FAC120 RFR 1-19-23.docx

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

OPERATIONAL SERVICES DIVISION

Request for Response (RFR)

Document Title: FAC120 Landscaping, Snow Removal, Tree Services and Related Services

COMMBUYS Bid#: BD-23-1080-OSD03-SRC01-79948

Initial Release: 1/4/2023 Revised: 1/19/2023

Please Note: This is a single document associated with a complete Bid (also referred to as Solicitation) that can be found on www.COMMBUYS.com. Bidders are responsible for reviewing and complying with all Bid requirements. Bidders may contact the OSD Help Desk at OSDHelpdesk@mass.gov or at 1-888-MA-STATE for technical assistance with COMMBUYS. The Help Desk is staffed from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday Eastern time, as applicable, except on federal and state holidays.

Bidders with disabilities or hardships that seek reasonable accommodation, which may include the receipt of RFR information in an alternative format, must communicate such requests in writing to the contact person. Requests for accommodation will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. A Bidder requesting accommodation must submit a written statement which describes the Bidder’s disability and the requested accommodation to the contact person for the RFR. The SST reserves the right to reject unreasonable requests.

Revision History

REQUEST FOR RESPONSE FAC120 Landscaping, Snow Removal, Tree Services and Related Services

Document Sensitivity Level: High during development; Low once published. Template v 3.0.0

REQUEST FOR RESPONSE FAC120 Landscaping, Snow Removal, Tree Services and Related Services

Table of Contents Page v Document Sensitivity Level: High during development; Low once published.

INTRODUCTION AND BID OVERVIEW

Summary Description of Procurement The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the FAC120 Strategic Sourcing Team (SST) are soliciting Bidders for the acquisition of Landscaping, Snow Removal, Tree Services and Related Services. The resulting Contract will serve as the primary Statewide Contract used by Executive Agencies of the Commonwealth for the goods and services covered by the Contract. The resulting Contract will replace FAC103, and the major changes include more Environmentally Preferrable requirements for vendors, an expansion of allowable pests and an expansion of the service regions to represent the 14 counties. The Contract will also be available for use by other Eligible Entities.

The contract will include vendors who can provide landscape services, snow removal, tree trimming and removal, outdoor integrated pest management, invasive plant control and irrigation service and repair. Contractors will specify the regions they can service and will be awarded by category.

The six contract categories on FAC120 are:

Estimated Procurement Calendar

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1333104400259109981

Training for Online Submission – Contractors that have not previously submitted electronic quotes via COMMBUYS are strongly encouraged to attend training Dates and Times Available:

1/12/2023 – 1pm 2/2/2023 – 1pm

Online Webinar:

This interactive webcast provides instructions on several activities: Locating and responding to bids; Using the bid Q&A feature; Creating a quote response; Revising a Quote response. Access the webcast here.

Late bids will not be considered.

*See Appendix 2 "Training for Vendors Responding to Bids On COMMBUYS" for instructions on how to register for live webinar and additional trainings that may be helpful to prospective bidders.

Visit https://www.mass.gov/doc/vendor-training-schedule/download for additional Instructor-Led Training and Webinar dates.

Times are Eastern Time (US), as displayed on the COMMBUYS system clock after logging in. If there is a conflict between the dates in this Procurement Calendar and dates in the Bid’s Header, the dates in the Bid’s Header on COMMBUYS shall prevail. Bidders are responsible for checking the Bid record, including Bid Q & A, on COMMBUYS for Procurement Calendar updates.

Submission of Bid Questions The “Bid Q & A” function in COMMBUYS allows Bidders to ask written questions and receive written answers regarding this Bid. To locate the Bid Q & A, log into COMMBUYS, locate the Bid, acknowledge receipt of the Bid, and scroll down to the bottom of the Bid Header page. The “Bid Q & A” button allows Bidder’s access to the Bid Q & A page.

All questions must be submitted through the Bid Q & A page. Questions must be asked prior to the Deadline stated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar. The Strategic Sourcing Team (SST) reserves the right not to respond to late questions. Bidders are responsible for verifying that their questions are recorded in COMMBUYS and appear on the Bid Q & A page.

Questions submitted to the SST outside of COMMBUYS will not be answered.

