B08_Attch_2_-_Appendix_A_-_QASP_ROCR_Grounds_Maintenance.pdf

Appendix A

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

(QASP)

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SERVICES

For the National Park Service

Rock Creek Park

May 16, 2025

Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 PURPOSE

1.2 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT APPROACH

1.3 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

2.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 Contracting Officer

2.2 Contracting Officer Representative

3.0 IDENTIFICATION OF REQUIRED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS/QUALITY LEVELS

4.0 METHODOLOGIES TO MONITOR PERFORMANCE

4.1 Surveillance Techniques

4.2 Customer Feedback

4.3 Acceptable Quality Levels

5.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE DOCUMENTATION

5.1 The Performance Management Feedback Loop

5.2 Monitoring Forms

6.0 ANALYSIS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE MONITORING RESULTS

6.1 Determining Performance

6.2 Reporting

6.3 Reviews and Resolution

6.4 List of Attachments

ATTACHMENT A2 – PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

ATTACHMENT A3 – QUALITY ASSURANCE MONITORING FORM

ATTACHMENT A4 – CUSTOMER COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This quality assurance surveillance plan (QASP) sets forth the procedures and guidelines the National

Park Service (NPS), Rock Creek Park will use in ensuring the required performance standards or services levels are achieved by the contractor.

1.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of the QASP is to describe the systematic methods used to monitor performance and to identify the required documentation and the resources employed. The QASP provides a means for evaluating whether the contractor is meeting required performance standards.

This QASP defines the roles and responsibilities of all members of the project team, identifies the performance objectives, defines the methodologies used to monitor and evaluate the contractor’s performance, describes quality assurance (QA) documentation requirements, and describes the analysis of the QA monitoring results.

1.2 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT APPROACH

This QASP will define the performance management approach taken by the NPS NAMA to monitor the contractor’s performance to ensure realization of performance standards. Performance management rests on developing a capability to review and analyze information generated through performance assessment.

The ability to make decisions based on the analysis of performance data is the cornerstone of performance management; this analysis yields information that indicates whether the contractor is achieving acceptable performance.

1.3 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

The contractor is responsible for the quality of all work performed and shall measure quality through the contractor’s quality control (QC) program. QC is the output of work and includes all work performed regardless of whether the work is performed by direct employees, contractor employees, other teaming partners or subcontractors.

The government representative(s) will monitor performance and review performance reports furnished by the contractor to determine how the contractor is performing against performance standards. The contractor is responsible for making required changes in processes and practices to ensure effective performance management.

2.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 Contracting Officer

The contracting officer (CO) is responsible for monitoring compliance and administration, and for resolving any differences between the observations documented by the NPS/ROCR contracting officer’s representative (COR) and the contractor. The CO will designate a COR as a government authority for performance management.

2.2 Contracting Officer Representative

The contracting officer’s representative (COR), designated in writing by the CO to act as his or her authorized representative, assists in administering the contract. COR’s limitations are contained in the written appointment letter. The COR is responsible for technical administration of the project and ensures proper government surveillance of the contractor’s performance. The COR is not empowered to make any contractual commitments or to authorize any contractual changes on the government’s behalf. The COR shall refer any changes that the contractor deems may affect price, terms, or conditions to the CO for action. The COR is responsible for completing the QA monitoring forms used to document the inspection and evaluation of the contractor’s work performance. Attachment A3 includes the Quality Assurance

Monitoring Form.

3.0 IDENTIFICATION OF REQUIRED PERFORMANCE

STANDARDS/QUALITY LEVELS

The required performance standards and/or quality levels are included in Attachment A2, “Performance

Requirements Summary.”

4.0 METHODOLOGIES TO MONITOR PERFORMANCE

4.1 Surveillance Techniques

To minimize the performance management burden, the government’s evaluation of contractor performance (when appropriate) shall use simplified surveillance methods. The primary methods of surveillance are:

➢ Documentation - Monitoring performed by the COR and to include photographic and written materials provided by the contractor. Includes monthly reporting review.

➢ 100% Inspection – Each month the COR shall review the generated documentation and enter summary results into the Quality Assurance Monitoring Forms

➢ Periodic Inspection – The COR will perform up to three (3) inspections, virtual and/or in-person.

4.2 Customer Feedback

The contractor shall establish and maintain professional communication between its employees and customers. The primary objective of this communication is customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is the most significant external indicator of the success and effectiveness of all services provided and is measurable through customer complaints and surveys.

Performance management drives the contractor to be customer focused through initially and internally addressing customer complaints and investigating the issues and/or problems but the customer always has the option to communicate complaints to the COR, as opposed to the contractor. Customer feedback may be obtained either from the results of formal customer satisfaction surveys or from random customer complaints. Any customer complaints will be investigated by the COR using the Quality Assurance

Monitoring Form – Customer Complaint Investigation, identified in Attachment A4.

