Attachment 1 STATEMENT OF MOSCOW GROUNDS MAINTENANCE (2).docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Moscow Forestry Sciences Laboratory Estimated Performance Period:

1.0 BACKGROUND

This position is located at the Forest Science Laboratory Moscow, Idaho to perform a variety of duties involved with the upkeep of grounds.

1.4 Scope of Work.

The Contractor shall ensure: 1) that grounds maintenance is performed in a manner that will maintain healthy grass, trees, shrubs, and plants; 2) that employees are present a clean, neat, and professional appearance at all times throughout the year; 3) ensure all Snow/Ice removal is accomplished to ensure the safety of all individuals at the facility.

The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supplies, transportation, employee training and insurance as specified herein. Training and performance of this contract shall include and comply with all applicable OSHA, EPA, local, and State and Federal codes, mandates, and standards. Supplies and materials shall be of a quality and type customarily utilized by current industry standards and equipment ratings and shall be subject to the approval of the Contracting Officer (CO) or Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) (industry standards only applicable where they do not violate any of the afore mentioned codes/mandates). The Contractor shall at all times provide adequate supervision of employees ensuring all required services are accomplished in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.

2.0 Task:

2.1 Mowing. Grass shall be cut at a minimum of least once weekly. Grass clippings shall be removed or mulched after mowing. Grass cutting on grounds shall be so that height of grass is between 2-1/2-inches - 3-1/2-inches. Grounds shall be well manicured throughout the year. Grass clippings shall be cleaned off sidewalks after each mowing.

2.2 Edging. Sidewalks, driveways, curbs, and other concrete or asphalt edges located on the grounds areas shall be edged twice per year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Edging shall include removal of vegetation from cracks in sidewalks, driveways, and curbs.

2.3 Trimming. Grass shall be trimmed around trees, shrubs, buildings, fences, poles, posts, fire hydrants, parking lot bumper blocks, boulders, and other fixed obstacles. Trimming height shall match surrounding area grass heights. All areas shall be trimmed concurrent with mowing. Damage to trees or shrubs from trimming shall be repaired by the Contractor.

2.4 Pruning. All pruning shall be coordinated with COR before service. Pruning shall be accomplished in accordance with industry (ANSI Z133.1 - 1994) standards. Class II medium pruning shall be used in general on all trees. Class IV pruning shall be used only for lifting, removal, and/or cutback of branches that conflict with normal traffic or safety in the vicinity of the trees. Minimum safety clearance is 14 feet over streets, 12 feet over driveways, 8 feet over walk areas, and 4 feet from buildings. Other trees shall be pruned on an as-required basis to provide safety, clearances and/or to prevent structural damage. Topping and de-horning shall not be permitted. Shrubs, small trees, and other plants shall be maintained according to the American Society of Landscape Architect's standards. They shall be pruned as required to maintain their natural growth characteristics. Shrubs and small trees shall be trimmed and pruned to enhance the beauty and health of the plant. Hedges shall be maintained to their natural mature height and shape. Broadleaf evergreens and flowers beds shall be pruned annually or as required maintaining clearances of minimum of 3 inches from buildings, sidewalks, or other obstructions. Damage to trees or shrubs from trimming shall be repaired by the Contractor. If a plant should die or become unhealthy due to damage, the Contractor shall be responsible for replacing the damaged plant with a plant of same size and type. Plant replacement shall occur within 15 days of noticed damage.

2.5 Watering. Contractor shall ensure that ALL plants, trees, shrubs, hedges, and grasses are watered throughout the year as necessary. The Moscow Lab shall provide watering hoses and portable watering devices for irrigating areas that do not have sprinkler systems. Damage to sprinkler system by the Contractor shall be repaired by a certified sprinkler system mechanic with advance notice to the COR/CO, who will, in advance of repair, determine if repairs are outside of normal wear and tear.

2.6 Weeding. Contractor shall monitor all areas weekly and remove all noxious weeds, to include tree sprouts, as necessary. Disposal of all debris shall be off-site in and noxious weeds shall be disposed of in accordance with existing local, state, and federal regulations. All weeds shall be removed or eradicated manually or mechanically, but not chemically. Parking lot weeding with chemicals must be preapproved by COR.

2.7 Grounds Monitoring / Litter Removal. The Contractor shall perform general litter patrol in all areas throughout the year. Responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, the removal and disposal of all natural debris, (tree limbs, dry brush, rodent habitats, dead animals, etc.), and any man-made debris and/or litter. Contractor shall police areas, as a minimum, once weekly. The Contractor shall check in with the COR for each weekly site visit in person, phone, or by email. At other times leaves/pine needles/pinecones shall be removed as necessary. The Government will furnish pick up and disposal of man-made debris and litter generated in or associated with the performance of this contract. The Contractor shall be responsible for the placement of trash in the nearest dumpster. Trash shall not be placed in dumpsters/roll-a-ways belonging to other contractors. If such an event occurs and results in a claim against the Government for disposal of the trash, the Contractor will be charged for the amount of the negotiated claim.

2.8 Fertilize. The Contractor shall perform an effective commercial fertilizer application program for all grounds and trees/shrubs/hedges under six feet tall. Approved fertilizers shall be applied in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Ex: Early spring, apply a fertilizer with a pre-emergent herbicide; late spring, apply a fertilizer with a post-emergent herbicide; late summer apply a fertilizer with insect control; early fall fertilize to stimulate root growth; late fall, winterizer fertilizer that builds resistance to the cold and provides nutrients. Prior to application of fertilizer, contractor shall notify the COR & CO 72 hours in advance of application.