Content entered must be suitable for public viewing. Bidders must not include inappropriate content, including but not limited to, information that could be considered personal, security sensitive, inflammatory, incorrect, or collusory. The SST reserves the right to edit or delete any inappropriate content.

All answers are final when posted. Any subsequent revisions to previously provided answers will be dated.

Bid Amendment Deadline The SST reserves the right to make amendments to the Bid after initial publication. It is each Bidder’s responsibility to check COMMBUYS for any amendments, addenda or modifications to this Bid, and any Bid Q & A records related to this Bid. The SST and the Commonwealth accept no responsibility and will provide no accommodation to Bidders who submit a Quote based on an out-of-date Bid or on information received from a source other than COMMBUYS.

At the SST’s discretion, the Bid Amendment Deadline may be extended. Should this occur, the “Deadline for Quotes/Responses” shall be extended as well. As stated above, it is the responsibility of the bidder for checking the Bid record in COMMBUYS for revisions and updates.

Bidders Conference The Bidders Conference is a physical, web or telephone conference conducted by the SST for the purpose of informing prospective Bidders about general Bid information. All questions related to the scope and technical requirements should be submitted using the Bid Q and A module in COMMBUYS. The FAC120 Bidders Conference is scheduled for January 9, 2023 at 2pm EST. Registration information can be found here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1333104400259109981 Attendance is optional. Please refer to the Bidders Conference section of the Header Information for this Bid in COMMBUYS for any updated information, including the location, time, and date of the Bidders’ Conference.

Late Bids will not be Considered Bid responses must be received in full by the bid opening date and time shown on COMMBUYS ("Bid Opening Date/Time", i.e., the Deadline for Quotes/Bid Responses). Proposals received after the deadline will be ineligible for consideration and deemed non-responsive. Each bidder/offeror must submit all required bid response forms electronically through COMMBUYS. When submitting a quote electronically through COMMBUYS, please allow sufficient time to complete any online forms and upload documents. If you are in the middle of uploading your proposal when the deadline is reached, the system will stop the process and you will be unable to submit your Quote. It is recommended that Quotes be submitted as far in advance as possible before the deadline to allow time to obtain assistance from the OSD Help Desk if needed.

Debriefing The SST will conduct debriefings for unsuccessful Bidders, if requested within 14 calendar days of notification that your Quote has not been selected for an award. Debriefing guidelines will be provided in advance prior to the debriefing.

Additional Bid Information Anticipated Contract Duration:

The initial term of this Contract is 5 (five) years. In addition, this Contract has 1 (one) option to renew of up to 2 (two) years with a maximum possible contract duration 7 (seven) years.

Performance and payment time frames which exceed Contract duration All term leases, rentals, maintenance or other agreements for services entered into during the duration of this Contract and whose performance and payment time frames extend beyond the duration of this Contract shall remain in effect for performance and payment purposes (limited to the time frame and services established per each written agreement). No written agreement shall extend more than six months beyond the final termination date of this Statewide Contract. No new leases, rentals, maintenance, or other agreements for services may be executed after the Contract has expired. Any contractor entering new engagements with eligible entities after contract expiration will be subject to remedial measures, which may include but are not limited to mandatory point deduction for future bid submissions and suspension of other contracts with OSD.

Estimated Value of the Contract The estimated value of purchase(s) resulting from this Bid is $30M. The Commonwealth makes no guarantee that any commodities or services will be purchased from any Contract resulting from this Bid. Any estimates or past procurement volumes referenced in this Bid are included only for the convenience of Bidders and are not to be relied upon as any indication of future purchase levels.

This Estimated Value was derived by reviewing Contractor sales reports to Commonwealth of Massachusetts eligible entities for all quarters from FY 2019 through 2022.

Estimated Number of Awards The target maximum number of Contractors is 50. The SST may award more or fewer contracts, if it is in the best interests of the Commonwealth to do so.

Contract renewals will be offered at the sole discretion of OSD. At a minimum, offers to renew will be contingent upon satisfactory contractor performance, compliance with reporting requirements, and adequate sales volume.

Adding Contractors after initial Contract Award If, over the life of the Contract, the SST determines that additional Contractors should be added to meet the requirements of the Commonwealth, these may first be drawn from qualified companies which responded to this Bid but were not awarded contracts and/or the Bid may be reopened to obtain additional Quotes. Awarded contract vendors will be allowed to add additional service regions over the life of this contract.