4.3 Acceptable Quality Levels

The acceptable quality levels (AQLs) included in Attachment A2, Performance Requirements Summary

Table for contractor performance, are structured to allow the contractor to manage how the work is performed while providing negative incentives for performance shortfalls.

5.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE DOCUMENTATION

5.1 The Performance Management Feedback Loop

Communication of expected outcomes initiates the performance management feedback loop.

Attachment A2 expresses the performance standards expected of the contractor, and the performance monitoring techniques used to assess performance.

5.2 Monitoring Forms

The government’s QA surveillance, accomplished by the COR, will be reported using the monitoring forms in Attachments A3 and A4. The forms, when completed, will document the government’s assessment of the contractor’s performance to ensure achieving the required results.

The COR will retain a copy of all completed QA surveillance forms.

6.0 ANALYSIS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE MONITORING RESULTS

6.1 Determining Performance

Government shall use the monitoring methods cited to determine whether the contractor has met performance standards, service levels, and AQLs. If the contractor has not met the minimum requirements, the government may request the contractor develop a corrective action plan to show how, and by what date, it intends to bring performance up to required levels.

6.2 Reporting

At the end of each month, the COR will prepare a written report for the CO summarizing the overall results of the quality assurance surveillance of the contractor’s performance. This written report, which includes the contractor’s submitted monthly report and the completed quality assurance monitoring forms

(Attachments A3 and A4), will become part of the QA documentation. It will enable the government to demonstrate whether the contractor is meeting the stated objectives and/or performance standards including customer satisfaction regarding Task Order cost/technical/scheduling performance.

6.3 Reviews and Resolution

The COR may require the contractor’s project manager or designated alternate, to meet with the CO and other government personnel as deemed necessary to discuss a performance evaluation. The CO or COR will define a frequency of in-depth reviews with the contractor, however, if the need arises, the contractor will meet with the CO or COR as often as required or per the contractor’s request. The agenda of the reviews may include performance assessment data, issues and concerns of both parties, the projected outlook for upcoming months and progress against expected trends, including a corrective action plan analysis, recommendations for improved efficiency and/or effectiveness, and issues arising from the performance monitoring process.

The COR must coordinate and communicate with the contractor to resolve issues and concerns regarding marginal or unacceptable performance.

The COR and contractor should jointly formulate tactical and long-term courses of action. Decisions regarding changes to metrics, thresholds, or service levels require clear documentation. A modification can incorporate changes to service, procedures, and metrics.

6.4 List of Attachments

Attachment A2 – Performance Requirements Summary

Attachment A3 – Quality Assurance Monitoring Form

Attachment A4 – Customer Complaint Investigation Form

ATTACHMENT Appendix C–

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY or QASP

Rock Creek Park PWS Performance Standard QAS

The Contractor establishes, implements, and maintains a safe, effective, and environmentally sound landscape maintenance program compliant with the

NPS mission

All

All performance is 100% compliant with this PWS.

99% of all standards are met without in-house-services intervention.

No plants/turf are damaged/dead due to Contractor negligence.

All deficiencies are corrected within one (1) workday.

The landscape is always neat and free of extraneous materials.

Contractor shall report all patron interactions of note relating to complaints, safety concerns or issues of important within .5 hours to the COR.

Contractor reports all safety hazards relating to the landscape environment to the COR as conditions are found.

Contractor personnel are compliant with all work standards related to safety and operation.

After hour emergencies are addressed within 90 minutes from the time of request.

Periodic and/or random inspection

Landscape Aesthetics and

Integrity

All

Any and all safety concerns are shared promptly with the

COR so that appropriate action may be taken as determined.

All disturbed areas, sinkholes, and rodent holes are reported to the Government so that appropriate actions may be taken as determined.

No trash, garbage, debris, rocks exist in the landscaped areas; all is picked up and properly discarded, none is disposed in storm drain(s) or in the tree woodline adjacent to the mowed areas.

Limbs on the ground up to 3 inches in diameter are to be removed from parks as needed.

Report hangers in trees to the COR.

Customer complaints shall not exceed 1 per month.

Mowing Sections

2A

Turf is maintained at proper HOC and all conditions affecting operation are taken into consideration.

Turf is not damaged through mudding.

Turf is not damaged through mowing with excessive wilt.

Turf is not damaged from dull blades.

Periodic and/or random inspection

No more than 1 patron complaint per month

Trimming Sections

2B

To match HOC of surrounding turf and all conditions affecting operation are taken into consideration with the

COR.

Trimming is maintained at HOC as needed or a minimum once weekly.

No visible damage to plants (trees/shrubs) or structures.

Periodic and/or

No more than 1 patron complaint per month

Edging Sections

2C

As necessary or at Minimum of bi-monthly to keep neat and clean aesthetic appearance.

Periodic and/or

Maintain Planting Beds and

Mulch Areas

Sections

3A

Planting Beds are edged, mulched, and kept weed free as necessary.

