Attachment 12 Revised SOW CERAP Grounds 9-25-24.docx

SPECIFICATIONS

Ground Maintenance Services CERAP / Carolina, PR

1. GENERAL

1.1 General Intention. These specifications cover the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), for grounds maintenance service at the San Juan CERAP, Carolina, Puerto Rico. •

1.2 Scope of work. The work includes furnishing all labor, equipment, materials, and supplies required for the upkeep of the grounds, walks, and drives as described hereinafter.

The work includes, but is not limited to, fertilizing, watering, mowing, and reseeding the lawns; application of herbicides; watering and trimming shrubbery; edging walks and drives; sweeping walkways, parking areas, and access drives; maintenance of flower beds; replanting shrubs and trees; keeping drainage swales, ditches, curb openings, culverts, etc., open and free from obstructions; cutting and removing vines, weeds, trees, and other growths within the following areas:

1.2.1

1.2.2 I I

1.2.3

The areas within the CERAP compound, enclosed by the security fence, approximately.

6.4 acres.

The area between the south section of fence and the concrete curb fronting the expressway, approximately 0.25 acre.

A ten feet (10') wide strip along the exterior of the double fence on the north and west sections, in addition to the strip of land between the double fence sections, approximately 0.52 acre.

1.2.4 An area on the west section, seventy feet (70') wide to the west from the existing fence and parallel to it for 524 feet long, approximately 1.15 acre.

1.2.5 The area along the east fence section between the marginal road and the Weather Service access gate from the CERAP fence up to the FMP Yard fence, approximately.

0.34 acre.

1.2.6 The area along the east fence section, from Weather Service access gate to the north fence section, a ten feet (10') wide strip between the fence and the far side of the drainage ditch, approximately 0.37 acre.

1.2.7 The area along the north, east, and south fence sections of the FMP Yard, a strip five feet (5') wide with the fence in the center; plus, a strip three feet (3') wide along the inside of the west fence section, FMP Yard, approximately 0.07 acre.

1.3 Coordination. The contractor shall coordinate all planned work with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and shall provide him/her with a work schedule, an Employee List, and a Weekly Work Report. Template provided after award.

1.3.1 At the beginning of each seven (7) days period of this contract, the contractor or a competent superintendent who may act as his agent, shall inspect with the COR at a mutually convenient time, all areas of property. The purpose of this inspection is to ensure compliance with the provisions of the contract; to determine the need of special pruning, spraying, or weed control as provided in subsequent sections and to evaluate any replanting or replacement which may be required, etc.

1.3.2 A final inspection will be made of the premises 30 days prior to expiration. of the contract, at which time any sub-standard maintenance or condition of the areas covered by the contract will be noted. Below standard conditions noted in the weekly and final inspection shall be corrected by the contractor within seven (7) days, unless mutually agreed to otherwise by the contractor and the COR.

1.4 Damage to Property. The contractor shall immediately report to the COR any damages to the property or adjoining properties caused by himself, his personnel or equipment. The contractor shall be responsible for the repair or replacement of damaged items.

1.5 Replacements. Any plant materials damaged as the result of carelessness, mistreatment, or lack of maintenance service on the part of the contractor of his personnel, will be replaced at the expense of the contractor.

1.6 Clean Up. At the close of each day's work, the contractor shall remove all woody of leafy clippings and weeds from the site. Walks and drives shall be left broom clean of all clippings resulting from work under the contract. The clean up shall include picking up paper and incidental trash that way be blown or dropped on the property in the immediate vicinity of the work. All gutters and storm drains shall be kept clean of leaves, grass, and other trash.

The contractor shall collect and remove all leaves and/or other debris from the site as often as necessary, to allow grass to grow and maintain a neat appearance. Once each week on a year-round basis, the entire grounds will be policed of paper and incidental trash.

2. PROSECUTION OF THE WORK.

2.1 Lawns. The objective shall be to maintain and augment the existing lawns and grounds to assure complete coverage but not necessarily to induce growth that will require excessive. cutting or trimming.