Acquisition Method(s):

Entities Eligible to Use the Resulting Contract Any Contract(s) resulting from this Bid will be open for use by the following entities:

· Cities, towns, districts, counties, and other political subdivisions

· Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches, including all Departments and elected offices therein

· Independent public authorities, commissions, and quasi-public agencies

· Local public libraries, public school districts and charter schools

· Public hospitals owned by the Commonwealth

· Public institutions of higher education

· Public purchasing cooperatives

· Non-profit organizations that are doing business with the Commonwealth;

· Other states and territories with no prior approval by the State Purchasing Agent; and

· Other entities when designated in writing by the State Purchasing Agent.

Each eligible entity is responsible for executing its own purchase orders and paying its own invoices for goods and/or services acquired from this Contract. Contractors will be responsible for marketing their goods and/or services to Commonwealth Agencies and other eligible entities.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PROCUREMENT SCOPE

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the FAC120 Landscaping, Snow Removal, Tree Services and Related Services as outlined below and in Section 4, are soliciting bidders who can provide one or more of the services outlined below. Bidders should be in the primary business of the services of which they are bidding and should only indicate the regions they can realistically cover, although statewide coverage is preferred. Bidders (or their subcontracting partners) must possess the required licenses as indicated below.

The six contract categories are:

· Category 1 – Landscaping and Grounds Keeping Services

· Category 2 – Snow Removal Services

· Category 3 – Tree Services

· Category 4 – Invasive and Exotic Plant Control Services

· Category 5 – Outdoor Integrated Pest Management Services

· Category 6 - Irrigation Services Procurement Exclusions This contract is for services. For any construction services under this contract, there is a maximum of $50,000 per engagement, and all such engagements will be subject to the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage program.

Sales of materials/products only is prohibited on this contract. Bidders are allowed to sell materials related to their category while providing a service as outlined in the respective Statement of Work.

· Lawn and Grounds Equipment (FAC116 - Lawns and Grounds Equipment, Parts and Services Statewide Contract or replacement contract)

· Landscaping Products (FAC104 - Landscaping Products, Parks and Recreation Equipment and Related Products, Supplies and Service Statewide Contract or replacement contract)

· Parks and Recreation Equipment (FAC104 - Landscaping Products, Parks and Recreation Equipment and Related Products, Supplies and Service Statewide Contract or replacement contract)

· Deicers (FAC118 - Environmentally Preferable Cleaning Products, Programs, Equipment and Supplies Statewide Contract or replacement contract)

· Road Salt (VEH107 - Road Salt Statewide Contract or replacement contract)

Bidder Qualifications Bidders must be capable of providing all supervision, labor, materials and equipment required to deliver services in their categories.

Company experience Years in the industry of the Bid Bidders must have been in the business of providing landscaping, snow removal, tree trimming or related services for at least the three most recent consecutive years (2019-2021) prior to the RFR submission deadline (See RFR Section 1.2, Estimated Procurement Calendar).

In the case of companies formed fewer than three years prior to this date via merger, acquisition or some other means, the SST may consider the experience of all companies involved in the merger or acquisition.

Employee and/or business technical/business experience, certifications, licenses Each category has many mandatory and desirable licenses, and certifications, which are detailed in each category’s specifications below. Additionally, Eligible Entities may require certain licenses or certifications on a case-by-case basis and will be included in any statement of work.

Insurance Bidders are required to submit a Certificate of Insurance as an attachment with their bid response in order to be compliant with applicable state and federal employment laws or regulations, including Worker’s Compensation Insurance, Comprehensive General Liability Insurance and Comprehensive Business Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance as required by M.G.L. Chapter 152. Bidders must maintain sufficient insurance throughout the life of this contract. This insurance shall be written with respect to all coverage, for not less than the following policy limits: one million ($1,000,000) per each occurrence and one million ($1,000,000) aggregate for Comprehensive General Liability and Comprehensive Business Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance.

Emergency Response Capabilities In a declared state of emergency where the safety and wellbeing of citizens are at risk, contractors may be asked to supply the purchasing entity with the services under the Statewide Contract on a priority basis. The Bidder’s Response should indicate whether there is a written Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) that describes how the company will continue to do business in case of an emergency. In addition, the Bidder should supply a list of emergency contact information including name, position/title, phone, email, and cell phone.

