Attachment_J-2_Grounds_Maint_Services.pdf

ATTACHMENT J-2

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SERVICES

1. Application of Herbicides. The Contractor shall comply with the requirements specified below for any work that involves the handling or application of herbicides.

1.1 Business Licensing. The Contractor shall possess a business license issued by the District of Columbia to provide pest/vegetation control services. Proof of local/state licensing shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) within 15 days of award.

1.2 Equipment. The Contractor shall provide repair and maintenance, as necessary, to keep all equipment in good operating condition, and take appropriate action regarding the following:

1.2.1 All tanks, hoses, pumps, control valves, and gauges shall be free of visible deterioration, shall not leak, and shall operate at the manufacturer's recommended rates and pressures. Equipment that has failed shall be replaced or repaired by the Contractor prior to resuming operations.

1.2.2 Screens, strainers, and filters shall be used and maintained per the pump, sprayer, and nozzle manufacturer's instructions.

1.2.3 Spray nozzles shall deliver spray patterns as specified by the nozzle manufacturer.

Nozzles that become clogged or eroded shall be repaired or replaced by the Contractor prior to resuming operations.

1.2.4 All pesticide/herbicide dispersal equipment, shall be clearly and plainly marked with "DANGER"..."PESTICIDES", or as required by applicable regulations.

1.3 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The Contractor shall provide PPE to each of their pest/vegetation control applicators. This equipment shall include, at a minimum, the PPE required by the pesticide label and SDS.

1.4 Vehicles.

1.4.1 Vehicles used to transport pesticides/herbicides shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher, a spill containment kit capable of containing any potential pesticide/herbicide spill, an emergency eye wash station, at least two gallons of emergency wash water for personal decontamination, and a first aid kit. All pesticides/herbicides carried on vehicles shall be stored in a locked compartment separate from the cab of the vehicle. Vehicles shall not be left unattended at any time unless properly locked and secured. Pest/vegetation control vehicles shall be marked with the owner's or Contractor's name clearly identified as a pest control vehicle per District of Columbia regulations. Each vehicle shall display applicable state or federal department of transportation or agency placard and other identification markings as required by Federal, state, or local regulations. All vehicles shall be maintained with a clean and orderly appearance, free from pesticide/herbicide residues or grime buildup. Vehicles shall not be cleaned, washed, or rinsed on Government property.

9594CS19Q0027

Attachment J-2

1.4.2 Vehicles shall not be permitted on sidewalks or lawns without prior approval from the COR. The Contractor's request shall include the methods on how he intends to protect the lawns and sidewalks from damage and is responsible for replacing or restoring all lawns, plants, and property damaged by the Contractor to their original condition or better at no additional cost to the Government.

1.5 Working Adjacent to Parking Areas. Work shall be performed with care on grounds adjacent to parking areas so as to prevent damage to parked vehicles.

1.6 All pesticides/herbicides, must be used in accordance with Federal and District of Columbia policies and regulations.

1.7 All pesticides/herbicides shall be procured, processed, handled, and applied in strict accordance with the manufacturer's label.

1.8 All pesticides/herbicides shall be registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the District of Columbia pesticide regulatory agency for the use intended.

2. General Grounds Maintenance Services. The Contractor shall maintain all plants, trees, shrubs, ground cover, and lawns in a manner that prolongs life and sustains a healthy appearance.

The Contractor shall seek to prevent pollution by, among other things, reducing fertilizer and pesticide use, using integrated pest management techniques, recycling green waste, and minimizing runoff. Grounds maintenance services shall benefit the environment and generate cost savings to the Federal Government by preserving and protecting the native plants and wildlife habitat entrusted to us.

3. Composting. To reduce the amount of material being disposed of in landfills, the Contractor shall compost, to the greatest extent possible, yard waste generated by the Contractor's operations. The Contractor shall not compost material on-site. The Contractor shall utilize an approved recycling or composting facility or compost the material at the Contractor's own facility.

4. Trees and Shrubs.

4.1 Maintenance. All trees and shrubs should be fully protected from damage. Tree stakes, tree ties, and guy wire shall be of materials that are comparable to those existing on site, and shall be replaced or repaired by the Contractor as needed. Supports or braces are to be repositioned as often as necessary to prevent damage to the tree or shrub trunk. Sand pans can be used for trees and shrubs to protect the plant trunk from the mower and to help avoid over-watering.

4.2 Pruning. Trees and shrubs shall be kept pruned to clear all roads, drives, walking areas, fence lines, fence fabric, brick walls, signs, street lights, power poles, guy wires, etc. Any limbs and branches touching or brushing buildings or other structures are also to be pruned to provide clearance and free air circulation around the plant. When pruning the Contractor shall remove all dead or diseased foliage or branches. The Contractor shall remove and dispose of all clippings and trimmings, in a timely manner to promote a neat and healthy appearance.

