Attachment 1 Performance Work Statement and QASP.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Performance Work Statement and QASP

Landscaping Services

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

General Information

1.0 Background and Purpose:

1.1 The USDA ARS Invasive Plant Research Lab performs research related to the biological control of invasive plants.

Many of the labs house plants, all insects are kept in containment. The Main building has a quarantine space which is used to house insects and plants for study. Quarantine cleaning and trash removal is maintained by USDA employees, contractors will not need to enter this space.

1.2 This requirement is to provide Landscaping Services, maintaining a satisfactory facility condition and presenting a clean, neat, and professional appearance along with ensuring health, safety and protection of valuable research conducted at this facility.

2.0 Scope: The Prime Contractor shall provide all personnel, facilities, transportation, and supervision necessary to perform landscaping services at the USDA ARS Invasive Plant Research Lab as defined in this Performance Work Statement (PWS) and QASP. The Contractor shall perform to the standards of this PWS. This is a performance-based requirement, the labor mix of employees to perform this contract remains the discretion of the Contractor for all services.

3.0 Government Provided:

3.1 All tools, OSHA required personal protective equipment (PPE,) supplies, and equipment necessary to perform the services defined in this PWS.

3.2 Routine maintenance (e.g. lubrication of parts, oil changes, etc.) of the equipment provided will be responsibility of the contractor.

3.3 The government will provide use of Janitors closets within each facility and all utilities required to support the assigned area.

4.0 Definitions:

4.1 CLIN – Contract Line Item, numbered. Established in the solicitation schedule, will start with “0001.”

4.2 Privity of Contract - Contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Prime Contractor, who, in turn, is responsible to the Government.

4.3 Government Technical Monitor – USDA Employee Location representative appointed by the Contracting Officer to monitor, evaluate, and communicate to the CO the Contractor’s performance in complying with contract requirements in an efficient and timely manner.

4.4 Linear Feet – A unit of measure used in tree pruning, edging, and trimming to quantify the length of linear plantings when length is more relevant to the labor required than diameter or height.

4.5 Program Office Administrative Officer – USDA Employee Location/Program Office administrative representative identified by the Contracting Officer at point of award. The Program Office Administrative Officer may not be physically located at the facility.

4.6 ‘Calendar Days’- Every single day on the calendar (12 AM to 11:59 PM), including weekends, holidays, and non-working days.

4.7 ‘Business Days’ – Standard business days 8AM to 5PM USA Eastern Time with holiday exceptions as noted:

Listed below are official Government holidays:

New Year’s Day January 1*

Martin L. King Birthday Third Monday in January President's Day Third Monday in February Memorial Day Last Monday in May Juneteenth As Indicated Independence Day July 4* Labor Day First Monday in September Columbus Day Second Monday in October Veterans Day November 11* Thanksgiving Day Fourth Thursday in November Christmas Day December 25* OR when the USDA-ARS facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government-directed facility closings *In accordance with Federal regulations, if these holidays fall on a Saturday, the holiday will be observed on Friday, if Sunday, holiday will be observed on Monday.

5.0 Period of Performance: The period of performance (PoP) shall be for one (1) Base Year of 12 months and four 12-month option years.

6.0 Hours of Service Performance:

6.1 General Hours: 7:30 AM through 4:00 PM Eastern Time on Business Days, Monday through Friday.

6.2 The rate of Specific Task service performance is determined in section 9.2.

7.0 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be conducted at the USDA ARS Invasive Plant Research Lab located at 3225 College Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7719.

8.0 Invoicing and Payment:

8.1 The "Submit Invoice-to" address for USDA orders is the Department of Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

8.2 All invoices shall be submitted via the electronic Invoice Processing Platform. This is a mandatory requirement initiated by the U.S. Department of Treasury. More information is available at https://www.ipp.gov. The Department of Treasury is the point of contact for all IPP Collector account inquiries.

8.3 Payment is in arrears pursuant to the clause at FAR 52.212-4. Note FAR 52.212-4 (i)(1) Items accepted. Payment shall be made for items accepted by the Government that have been delivered to the delivery destinations set forth in this contract.