Bankruptcy, litigation, and contract defaults Bidders must provide a list of any outstanding contingencies, such as lawsuits or other claims or charges, against the Bidder related to performance of the services sought under this RFR. Bidders must certify compliance with all Commonwealth tax laws, including MGL c62C, §49A and provide a Certificate of Good Standing along with their bid submission. More information regarding these DOR documents are posted at http://www.mass.gov/dor

SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS, Environmental and Cost Specifications.

FAC120 has 6 categories. Bidders must respond to at least one category and meet the minimum requirement to be considered for award. Bidders must carefully read specifications for each category and submit a quote response as required.

Category 1: Landscaping and Grounds Keeping Services Bidders must be capable of providing all supervision, labor, materials, and equipment required to deliver services under category 1, and be capable of providing those services statewide or to all awarded regions of the Commonwealth. The FAC120 Geographic Regions are listed in Appendix 5 of this RFR. Bidders must possess all the necessary qualifications, certifications and licenses required to perform work in category 1. Required and/or desirable certifications, licenses and equipment are listed below.

Services in this category include, but are not limited to:

· Grass cutting

· Leaf and other plant material removal and disposal

· Chipping

· Core aeration

· Deep-tine aeration

· Fertilization (see Section 4.7 for application of Pest Control Services)

· Seeding

· Planting (see section 4.1.3 below for restrictions)

· Yard waste composting

· Street sweeping (limited to parking lots)

· Other related services.

Application of Integrated Pest Management – IPM Executive Order 403 requires the use of an IPM by Massachusetts state agencies: https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-403-integrated-pest-management-for-massachusetts-state-agencies This contract has a separate category for Outdoor Integrated Pest Management-IPM; however, the Eligible Entity must include in the Statement of Work IPM specification for any service under the Landscaping and Grounds Keeping category. The contractor must follow the IPM requirements to meet the needs of the Eligible Entity. Any service to be completed by a subcontractor requires prior approval from the Eligible Entity.

Integrated Pest Management Definition Integrated pest management is defined as, “a comprehensive strategy of pest control whose major objective is to achieve desired levels of pest control in an environmentally responsible manner by combining multiple pest control measures to reduce the need for reliance on chemical pesticides; more specifically, a combination of pest controls which addresses conditions that support pests and may include, but is not limited to, the use of monitoring techniques to determine immediate and ongoing need for pest control, increased sanitation, physical barrier methods, the use of natural pest enemies and a judicious use of lowest risk pesticides when necessary”. https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIX/Chapter132B/Section2 Integrated Pest Management or IPM is considered to be the pest control measure of choice for many homeowners, growers, and commercial applicators. IPM is described as being "an approach to pest management that blends all available management techniques-non chemical and chemical into one strategy."

A well-defined Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a program that should be based on prevention, monitoring, and control which offers the opportunity to eliminate or drastically reduce the use of pesticides, and to minimize, to the greatest extent possible, the toxicity of and exposure to any products which are used.

Pest Definition “An insect, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed, or any other form of terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life or virus, bacterium, or other micro-organism, except viruses, bacteria or other micro-organisms on or in living man or other living animal, which is declared to be a pest by the administrator or by the department with the approval of the board.” https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIX/Chapter132B/Section2 Construction Services For any construction services under this category, there is a maximum of $50,000 per engagement, and all such engagements will be subject to the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage program.

Exclusions Planting over $50,000 is excluded under this category. Sales of materials only is prohibited.

Required Bidder Qualifications The Bidder must have the following qualifications and must provide the documentation below to demonstrate them in the Attachment A: Bidder Response Form.

· Narrative describing the company, its technical qualifications and expertise in this service category.

· Narrative describing the company’s past performance in this service category.

· Narrative describing the company’s sustainable landscaping practices and capabilities.

· Provide a current list of subcontractors.

· Provide a list of available equipment and brand type.

Certifications, Licenses and Equipment The below are required and desired certifications, licenses and equipment.