All Planting Beds are mulched by April 30th. A Fall touch up mulch of 1 inch is applied by Sept. 30th.

Mulch depth is maintained at 1 inch in herbaceous perennial beds, 2 inches in all other beds 95% of the time.

There is never excessive mulch buildup in any bed or around any tree. This may mean old mulch removal before installing new mulch.

All mulched beds have a precise, established edge 98% of the time.

Mulched surfaces appear uniform and neat 98% of the time.

Mulched beds around evergreen conical shaped trees measure at least 30 inches of radius or at least one foot beyond branch drip line.

Mulched radius around deciduous trees is factored at 6 inches of mulch per one inch of truck caliper, DBN, but not exceeding a mulch radius of six feet. Do not mulch trees with a DBH exceeding twelve inches.

Dead, damaged, unhealthy, and/or unsafe plant branches are removed.

Plant shape and size is maintained.

Suckers are properly removed from trees.

Pruning equipment is properly sterilized to prevent the spread of diseases.

Vegetation is removed from all seawalls within maintenance area of contract monthly.

Periodic and/or

Leaf Removal Sections

3B

As needed to keep neat and clean aesthetic environment.

Leaves do not accumulate and diminish the health and/or appearance of the landscape.

No piles of leaves are left on property overnight.

Organic matter is properly disposed following all Local, State and Federal guidelines.

Storm drain openings are free of leaves/debris 99% of the time.

Periodic and/or

Remove Litter and Debris

Sections

3C

Grounds are free of trash and litter no later than 9:30 a.m. 7 days a week.

Organic matter is properly disposed following all Local, State and Federal guidelines.

Remove vegetation growing in hardscapes and along curbs as necessary.

Periodic and/or per month

Monitoring and Maintaining

Hardscapes

Section

3D

Blown off by 10:00 a.m. 7 days a week.

Periodic and/or per month

Sod Installation and Care

Section

3F

Per PWS Instructions and as directed by COR.

100%

Satisfaction upon

Completion

Wood Chip Installation

Section

3G

Per PWS Instructions and as directed by COR.

100%

Satisfaction upon

Completion

Trash Removal

Section

3E

Trash must be removed everyday for all locations. All

Local, State and Federal Guidelines for proper disposal must be followed.

Periodic and/or

Emergency-within two hours of notification

Safety

Sections

4I

All employees, occupants and visitors are protected for injury/death 100% of the time.

All mower transportation done in the proper manner

100% of the time.

Emergency assistance numbers and instructions are conspicuously posted 100% of the time.

All related OSHA safety requirements and standards are met and followed 100% of the time.

All accidents are reported, OSHA supplemental form

101 is submitted, and full cooperation is given to the

COR 100% of the time.

All oil or hazardous spills are immediately reported to the COR.

All personnel use appropriate PPE that meets NIOSH, MSHA, and ANSI requirements for the task at hand.

All PPE is clean and properly maintained.

Periodic and/or per month

Emergency and Special

Event Services Section

4II

Response times and communications must be within acceptable time frames.

Emergency -

Within one(1) hour of notification

Special Event-

Within 24 hrs of notification

100%

Compliance

Deliverables – Records and

Reports, Permits Sections

4III-IV

All data and reports are 99% accurate.

Effectiveness of all landscape management actions are systematically self-evaluated/audited.

100% of information is available and provided upon request.

100%

Compliance

Communication

Sections

4V

Response times and communications must be within acceptable time frames. Invoicing must be performed in the specified way.

Periodic and/or

100%

Compliance

ATTACHMENT A3 – QUALITY ASSURANCE MONITORING FORM

CONTRACT OR TASK ORDER:

TEAM LEAD:

SURVEY PERIOD:

SURVEILLANCE METHOD (Check):

Random Inspection 100% Inspection Periodic Inspection Customer Complaint

LEVEL OF SURVEILLANCE (Check):

Monthly Quarterly As needed

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS:

Service Provider’s Performance (Check): Meets Standards

Does Not Meet Standards

Narrative of Performance During Survey Period:

PREPARED BY: ___________________________________ DATE: _________________

ATTACHMENT A4 – CUSTOMER COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION

CONTRACTOR: _______________________________________________________________

CONTRACT/TASK ORDER NUMBER: ______________________________________________

DATE/TIME COMPLAINT RECEIVED: ___________________________ ________ AM / PM

SOURCE OF COMPLAINT: ___________________________________________ (NAME)

__________________________________________ (ORGANIZATION)

__________________________________________ (PHONE NUMBER)

__________________________________________ (EMAIL ADDRESS)

NATURE OF COMPLAINT:

RESULTS OF COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION:

DATE/TIME SERVICE PROVIDER INFORMED OF COMPLAINT:

___________________ AM / PM

CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN BY SERVICE PROVIDER:

RECEIVED AND VALIDATED BY: ____________________________________________________________________________

PREPARED BY: ___________________________________

DATE: _________________________________________