8.4 Payment will not be made for service in advance of delivery.

8.5 The invoice cycle is monthly.

8.6 Advance invoice approval is not required, as required approval tiers exist in IPP.

Contractor Requirements

9.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks Matrix – See Appendix for Building Details

9.1 General Tasks

9.1.1 The contractor is responsible for verifying all requirement dimensions and site conditions prior to beginning work and providing an adequate labor mix to complete work.

9.1.2 Routine maintenance (e.g. lubrication of parts, oil changes, etc.) of Government equipment provided will be responsibility of the contractor.

9.1.3 Contractor personnel shall safeguard all Government-furnished property, in their possession or provided for use in daily performance, from theft, loss, or damage.

9.1.4 Contractor personnel shall keep work areas clean and take measures to control debris while work is being performed.

9.1.5 Contractor personnel shall work with the Government Technical Monitor and Program Office Administrative Officer to ensure all work is performed in such a manner as to not adversely affect daily operations of the facility, its workers, and the onsite facility operations.

9.1.6 Site Safety Plan

9.1.6.1 The Contactor shall submit a written Site Safety Plan in the below format within 10 calendar days of contract award.

9.1.6.1.1 Hazard Assessment & Mitigation

9.1.6.1.1.1 Environmental

9.1.6.1.1.2 Chemical

9.1.6.1.1.3 Physical (equipment, noise, falling objects, etc.)

9.1.6.1.2 Required Personal Protective Equipment

9.1.6.1.3 Emergency Procedures (map to nearest hospital, communication, first aid kit access)

9.1.6.1.4 Heat Illness Prevention (hydration, shade, rest breaks)

9.1.6.1.5 Equipment Maintenance (tool and equipment inspection for safety hazards)

9.1.6.1.6 Training (on site hazard identification training)

9.2 Specific Tasks – To be conducted once per calendar week.

9.2.1 Mowing – Approximately 50,000 square feet.

9.2.1.1 Mowing of the areas around the main building in front and back of buildings (B001, B003, B005, B006, B017, B024, B028 and side areas) and around the research grove areas.

9.2.1.2 Blowing leaves and clippings off sidewalks.

9.2.1.3 Mowing during growing seasons will be conducted as needed and during non-growing seasons it will be done only to maintain a manicured appearance.

9.2.1.4 Mowing within growing areas upon request and only after consulting with personnel responsible for the area.

9.2.2 Edging & Trimming – Approximately 5,000 linear feet.

9.2.2.1 Edging around main buildings (B001, B003, B005, B006, B017, B024, B028 and side areas, sidewalks, and the KIND garden.

9.2.2.2 Utilize a weed eater in areas around trees, along the sidewalk around lamps, around fire hydrants, traffic signs, and other areas not accessible to lawn mower around main buildings.

9.2.3 Pruning – Approximately 3,000 linear feet.

9.2.3.1 Pruning of bushes during growing season and removal of dead leaves.

9.2.3.2 Pruning of hanging branches of trees and structural pruning to avoid damage of trees during hurricane season.

9.2.3.3 Hand weeding around plants in front of B017 and B0028.

9.2.4 Pesticide Application – Variable to weed growth – Approximately 5,000 square feet.

9.2.4.1 Applying approved herbicides in areas with gravel including the KIND garden, around USDA research tanks throughout the complex, in mechanical yard, around outsides of screenhouses and sheds, where weeds appear around sidewalks, and around buildings that are not accessible by lawn mower.

9.2.4.2 Volume and type of pesticides will be determined only by the Location Technical Monitor.

10.0 Contractor Personnel

10.1 Contractor Key Personnel:

10.1.1 The Prime Contractor shall provide a Prime Contractor Representative who shall be responsible for the performance of the work and shall be the central point of contact with the Government.

10.1.1.1 The name of the Prime Contractor Representative and an alternate who shall act on behalf of the Prime contractor when the Prime Contractor Representative is absent shall be designated in writing with current contact information to the Government Technical Monitor within 10 calendar days of award.

10.1.1.2 The Prime Contractor Representative or alternate shall have full authority to act for the Prime Contractor on all contract matters relating to the daily operation of this contract.