Required Certifications and Licenses

· Rights-of-Way (ROW) Certification is required on a project basis for awarded vendors, only applicable when providing services on a ROW. Information regarding Right of Way Certification can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/right-of-way-manual Additionally, Bidders must also comply with the below State and Federal Regulations:

· All Contractors must be aware and follow the requirements of all applicable fire regulations, including but not limited to 527 CMR 17.05, which is available at: http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/dfs/osfm/fire-prev/527-cmr-index.html.

· All contractors must be aware and follow the requirements for Plant Nutrient Law including 330 CMR 128 and 333 CMR 132B. https://www.mass.gov/service-details/plant-nutrient-management

· Bidders must comply with applicable state and federal employment laws or regulations, including Worker’s Compensation Insurance, Comprehensive General Liability Insurance and Comprehensive Business Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance as required by M.G.L. Chapter 152.

Desired Certifications and Licenses

· Pesticide license and certifications

· Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional (MCLP) certifications:

· https://mlp-mclp.org/Certification

· Landscape Architect Licensure

· NE Organic Farming Association

· https://nofa.org/about/

· Massachusetts Certified Arborist or an ISA Certified Arborist.

· https://massarbor.org/MCA-Program-Overview

Equipment It is desirable that Bidders own and utilize environmentally preferable equipment, including but not limited to:

· Mulching lawnmowers

· Battery powered electric mowers, blowers and other handhelds

· Equipment powered with four-stroke engines Bidders are asked to provide a list of equipment type and brand in the Attachment A: Bidder Response Form. All equipment must be properly and currently registered, inspected and insured. The equipment used by the Contractor shall be used properly, capable of performing the work, and maintained in safe working order. Upon award, contractors are required to bring their own Personal Protection Equipment to the job site. A site visit may be required to determine the necessary equipment needed for the job. All vehicles and equipment may be inspected by the Eligible Entity prior to the commencement of any work.

Environmental Specifications The following are desirable Environmentally Preferrable Specifications:

· Use of compost and organic fertilizers (plant, animal and mineral based) which meet the USDA National Organic Standards instead of commercial chemical fertilizers. The USDA Organic Integrity database can be found here: https://organic.ams.usda.gov/integrity

· Ability to provide native and drought tolerant plants and seed

· Ability to compost all yard waste

Compensation Structure / Pricing Pricing for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Services are project based and as detailed in the individual Statement of Work (SOW) or Request for Quote (RFQ) supplied by the eligible entity. Pricing for labor will be based on the ceiling (not to exceed) rates provided by the Bidder in the Attachment B: Price Sheet. Eligible entities reserve the right to negotiate lower labor rates. Bidders must indicate the maximum % markup for prevailing wage tasks and a maximum hourly rate for non-prevailing wage tasks. Bidders may also include rates for over time and holidays if applicable.

Category 2: Snow removal Services Eligible services Bidders must be capable of providing all supervision, labor, materials, and equipment required to deliver services under category 2 and be capable of providing those services statewide or to all awarded regions of the Commonwealth. The FAC120 Geographic Region is listed in Appendix 5 of this RFR. Bidders must possess all the necessary qualifications, certifications and licenses required to perform work in Category 2. Required and/or desirable certifications, licenses and equipment are listed below.

Services in this category of services include but are not limited to:

· Parking lots

· Access roads

· Walkways

· Stairs

· Sidewalks

· Flat roofs Exclusions The sale of salt and deicing materials on their own is prohibited.

Required Bidder Qualifications The Bidder must have the following qualifications and must provide the documentation below to demonstrate them in the Attachment A: Bidder Response Form.

· Narrative describing the company, its technical qualifications and expertise in this service category.

· Narrative describing the company’s past performance in this service category.

· Narrative describing the company’s use of Environmentally Preferrable deicing materials (see 4.2.4 below)

· Provide a current list of subcontractors.

· Provide a list of available equipment and brand type (and identify if any are battery powered).

Certifications, Licenses and Equipment The below are required certifications, licenses and equipment.

Required Certifications and Licenses

· Valid MassDOT License

· Rights-of-Way (ROW) Certification, only applicable when providing services on a ROW.

Additionally, Bidders must also comply with the below State and Federal Regulations:

· Bidders must comply with applicable state and federal employment laws or regulations, including Worker’s Compensation Insurance, Comprehensive General Liability Insurance and Comprehensive Business Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance as required by M.G.L. Chapter 152.