2.1.1 Mowing. The grass shall be mowed bi-weekly a month. It is estimated that twenty-four (24) cuttings will be required during the performance of this contract.

2.1.2 Trimming. Special tools or trimmers shall be used as necessary to trim lawns along the edge of walks, curbs, shrub beds or borders and fences, not to exceed 2 weeks between trimmings. Clippers shall be used at the bases of the trees. This trimming shall be done as necessary to prevent the encroachment of grasses into shrub borders and to maintain a neat appearance at trees, fences, and along the margins of the lawn.

2.1.2.1 The parking areas must be done prior or after duty hours which are 0700 thru 1600 (7:00 AM to 4:00PM).

2.1.3 Weed Control.

2.1.3.1 It is anticipated that with a continuous balanced maintenance program, the established predominant lawn grass will crowd out most weeds. However, it shall be the responsibility of the contractor to dig out patches of rank weeds from time to time. Where the patches exceed four square feet in area, they shall be re-seeded with the predominant grass seed at a normal coverage.

2.1.3.2 Where the application of weedkiller is seen to be necessary by the time of a periodic inspection, the application of an FAA and EPA approved herbicide shall be made as prescribed by the manufacturer. The paved areas such as walkways and parking lots shall be kept free of grass and weeds and other debris. Contractor shall provide the weedkiller.

2.1.3.3 Areas surrounding the base of new trees should be cleared of weeds, by hand, and maintained with mulch material for a proper growth.

2.2 Trees-Pruning.

2.2.1 Objective. The objectives to be accomplished under this section are as follows:

2.2.1.1 To remove injured, diseased, or dead branches. •

2.2.1.2 To remove suckers and rank or interfering growth.

2.2.1.3 To remove branches affecting visibility to facility security cameras (the agency will not provide any kind of equipment for mentioned service). If tree pruning is required to correct a security bridge, the service response must be within 24 hours.

2.2.1.4 To remove branches or trees growing in proximity or touching• the Operational (including Mechanical Wing) and Technical Support buildings.

2.2.1.5 During May, before the Hurricane Season starts, the contractor must perform preventive pruning of all trees to minimize the impact of any Tropical Storm or Hurricane.

No trees shall be sheared or topped or dehorned. Pruning shall be kept at a minimum, for it is desired that the trees keep their natural habits and graces.

2.2.2 Methods. The methods used shall be consistent with standard horticultural and tree surgery practices. Pruning shears, pole pruned, and saws will be always kept sharp. Pole saws and hooks shall not be used. Care shall be taken not to damage trees during pruning by careless use of ladders or by falling branches. Climbing irons or spikes shall not be used.

2.2.2.1 Branches to be shortened shall be cut just above or beyond a side branch or bud. The cut shall be diagonal to the axis of the branches and be made clean without fraying edges. The removal or large, heavy limbs shall be undertaken in the following manner:

First, undercut the branch ¼ its diameter, 8-12 inches from its base. Next, cut through the branch from the top, 1 inch further from the base.

Finally, cut from above, adjacent to the parallel with the axis of the trunk or branch at the base. The cut shall be nearly flush as possible.

All cuts of branches over 1 inch in diameter shall be pared smoothly at the edges with a sharp knife. The cambium shall be covered with shellac; then a commercial tree wood paint shall be applied to the entire cut surface.

2.2.2.2 Coconut palms shall be kept free of old, dead, and hanging leaves, and the coconuts shall be picked before they are rip.

2.2.3 Schedule. Tree pruning shall be undertaken as soon as practical after the need is observed at a periodic inspection. Pruning is to be completed within 15 days; all trimmings shall be removed from the site.

2.3 Tree and Shrub Damage. When existing tree or shrub damage results from windstorm, lightning disease or pests, such damage shall be pruned off or dug out and removed from the site as soon as practical and replaced with the same or similar tree or shrub. The Government will furnish trees and shrubs when damage is a result of Acts of God.

