ITB_-_As_needed_Mowing_-_Exhibit_B.pdf

1. Scope of Work

1. Overview

It is the intent of this solicitation to engage one contractor to provide mowing, trimming, weed removal, edging, litter removal, and associated blowing and clean up services.

This is a full-service landscape bid based on a fixed per-cycle cost. The fixed cost shall cover all expenses incurred by the Contractor for providing all supervision, labor, equipment, tools, and material (including, but not limited to, plant removal and installation, landfill fees associated with debris removal, etc.) to perform comprehensive landscape maintenance collectively.

2. Definitions

A. Area Inspector: Shall mean the duly authorized representative of the City who shall monitor the Contractor’s progress within the Grounds Maintenance Area they are assigned to.

B. Grounds Maintenance: Shall refer to the normal and customary work performed in the care and maintenance of turf areas as prescribed in the Scope of Work.

C. Grounds Maintenance Area: Shall refer to specific rights-of-way and City properties designated to receive specified grounds maintenance service.

D. Inclement Weather: Shall mean rain or when the condition of the soil is such that the rutting of property will not allow cutting of the turf to be accomplished in a satisfactory manner.

E. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS): A Material Safety Data Sheet defining the hazard level of and the safety precautions required for use of a product, chemical, or solution (as prescribed by State or Federal law).

F. Mowing Cycle: Shall mean a time period within the Mowing Schedule, during the term of the Contract, within which all prescribed grounds maintenance activities for an area shall be completed one time. The number of Cycles for each area shall be estimated for bidding purposes only, with the Contractor and Area Inspector establishing an agreeable Schedule in the Pre-Performance meeting following award of the contract. The actual quantity of Cycles to be completed and paid for in any twelve-month Mowing Schedule may vary according to seasonal conditions, as well as for additional Cycles to be added for special events as agreed upon between the two parties when establishing and revising the Mowing Schedule throughout the term(s) of the Contract.

Exhibit B

G. Trash/Litter: Shall mean any debris within the grounds maintenance area, such as paper, plastic, cans, bottles, limbs, rocks, etc., which are not intended to be present as part of the landscaping, inclusive of the entire area including streets, sidewalks, curbs, hillsides, ditches, etc.

3. Project Boundaries

A. Foreclosures as assigned by the city

B. Partin Triangle Park

C. City-maintained properties

D. City-maintained ponds

4. Scheduling

A. Contractor shall arrange work schedule so as not to conflict with activities and/or special events scheduled for the area.

B. Contractor shall notify the Area Inspector via email or text message when they are mowing scheduled areas.

5. Weighted Values of Service

To facilitate service acceptance and to allow specific service additions/deletions and/or nonpayment for inadequate service, services at each area have been assigned weighted values by the City of St. Cloud:

A. Mowing: 25%

B. Weed Removal: 15%

C. Trimming around obstacles: 5%

D. Edging: 10%

E. Blowing: 10%

F. Landscape Maintenance (Ornamental plant care): 15%

G. Litter Removal: 10%

H. Tree Maintenance/Pruning: 10%

Total: 100%

Example: If the awarded Contractor bid a Unit Price per Mowing Cycle of $100.00 for a specific location, and for that location only completed service requirement (A), Mowing, during a particular Mowing Cycle, then the Contractor would invoice for payment in the amount of $25.00. If the Contractor completed services (A) through (H) during the specified Mowing Cycle, the Contractor would invoice for payment in the amount of $100.00.

6. Mowing

All areas that cannot be mowed using a large mower shall be mowed with a small power mower, however, in areas determined to be totally inaccessible to any type of mower, weed eaters, grass or string trimmer, or brush cutters will be used to cut these areas in accordance to the specifications of this contract. Contractors will take every opportunity and any and all precautions to prevent scalping or shaving the grass covered areas while mowing any of these areas. All grass clippings will be removed from all sidewalk areas by use of a power blower prior to leaving the work site. Review contract documents for compliance.

A. Contractor shall mow and trim all turf areas throughout the term of the Contract.

B. All mowing shall be accomplished with equipment fitted with regularly sharpened blades so as to clearly cut, and not tear, the blades of turf.

C. All turf shall be mowed and/or trimmed to a height of not less than three (3) inches and not greater than five (5) inches.

7. Trimming / Weeding / Edging

Weed, grass and brush trimmers are to be used to cut in areas totally inaccessible to mowing equipment. No shaving or scalping of the grass surface is allowed. Trimming shall accompany mowing.

A. All turf shall be mowed and/or trimmed to a height of not less than three (3) inches and no greater than five (5) inches.