Equipment It is desirable that Bidders own and utilize environmentally preferable equipment, including but not limited to:

· Battery powered snow throwers and blowers

· Equipment powered with four-stroke engines Bidders are asked to provide a list of equipment type and brand in the Attachment A: Bidder Response Form. All equipment must be properly and currently registered, inspected and insured. The equipment used by the Contractor shall be used properly, capable of performing the work, and maintained in safe working order. Upon award, contractors are required to bring their own Personal Protection Equipment to the job site. A site visit may be required in order to determine the necessary equipment needed for the job. All vehicles and equipment may be inspected by the Eligible Entity prior to the commencement of any work.

Environmental Specifications It is desirable that bidders be able to provide deicing and snowmelt products that are EPA Safer Choice certified and use battery powered equipment whenever possible. Environmentally Preferrable deicing materials are products that are certified by either Safer Choice or Green Seal or be on the Clear Roads Qualified Products List (other than in Category 8: Non-Corrosion-Inhibited Sodium Chloride), which can be found at https://clearroads.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/QPL_Updated-9.15.21.pdf. Information on EPA Safer Choice can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice. Information on Green Seal can be found here: https://certified.greenseal.org/ Compensation Structure / Pricing Pricing for Snow Removal Services are project based and as detailed in the individual Statement of Work (SOW) or Request for Quote (RFQ) supplied by the eligible entity. Bidders should be able to accommodate the appropriate pricing method as requested by the Eligible Entity. Pricing for labor will be based on the ceiling (not to exceed) rates provided by the Bidder in the Attachment B: Price Sheet. Eligible entities reserve the right to negotiate lower labor rates. Bidders must indicate the maximum % markup for prevailing wage tasks and a maximum hourly rate for non-prevailing wage tasks. Bidders may also include rates for overtime and holidays if applicable. Bidders must also include rates for snow removal on an accumulation basis if requested by the Eligible Entity.

Category 3: Tree Services Eligible services Contractors must be capable of providing all supervision, labor, materials, and equipment required to deliver services under Category 3 and be capable of providing those services statewide or to all awarded regions of the Commonwealth. Bidders must possess all the necessary qualifications, certifications and licenses required to perform work in category III. Required and desirable certifications, licenses and equipment are listed below.

Services in this category of services include but are not limited to:

· Tree Trimming

· Stump Grinding

· Tree Removal Construction Services For any construction services under this category, there is a maximum of $50,000 per engagement, and all such engagements will be subject to the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage program.

Exclusions The sale of trees, shrubs (or other live plants) on their own and the sale of tree trimming equipment is prohibited.

Required Bidder Qualifications The Bidder must have the following qualification and must provide the documentation below to demonstrate them:

· Narrative describing the company, its technical qualifications and expertise in this service category.

· Narrative describing the company’s past performance in this service category.

· List of battery powered equipment available.

Certifications, Licenses and Equipment Bidders must comply with applicable state and federal employment laws or regulations, including Worker’s Compensation Insurance, Comprehensive General Liability Insurance and Comprehensive Business Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance as required by M.G.L. Chapter 152.

All work under this category shall be performed under the direct on-site supervision of a Massachusetts Certified Arborist or an ISA Certified Arborist. Details on ISA certification is available here: https://www.isa-arbor.com/Credentials/The-Power-of-Credentials

Required Certifications and Licenses

· All crew leaders must be Massachusetts Certified Arborists or ISA Certified Arborists.

· Proof of completion of ALB infestation identification training (Regions 1 and 5 Bidders only):

· Companies bidding Statewide or 5 must detail their staff qualifications and experience related to ALB and include information on the completion of the ALB infestation identification training.

· Any Contractor personnel working within or near an Asian Long horned Beetle (ALB) quarantined area is required to take training in identifying ALB infestations. For more information see http://massnrc.org/pests/alb/ or contact 508-852-8090.

· Bidder must provide description of the remediation practices your company utilizes for contaminated material.

· Bidder must provide name(s) and location(s) of facility(ies) that accept contaminated material from the Bidder, and the remediation / disposal methods used at those facilities.

Preferred Certifications and Licenses

· Bidders should list any Emerald Ash Borer training, if available.