2.9 Aerate Soil. Aerate soil once per year on improved grounds to maintain grounds in a healthy state, to be completed before May 1st.

3.0 SNOW REMOVAL

For snowfalls occurring overnight, with a total accumulation greater than 2 inches, the Contractor shall complete the work prior to 6:30 a.m. the same day.

Should snowfall continue to accumulate upon the premises throughout the day, after the initial morning clearing, the Contractor shall clear the primary site traffic-ways throughout the day for each additional 2 inches of snowfall accumulated. Once snowfall ends, the Contractor shall return after normal office hours to clear the remaining portion of the parking lot, to be completed by 6:30 a.m. the following day.

If Snowfall does occur on a weekend or Federal Holiday, snow removal shall still be completed prior to 6:30 a.m. of the next open business day.

All snow for main lot will be plowed from the parking lot and stored where facilities manager designates. Contractor shall plow front parking lot to minimize piles in floor beds. Snow cannot be stored as to interfere with traffic and egress patterns of the facility. When snowfall exceeds the storage area capacity, as agreed upon by both the COR and Contractor, the Contractor shall contact the COR or Maintenance Person of the Moscow Lab for location of areas where snow can be piled.

3.3 Sidewalks, Walkways, Stairways, Patios, Docks & Ramps. All snow will be removed from the associated public sidewalks, as well as all interior site walkways, when accumulation meets or exceed ½-inch by any natural means (i.e., wind or snow events) and must be accomplished prior to 6:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and Federal Holidays. In addition, all accessible parking spots and aisles shall be shoveled when accumulation meets or exceed ½-inch by any natural means (i.e., wind or snow events). In the event of continual snow fall the site must be monitored throughout the day for additional removal of snow/ice.

3.4 Ice Mitigation. Ice melt shall be applied to the interior site walkways once per shoveling and only after snow has been removed. In addition, a sand/gravel and ice-melt mix shall be applied to the primary walkways.

4.0 General Information

4.1 Government Responsibilities: The Government will not be responsible for damage occasioned by fire, theft, accident, or otherwise to the Contractor's supplies, materials, or equipment in storage, or the Contractor's and their employee's personal belongings.

4.2 Contractor Responsibilities: The Contractor is responsible for loss, theft, damage, or destruction of any Government or personal items belonging or assigned to Forest Service employees when such acts can be proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, to be the fault of the Contractor or one of their employees.

4.3 Fire Prevention: Fire prevention shall be exercised at all times by the Contractor. All combustible material shall be used and stored in a safe manner. Contractor shall report to the COR/CO any fire hazards.

4.4 Full compliance with all Federal, State, Local, USDA and Forest Service regulations is required.

4.5 The work of this contract shall be done in accordance with all applicable local codes and industry standards to include any safety requirements established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

4.6 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Full compliance with environmental and hazardous waste management laws, rules, and regulations is applicable.

4.7 Tobacco Control: The Contractor shall observe the Tobacco Control requirements contained in DR4400-006, 5 U.S.C. 301; 5 U.S.C. 7901; 29 U.S.C. 666; 41 CFR 101-20.105-3; and 41 CFR 101-39.300(d) whenever performing services in or visiting Government facilities/buildings. Outside smoking areas must be located a minimum of 25 feet away from entrances to enclosed areas, common points of ingress and egress to USDA facilities, windows, and all types of HVAC air handling and circulation systems.

4.8 Federal, State, and Local Codes and Laws. All chemicals used will be those commercially available which meet Federal, State, and local codes and which have been approved by the COR/CO.

5.0 Biobased Products. The Contractor shall comply with the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (7 U.S.C. 8102(c)(3)) as required under the clause - 52.223-1 Biobased Product Certification and 52.223-2 Affirmative Procurement of Biobased Products Under Service and Construction Contracts (see Section I).

5.1 Use of biobased products by prospective offerors will be used in the proposal evaluation criteria (see Sections M).

5.2 Examples of acceptable Biobased products can be found at: http://www.biopreferred.gov Following is an example list of products that may be used in this contract for which biobased products are available. The list is not all inclusive. It is desirable that vendors be able to supply the greatest number of biobased products listed meeting the health and environmental specifications.

Hours of Operation.

The Contractor shall schedule and arrange work to cause the least interference with the normal occurrence of Government business and mission. Grounds maintenance may be performed on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, if approved in writing by the Government. Any such work shall be performed at no additional cost to the Government. Work delayed by causes beyond the Contractor’s control and performed beyond normal duty hours and/or non-scheduled days shall be performed at no additional cost to the Government. Offices will be closed on days that fall on Federal Government Holidays.

Schedules. The Contractor shall submit an annual schedule for services described in this Scope of Work to the CO/COR for acceptance at the pre-performance meeting. The Contractor shall be allowed 30 days to adjust work schedules based on inspections. This second work schedule shall be submitted to the CO for acceptance within 10 days after the first contract month period. The Contractor shall not deviate from the accepted schedule without prior approval from the CO/COR. Any permanent changes to the must be submitted 10 days before implementation and receive written CO/COR acceptance before the Government will allow the proposed changes.