5. Mulching.

5.1 Replacing Mulch. Contractor shall replace existing mulch once a year each Spring.

Replacement mulch shall be commercial grade shredded hardwood bark, synthetic composite (such as Rubberific or equivalent). The mulch shall be free of sticks, stones, clods, or other foreign material. All areas to be mulched shall be raked, debris removed, edge re-established, and any excessive mulch buildup worked into existing soil or removed.

5.2 Maintaining Mulch Beds. Mulch beds shall be raked to an attractive appearance in the Fall of each year.

6. Mowing and Edging.

6.1 Mowing. Contractor shall mow all turf areas at a frequency and method that ensures that all areas present an attractive appearance at all times. Turf must be maintained at a height of 3 inches. Turf must be mowed when it is at a height of four inches. Mulching mowers or non-mulching mowers may be used. Grass clippings shall be cleared from mowed areas, walkways and roadways, and must be removed from the premises.

6.2 Edging. The Contractor shall maintain an edged cut to ensure a neat appearance (i.e., edging is uniform in appearance and does not encroach on any adjoining surfaces). Edging shall be performed where vegetation/turf meets any concrete, asphalt, or aggregate surface, where vegetation/turf abuts planter beds, or wherever needed to maintain vegetation/turf delineation.

7. Over-Seeding, Dethatching, and Plugging. Over-seed, dethatch, and plug as necessary to prevent bare areas and promote even growth of turf areas following common and local landscaping practices.

8. Fertilization. All lawn and ground cover shall be fertilized twice a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. Fertilizer used shall be of a balanced type that supplies all nutrients required for providing sustainable growth and development.

9. Flowerbeds, Plants, and Shrubs.

9.1 Flowerbeds. Flowerbeds are to be free from weeds and debris. The contractor shall replant annual flowers each Spring in the flowerbeds located at the following facilities:

• 3850 South Capitol St., SE; and

• 1900 Massachusetts Ave, SE (RSC).

9.2 Plant Replacement. The Contractor shall be responsible for all costs associated with the replacement of all planted materials that have been damaged as a direct result of the Contractor’s lack of oversight, neglect, or lack of proper care and maintenance.

10. Soil and Ground Cover.

10.1 Aeration. Soil shall be aerated by manual or mechanical methods of piercing the ground to provide an adequate air supply to the soil and promote sustained plant life. Aeration frequency is dependent on the type of soil and grass but shall be performed no less than one aeration-per year.

10.2 Cultivation. Soil shall be cultivated to ensure the topsoil is loose for the purposes of gas exchange, water penetration, and soil aeration.

10.3 Groundcover. All areas shall be maintained to promote healthy and sustained growth.

Ground cover must present a neat appearance.

11. Fence Lines. Grass and native grass at the fence lines shall be controlled and not exceed 3 inches in height. Application of any chemicals must be accomplished by a Licensed Operator.

12. Weeds. The Contractor shall perform pre and post emergent weed control (herbicide) to ensure improved grounds are free of undesired vegetation. All areas are to be free of weeds and unwanted growth.

12.1 Pre-emergent vegetation control (herbicide) shall be accomplished at the beginning of growing season.

12.2 Post-emergent vegetation control (herbicide) shall be accomplished in the middle of the growing season.

13. Irrigation (only at 1900 Massachusetts Ave, SE (RSC).

13.1 Within 15 days of award, the Contractor shall conduct a walk-through and inspect the irrigation system (sprinklers, rain and freeze sensors, and drip systems) and submit a list of all damages to those systems to the COR. The irrigation system at the RSC is operated by the government. The Contractor is not required to provide any additional irrigation at this site.

13.2 The Contractor is not responsible for the replacement of landscaping materials that die as a result of a lack of proper access to water during these periods of water restrictions by municipalities.

13.3 The Contractor shall notify the COR, via email, of any inoperable irrigation system components within one business day after inspection. The Contractor shall be fully responsible for the cost of repairs resulting from Contractor negligence.

14. Snow and Ice Removal.

14.1 All requirements for snow removal services are included in Attachment J-6, Additional Services, since the cost of these services are not included in the monthly price for grounds maintenance under CLIN 0002. However, any costs associated with the following effort is included under CLIN 0002.

14.2 By October 15th of each year of performance, the Contractor shall submit a detailed snow and ice removal plan to the COR. The plan shall be submitted electronically in accordance with purchase order Section D. At a minimum, the snow and ice removal plan shall include the following:

14.2.1 Plan for accomplishing the work to include level of effort, e.g., the order of locations to be services, manpower and equipment to be used, estimated number of hours to plow and shovel by location (based on frequency requirements identified in Attachment J-6, Additional Services, Section 10, Snow and Ice Removal Services;

14.2.2 How the Contractor will monitor the need for additional removal efforts during the immediate snow event;

14.2.3 Confirmation of understanding the 24/7 treatment needs for 1900 Massachusetts Ave, SE (RSC);

14.2.4 List of materials and chemicals (all chemicals to be used shall be approved by the COR prior to the first inclement weather event; selected chemicals shall not damage any areas to be treated); and

14.2.5 Confirmation of required COR notification procedures (which are outlined in Attachment J-6, Additional Services, Section 10, Snow and Ice Removal Services.