Equipment Contractors are required to bring their own Personal Protection Equipment to the job site. All equipment must be properly and currently registered, inspected and insured. The equipment used by the Contractor shall be used properly, capable of performing the work, and maintained in safe working order. All vehicles and equipment may be inspected by the Eligible Entity prior to the commencement of any work.

Environmental Specifications It is desirable that vendors have the ability to separate and compost non-contaminated trimmings and use battery powered equipment when available.

Compensation Structure / Pricing Pricing for Tree Services are project based and as detailed in the individual Statement of Work (SOW) or Request for Quote (RFQ) supplied by the eligible entity. Pricing for labor will be based on the ceiling (not to exceed) rates provided by the Bidder in the Attachment B: Price Sheet. Eligible entities reserve the right to negotiate lower labor rates. Bidders must indicate the maximum % markup for prevailing wage tasks and a maximum hourly rate for non-prevailing wage tasks. Bidders may also include rates for overtime and holidays if applicable.

Category 4: Invasive and Exotic Plant Control Contractors must be capable of providing all supervision, labor, materials and equipment required to deliver services under category 4 and be capable of providing those services statewide or to all awarded regions of the Commonwealth. Bidders may also opt to service parts of the regions by indicating the specific cities and towns their services will cover. Bidders must possess all the necessary qualifications, certifications and licenses required to perform work in category 4. Required and desirable certifications, licenses and equipment are listed below.

Contractors in this category will document the extent of existing invasive plants within a project area designated by the Eligible Entity, propose an Invasive Plant Management Strategy (IPMS) for their control, and implement this strategy. The overall intent is to improve the habitat value of the site, protect the proposed landscape restoration and attempt to prevent future spread of invasive species both on-site and to adjacent sites.

The Eligible Entity may designate a list of plant species targeted for management for each project, list specific preventive and corrective measures to be taken as part of the project, and will specify the performance timeframe, including but not limited to the start date of the project and the number of growing seasons the project will last.

For the purpose of this contract, the target species are any plant that may negatively impact the germination, establishment, productivity, reproduction, performance and/or quality of the desired native species composition or natural community. The general expectation of treatment results is that there is no re-growth of targeted plant species at end of the first season unless otherwise addressed in the Invasive Plant Management Strategy Required Bidder Qualifications The Bidder must have the following qualification and must provide the documentation below to demonstrate them within the Attachment A: Bidder Response Form:

· Narrative describing the company, its technical qualifications and expertise in this service category.

· List of all invasive plant identification and management training completed.

· Narrative describing the company’s past performance including information on how sensitive areas (e.g., wetland resource areas, priority natural communities, rare species habitat, etc.) were managed.

· At least five (5) references from prior invasive plant control work completed in last five (5) years. Provide contact information including address, phone number and email.

Preferred Bidder Qualifications

· Completion of UMass Amherst Invasive Plant Certification Program: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/education/invasive-plant-certification-program Regulatory and Legal Requirements All herbicide applications shall be made in accordance with MA Pesticide regulations, 333 CMR, the Massachusetts Pesticide Control Act 132b CMR, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, MA Department of Fish and Wildlife Regulations and applicable federal and state Right-to-Know laws.

Programmatic Requirements Please see Appendix 3 for the detailed programmatic requirements for this category (Application, Inspection, Reporting, etc.).

Construction Services For any construction services under this category, there is a maximum of $50,000 per engagement, and all such engagements will be subject to the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage program.

Certifications, Licenses and Equipment The below are required certifications, licenses and equipment.

Required Certifications and Licenses

· All crew applicators must have a valid Massachusetts Commercial Applicator License (Core)

· At least one or more applicators must have a valid Massachusetts Commercial Certification license if required for a specific project.

· At least one or more applicators must have ROW certification if required for specific project.

· Company must provide name(s) of applicator(s) and Applicator License/Certification number for all contractor crew leaders working on the project.

· Company must provide documentation of any warnings, penalties or fines received in the last three (3) years.

· Crew leader must have expertise with invasive plant control and must have held Core license for at least five (5) years.

Equipment Contractors are required to bring their own Personal Protection Equipment to the job site. It is desirable that contractors use battery powered landscape equipment.

Environmental Specifications It is desirable that bidders be able to:

· Propose an IPM program that does not call for the use of pesticides/herbicides when possible.

