contract Act specifies differently. If a holiday falls on a scheduled service day, the Contractor will be responsible for rescheduling services for the first day post the holiday observance

4.6. Interfaces

Do not unduly interfere with regularly scheduled Government operational activities in the performance of contract requirements. In the event a Government supervisor so requests to temporarily cease work in the area and report the instructions, to include name of the Government person involved, to the CO immediately by the most expedient means. Notify the CO verbally of disputes with customers or other base contractors and follow-up in writing.

4.7. Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer Representative The Contracting Officer will appoint a representative for management of the day-to-day activities of the contract. The identity, title, and authority of this representative will be provided in writing to the contractor after contact award.

4.8. Safety Requirements and Reports

The contractor shall perform work in a safe manner as required by OSHA Safety and Health Requirements. Provide a verbal report to the CO as soon as possible of each occurrence of damage to Government property or an accident resulting in death, injury, occupational disease, or adverse environmental impact. Provide a completed copy of required Accident Investigation Reports to the CO within five calendar days of each occurrence.

4.9. Schedules

The contractor shall submit a schedule for all services described in this PWS to the CO for review at the post-award conference and at each option year. The schedule shall identify plots, acreages, or base areas and days of the week service will occur. The schedule may be submitted electronically using a file format compatible with Government software programs such as "Microsoft Office", PDF or Google Docs software.

4.9.1. Schedule Changes

Occurrence based (non-permanent and no more than once a month) schedule changes due to customer requests or base exercises shall be supported by the contractor. The COR will request the changes to the contractor 10 days before the schedule change take place for improved grounds mowing only at no additional cost to the government.

5. Appendixes

Appendix A- Site Map Appendix B- Definitions

Appendix A- Site Map

1501 San Pedro Drive SE, Bldg 47, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87108

Appendix B- Definitions

1. Scalping – areas where the grass is mowed too close to the ground because of uneven ground underneath. When grass is mowed too close to the ground it frequently appears as an unsightly yellow scar. Typically scalping occurs when mowing on hill sides and around obstacles on uneven terrain.

2. Xeriscaping - a landscaping method that employs drought-resistant plants in an effort to conserve resources, especially water, and reduce yard trimmings. Xeriscaping uses decorative brick, lava rock, mulch and low water vegetation such as bougainvillea, hibiscus, cactus, and evergreen ground covering plants to eliminate the high costs of maintaining 2”-4” grass fields and reduce the cost of watering.

3. Rutting – visible marks left on the grounds from the wheels of mowing and edging equipment.

4. Topping – The reduction of a tree’s size using heading cuts that shorten limbs or branches back to a predetermined crown limit. Topping is not an acceptable pruning practice.

5. Lion’s Tailing – The removal of an excessive number of inner, lateral branches from parent branches. Lion’s tailing is not an acceptable pruning practice.

6. Types of Pruning:

a. Cleaning – Selective pruning to remove to remove one or more of the following parts: dead, diseased, and/or broken branches.

b. Thinning – Selective pruning to reduce density of live branches.

c. Raising – Selective pruning to provide vertical clearance.

d. Reduction – Selective pruning to decrease the height and/or spread..

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