10.1.1.3 The Prime Contractor Representative is not required to be on site but is required to be available via phone or email when service is being provided.

10.1.1.3.1 The Prime Contractor Representative can be one of the On-Site Employees. If the Prime Contractor Representative is not on site, an on-site Foremen shall be designated by name and identified to the Government Technical Monitor.

10.1.1.3.2 At no point shall contractor personnel not know who the Foreman or Prime Contractor Representative is or how to contact them.

10.1.2 Rosters: The Contractor shall provide the Government Technical Monitor a list of all employees who will perform work under this contract within 10 calendar days of award.

10.1.2.1 The list shall include the name and work assignment of each employee.

10.1.2.2 The Contractor shall maintain revisions and updates to this list and submit them to the Government Technical Monitor.

10.1.3 Within 15 days of award, the documentation required for contractor employee PIV Cards shall be submitted to the Program Office Administrative Officer.

10.2 Privity of Contract:

10.2.1 Contractor personnel shall be accountable solely to the Prime Contractor, who, in turn, is responsible for all aspects of contract performance.

10.2.2 The USDA is not responsible for, nor will be directly involved in Prime Contractor personnel actions, such as hiring evaluations, position interviews, resume reviews, contacting individual employees, etc.

10.3 Conduct of Contractor Personnel:

10.3.1 All contract personnel working in situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are USDA/Government officials.

10.3.1.1 Contractor personnel shall present a neat appearance and be easily recognized. This may be accomplished by wearing clothing bearing the name of the company or by wearing an appropriate badge containing the company name and employee name.

10.3.1.2 Contractor personnel shall be fully attired at all times.

10.3.2 All documents or reports produced by Contractors are suitably marked as Contractor products or that Contractor participation is appropriately disclosed.

10.3.3 Contractor employees shall comply with the facility traffic regulations and other policies pertaining to the conduct of personnel on Government facilities.

10.3.4 Only contractor-named personnel shall be allowed at the worksite during performance of this contract.

10.3.4.1 No pets will be allowed on site.

10.3.4.2 Presence of minors accompanying any contractor personnel will be cause for immediate removal from the facility and notification to the Prime Contractor Representative.

10.3.5 Contractor personnel shall in no event enter any area to which access is restricted, unless such area has been specifically identified as an area in which services are to be rendered.

11.0 Security Requirements

11.1 Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Employees:

11.1.1 The contractor shall comply with the personal identity verification (PIV) policies and procedures established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Directives 4620-002 series. https://www.usda.gov/directives/dm- 4620-002

11.1.2 Should the USDA Directives 4620-002 require the exclusion of a contractor's employee, the Contracting Officer, Program Office Administrative Officer, or Government Technical Monitor notify the contractor in writing. The prime contractor representative shall manage compliance with the PIV policies established by the USDA Directives 4620-002 and to maintain a list of employees eligible for a USDA PIV card required for performance of the work.

11.1.3 The responsibility for maintaining a sufficient workforce remains with the contractor. Contractor employees may be barred by the Government from performance of work should they be found ineligible or to have lost eligibility for a USDA PIV ID card. Failure to maintain a sufficient workforce of employees eligible for a USDA PIV ID card may be grounds for termination of the contract.

11.1.4 The PIV Sponsor for this contract is the USDA Program Office Administrative Officer. Background Investigation data will only be submitted to the PIV Sponsor. No other parties will be included in Background Investigation submittal communications from the contractor to the PIV Sponsor.

11.1.5 Upon compliance with the established USDA Directives 4620-002 series, the Government is responsible for the cost of PIV ID Card upon submittal of background investigation information to the PIV Sponsor.

11.1.6 Contractor employees that have not been issued a PIV ID Card will not be allowed to perform work for this requirement without a USDA employee escort present at all times.

11.1.7 PII (Personally Identifiable Information) submittals will only be submitted to the PIV card sponsor, no other USDA personnel shall be included in document submittals.

12.0 Insurance Requirements

12.1 Workers’ Compensation and Employer's Liability. The Contractor is required to comply with applicable

Federal and State workers' compensation and occupational disease statutes. If occupational diseases are not compensable under those statutes, they must be covered under the employer's liability section of the insurance policy, except when contract operations are so commingled with a Contractor's commercial operations that it would not be practical to require this coverage. Employer's liability coverage of at least $100,000 must be required, except in States with exclusive or monopolistic funds that do not permit worker's compensation to be written by private carriers.