B. All trimming shall be accomplished concurrently with mowing operations.

C. Special care shall be given to trimming around small trees so as not to inflict damage to the bark of the trees.

D. Manual trimming may be reduced by use of chemical treatment and/or application, but only if approved in advance by the Area Inspector.

E. Contractor shall provide a current MSDS for each chemical proposed for use during the Term(s) of this contract:

1. Attached to a request for approval form, and

2. Submitted to the Area Inspector, and

3. If the chemical is approved by the Area Inspector for application by the Contractor, said Contractor shall then provide a copy of the same MSDS to the City’s Risk Management Advisor with a copy of the Approval form from the Area Inspector.

F. Contractor shall maintain a current file of each MSDS approved by the Area Inspector at the Contractor's place of business and on-site during the treatment and/or application process.

G. Approval of chemical treatment for one area shall not be construed as applicable to that area for the term of the contract.

H. Approval of chemical treatment for one area shall not be construed as approval for chemical treatment to another area.

I. The public shall be notified of each incidence of chemical treatment and/or application to any Area:

1. By the posting of approved signage by the Contractor;

2. Indicating the date, time and name of the product;

3. The signage shall be approved by the Area Inspector prior to posting.

J. Periodic trimming and thinning of all ground cover throughout the project location:

1. The Contractor shall prune all plants so as to remove all dead or diseased parts of plants and all parts of plants which present a visual hazard or physical obstacle to the use of the traffic ways.

2. All ground cover shall be trimmed, pruned, and thinned to retain its natural form in proportionate size to each other. Aesthetic pruning of ground cover shall include the removal of dead and/or broken branches. It shall ensure ground cover maintains its natural shape and characteristics for the variety involved.

3. Perimeters of ground cover beds shall be evenly trimmed to provide vertical surfaces. The trimming operation shall be done in a manner to prevent damage to the ground cover foliage. Any rugged ground cover surfaces shall be trimmed with hand shears.

4. At the completion of each ground cover bed-trimming operation, all material trimmed shall be raked up and removed from the site. Where ground cover trimming is accomplished along with the mowing operation, the mower vacuum can be used for the removal of trimmed material. When a trimming cycle begins in an area, it shall continue until it is completed.

5. All ground cover, including shrubs, plants, bushes, and hedges, shall be trimmed and pruned to maintain a neat and proper appearance. This cycle may be adjusted seasonally.

K. Contractor shall be responsible for the installation of plant material including, but not limited to the following:

1. All plant material shall be Florida No. 1 or greater as to health, vitality, condition of foliage, root system, freedom from pest or mechanical damage, and heavily branched and densely foliated according to the accepted normal shape of species, and as set forth by the current issue of Florida Department of Agriculture's Grade and Standards for Nursery Plants. Plant material not meeting Florida No. 1, or not an approved substitute, will be rejected by the City's Area Inspector, or designee, upon delivery to the site.

2. The Area Inspector, or designee, not making an early on-site observation and evaluation to discover faulty material or work, omitted material or work, or material or work performed which is not in accordance with the site plan/specifications, does not bar the Area Inspector, or designee, from subsequently rejecting such material or work at a later time. Rejected material will be immediately removed from the project area and replaced with acceptable material within seven (7) business days.

8. Litter and Debris Removal

Litter and debris shall be removed from site each visit. All litter and debris are to be removed prior to and upon completion of all services. Litter and debris removal include the pick up, removal and disposal from all areas included in the contract. Litter and debris shall include, by way of example, but not limited to, bottles, glass, cans, wood, paper scraps, branches and any and all other materials which will give the property an objectionable appearance. It is understood that the Contractor shall remove any litter and debris prior to mowing that can be torn, ripped, scattered or further subdivided by the mowers. The cost of litter and debris removal and disposal shall be included in the contract price.

A. Contractor shall remove all visible litter and litter from the entire area prior to initiating any mowing of the turf area.

B. Contractor, at the Contractor’s expense, shall dispose of all litter that is removed.

C. Any papers, plastic cans, bottles, or similar litter which is cut or broken during maintenance operations shall be completely removed from park and boulevard areas immediately prior to exiting the area.

D. Care shall be taken to prevent discharge of turf clippings:

1. On any paved surface such as streets, parking lots, sidewalks, or driveways and/or

2. Into lakes, ponds, drainage ditches, or underground drainage openings, and/or

3. On adjacent properties.

E. Any material so discharged shall be removed immediately prior to proceeding with mowing of other areas.

F. Upon completion of each area and before exiting that area, the area shall be free of trash, litter, turf overspray, clumped turf, and tire tracks or ruts from the mowing equipment.