· Use zero-emission battery electric landscape equipment or at a minimum equipment powered with a four-stroke engine Compensation Structure / Pricing Pricing for Invasive & Exotic Plant Services are project based and as detailed in the individual Statement of Work (SOW) or Request for Quote (RFQ) supplied by the eligible entity. Pricing for labor will be based on the ceiling (not to exceed) rates provided by the Bidder in the Attachment B: Price Sheet. Eligible entities reserve the right to negotiate lower labor rates. Bidders must indicate the maximum % markup for prevailing wage tasks and a maximum hourly rate for non-prevailing wage tasks. Bidders may also include rates for overtime and holidays if applicable.

Category 5: Outdoor Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Services Contractors must be capable of providing all supervision, labor, materials, and equipment required to deliver services under category 5 and be capable of providing those services statewide or to all awarded regions of the Commonwealth. Bidders must possess all the necessary qualifications, certifications and licenses required to perform work in category 5. Required and desirable certifications, licenses and equipment are listed below.

Massachusetts Executive Order 403 requires that Massachusetts State Agencies use an Integrated Pest Management System. More information on Executive 403 can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-403-integrated-pest-management-for-massachusetts-state-agencies For the purpose of this contract and as per the Massachusetts Pesticide Control Act, a “Pest” is defined as:

“An insect, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed, or any other form of terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life or virus, bacterium, or other micro-organism, except viruses, bacteria or other micro-organisms on or in living man or other living animal, which is declared to be a pest by the administrator or by the department with the approval of the board.”

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIX/Chapter132B/Section2 Contractors in this category provide pest control programs for landscaping elements, including but not limited to lawns, trees, shrubs, plants and flowers, including but not limited pest management planning, surveillance, trapping, and pesticide application.

Services may also include plant disease management programs and limited/incidental management of abiotic problems. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts seeks programs that prioritize the reduction of pesticide use, by using non-toxic control measures /methods or the least toxic control products, as much as possible, to control pests.

The Contractor must also provide site-specific recommendations for design and management changes necessary to achieve pest prevention. The Contractor must also provide education services related to integrated pest management for building staff and occupants. This contract covers the management of all pests designated by the Eligible Entity in the scope of work, including but not limited to:

· Japanese beetle

· Oriental beetle

· Masked chafer

· European chafer

· Asiatic garden beetle

· May beetle

· Black turf grass ataenius

· Annual bluegrass weevil

· Bluegrass billbug

· Chinch bug

· Sod webworm, cutworm

· Various species of ants

· Rodents

· Mosquitos

· Ticks This contract will also cover the management of all diseases designated by the Eligible Entity in the scope of work, including but not limited to:

• Gray snow mold

• Pink snow mold

• Rusts

• Red thread / Pink patch

• Dollar spot

• Summer patch

• Brown patch

• Fairy ring

• Weeds Contractors may offer problem animal control and removal after being authorized to do so by the SST.

Required Bidder Qualifications The Bidder must have the following qualification and must provide the documentation below in the Attachment A: Bidder Response Form to demonstrate them:

· Narrative describing the company, its technical qualifications and expertise in turf and landscape IPM.

· Narrative descripting the Bidders’ IMP training program for Eligible Entities.

· Narrative describing the company’s past performance, including past projects where the IPM methodology was used.

· Narrative describing the Company’s ability to identify shrubs, trees, weeds, etc.

· Bidders must provide information on the staff qualifications and measures that are in place to ensure positive pest and plant disease identification.

· Bidders are required to conform to the requirements for reporting as per Sections 7.1 and 7.2 of the USEPA Pesticide General Permit (PGP) for the Discharges from the Application of Pesticides.

https://www.epa.gov/npdes/pesticide-permitting-2021-pgp

· List of all relevant licenses and certifications.

Regulatory and Legal Requirements All pesticide applications shall be made in accordance with MA Pesticide regulations, 333 CMR, the Massachusetts Pesticide Control Act 132b CMR, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, MA Department of Fish and Wildlife Regulations and applicable federal and state Right-to-Know laws.

All contractors must be aware and follow the requirements for Plant Nutrient Law including 330 CMR 128 and 333 CMR 132B. https://www.mass.gov/service-details/plant-nutrient-management Bidders must comply with applicable state and federal employment laws or regulations, including Worker’s Compensation Insurance, Comprehensive General Liability…