2.4 Shrubs.

2.4.1 Pruning.

2.4.1.1 Objectives. The objectives to be accomplished under this section are as follows:

a. To removed injured, diseased, or dead branches.

b. To remove rank and interfering growth so that the plants may maintain their natural form but be kept in size consistent with their function in the total planting design. To remove old woods at the base of the shrubs so that vigorous new growth may renew the plant.

c. To shape by shearing and trimming those plants whose functions in the planting design are to provide a precise barrier or form.

No plants, other than those listed under item c above shall be sheared or clipped and no plants shall be pruned into rounded artificial mounds or ice cream cone shaped devices.

2.4.1.2 Methods. The methods to be used shall be consistent with accepted horticultural practices. Pruning, shears, knifes, and saws shall be kept sharp at all times. Cuts shall not be ragged and on large stems shall be just about a branch or lateral bud so that dead stubs will be kept at a minimum. The cuts shall be diagonal to the axis of the stem.

Sides of clipped hedges shall be tapered or sloped slightly in toward the body of the plant, with the narrow dimension at the top.

2.4.1.3 Schedule. The schedule of pruning shall be as follows:

a. The removal of damaged, diseased, or dead foliage and branches shall be undertaken continuously.

b. The removal of interfering branches and of old wood shall be undertaken continuously.

c. Shearing and shaping hedge or border plants shall be undertaken six times per year.

2.4.1.4 Extent. The amount of pruning at each visit will vary with the season and with weather conditions.

2.4.2 Weeding. Shrub borders and beds shall be weeded once each month. Regular hoes or pronged hoes may be used if damage to shrub roots and branches can be avoided. However, where weed growth is rank and the loosened roots may re-root, the weeds shall be removed by hand and carried away from the site.

2.4.3 Mulching and Fertilizing. Twice each year all shrub beds shall be mulched to a depth of three inches, including a mixture of 30 pounds of 6-8-6 fertilizers to every 1,000 sq. ft. of area covered. The mulch and fertilizer shall be worked lightly into the top layer of the soil.

2.4.4 Spraying. The contractor shall use appropriate commercial sprays (FAA & EPA Approved), for nominal infection, disease, or insects if these conditions are observed. When extensive infestation is observed, the contractor shall spray as necessary eradication. All such spraying shall be brought to the attention of the COR.

2.4.5 Erosion Control. During the period of this contract, the contractor shall be responsible for preventing the deterioration of the grounds and planted areas by erosion. Any drainage, which is tending to result in eroded areas, shall be corrected.

2.4.6 Guarantee. The contractor shall guarantee all grass, flowers, shrubbery, and trees under the contract against failure to grow (except as noted below), and will restore, treat, or replant any item or items to ensure healthy growth, free of foreign grasses, weeds, or killing insects, and to ensure no loss to the Government of any such item. At the first inspection of the grounds by the Government representative and contractor, an inventory of the grass, flowers, shrubbery, and trees will be made, noting the condition of each item and its likelihood to survival. Items already dead, dying, or not likely to survive, will not be subject to this guarantee.

Similarly, items damaged by Acts of God, such as flood, wind, or hail, shall not be the responsibility of the contractor to replace. The intent of this guarantee is to hold the contractor fully responsible for losses within his control, to prevent losses by diligent care, good horticultural practices, and adherence to contract specifications, the latter intended as guidelines of the work and the minimum acceptable standards.

2.4.7 Gutter Clean Up. The contractor shall keep the gutters on top of the Operational (including Mechanical Wing) and Technical Support buildings clean, free of dead leaves, branches, and debris. This cleaning will be performed bi-weekly or on as needed basis. In addition, the roof of the Operational (including Mechanical Wing) and Technical Support buildings will be clean of any foreign matter as dirt, branches, leaves, etc. To perform the cleaning at the Operational building and Mechanical Wing, the contractor must always be escort by an FAA employee.

2.4.8 Disposal of Trash. The contractor shall provide a trash receptacle for collection of debris and trash generated during his performance.