12.2 General Liability. The Contractor must have bodily injury liability insurance coverage written on a comprehensive form of policy of at least $500,000 per occurrence.

12.3 Automobile Liability. The Contractor must have automobile liability insurance written on a comprehensive form of policy. The policy must provide for bodily injury and property damage liability covering the operation of all automobiles used in connection with performing the contract. Policies covering automobiles operated in the United States must provide coverage of at least $200,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $20,000 per occurrence for property damage or loss.

12.4 Aircraft Public and Passenger Liability. When aircraft are used in connection with performing the contract, the Contractor must have aircraft public and passenger liability insurance. Coverage must be at least $200,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, other than passenger injury. Coverage for passenger injury must be at least $200,000 multiplied by the number of seats or passengers, whichever is greater.

12.5 Proof of insurance shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer pursuant to the clause at FAR 52.228-5 within 5 calendar days of award.

13.0 Submittal Schedule:

Submittal Reference Delivery

Format

Due by

Proof of Insurance Clause at FAR 52.228-5, Insurance - Work on a

Government Installation and section entitled Insurance Under

Fixed-Price Contracts.

Emailed PDF to Government

Technical Monitor and CO

Within 5 calendar days of award.

Key Personnel – Prime Contractor

Representative

Section 10 Emailed PDF to Government

Technical Monitor and CO

Within 10 calendar days of award

Key Personnel – list of employees who will work on-site performing services.

Section 10 Emailed PDF to Government

Technical Monitor and CO

Within 10 calendar days of award

Site Safety Plan Section 9.1 Emailed PDF to Government

Technical Monitor and CO

Within 10 calendar days of award

PIV Card BI Submittal information for on-site employees

Section 10.1 and 11 Emailed to PIV Sponsor

Within 15 calendar days of award

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

14.0 Performance Requirement Measures/QASP:

14.1 The Government shall establish a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) as a means of evaluating whether the Contractor is meeting the performance standards/quality levels identified in the PWS to ensure that the government pays only for the level of services received. The requirements are stated below.

14.2 Surveillance Requirements for Section 9:

14.2.1 The Government Technical Monitor will complete random, unannounced inspections weekly of the areas identified in Section 9 to the detail established in Section 10.

14.2.2 If no deficiencies are noted, the monthly performance level for Section 9 requirements is 100%

14.2.3 Otherwise, any deficiencies will be documented in writing via email to the contractor. A camera or video may be used to visually document any deficiencies.

14.3 Corrective Action Requirements for Section 9:

14.3.1 In the event there are performance deficiencies, the Government Technical Monitor will notify the Prime Contractor Representative by noon Eastern time the next business day following the service inspection in writing indicating the section of the PWS by number where the deficiencies occurred.

14.3.2 Upon notification, the Prime Contractor Representative shall be allowed three business days to correct the deficiency.

14.3.3 If the deficiency is not corrected within three business days or the correction is not accepted by the Government Technical Monitor, the Government Technical Monitor will document the overall service visit as a percentage performance level less than 100%.

14.3.4 If a three-month performance level rolling percentage level drops below 85%, the Contracting Officer will be notified to pursue corrective action.

14.4 Surveillance and Corrective Action Requirements for Sections 10, 11, 12, and 13:

14.4.1 Section 10 –Any performance level under 100% will be reported to the Contracting Officer for immediate corrective action.

14.4.2 Section 11 - Any performance level under 100% will be reported to the Contracting Officer for immediate corrective action.

14.4.3 Section 12 – Any performance level under 100% will be reported to the Contracting Officer for immediate corrective action.

14.4.4 Section 13– If Notice to Proceed is not issued within 30 days of contract award due to less than 100% submittal performance, the Contracting Officer will pursue corrective action.

14.5 Any QASP-related performance standard / quality level corrective action shall be adjudicated by the Contracting Officer pursuant to the contract clause at FAR 52.212-4 and any other related contract terms and conditions.

Appendix