Scope_of_Services.pdf

Scope of Services

The main objective of the Direct Install Parkway Program is to remove grass from parkways in targeted low-income disadvantaged communities and install low maintenance climate appropriate landscapes that conserve water. The program will provide local residents with a beautiful new parkway at no cost. The new landscape will serve as a point of pride and inspiration that residents can show off to friends and family.

The Respondent will be responsible for the following:

• Collaborate with West Basin to develop the Participation Form listing the project’s Terms and Conditions (T&C’s).

• Research relevant municipal and/or county parkway landscape requirements and ensure all landscape designs and project installations comply with adopted requirements.

• Develop five (5) separate and distinct parkway landscape design templates for residents to choose from. Designs may incorporate a variety of different options that include plant types, ground coverings, hardscapes, and other optional features such as rocks, boulders, etc. Respondent will work with residents to make any minor adjustments to template designs prior to installation. (note: the designs must meet MWD’s Turf Removal Rebate Requirements that are provided on the following website: www.socalwatersmart.com)

• Support and provide guidance to West Basin staff in creating an instructional flyer that provides a step-by-step process of applying to and going through the Parkway

Beautification Program.

• Create the content for a plant care guide, “How to Care for Your New Garden.”

• Conduct initial site visits to confirm existing grass areas in parkway, measure landscape area, evaluate irrigation system, review design template of choice with the resident, discuss preferred method of grass removal, and review any final details prior to certification of property eligibility and project initiation.

• Procure all required plants, trees, and other materials/supplies.

• Remove and dispose of grass utilizing organic herbicides or other non-toxic substances and/or methods as needed. Method of removal will be discussed and agreed upon in coordination with the resident.

• Installation of landscape, including all plants, trees, materials, and irrigation components. (may need to install a pressure reducing valve to convert from an overhead sprinkler system to a drip system)

• Provide documentation of each project by taking photos before, during and after project installations, and submitting them to the West Basin Program

Manager. Photo and video release language will be included in the application.

This will allow West Basin to promote the program and highlight the projects on its website, social media, newsletters and other sources.

• Conduct one-month follow-up inspection and customer check-in for each project, where Respondent will offer instructions and guidance on how to take care of new landscape and irrigation system.

http://www.socalwatersmart.com/

• Coordinate and provide a Hands-On Workshop towards the end of the program.

The respondent will work with West Basin to coordinate a 1-2 hour hands-on training for the residents who received a new parkway. The respondent will teach residents how fix basic issues, such as clogged drip emitters, pruning plants, etc.

• Comply with all safety standards and customer service best practices during all phases of the program.

• Provide a reasonable warranty for the plants and the irrigation equipment.

• Final Inspection and Release

Participation Form

West Basin will work with the Respondent to develop the Program Participation Form, which will include the project’s Terms and Conditions (T&C’s). The Respondent will review the program’s T&C’s with the resident and have them sign the form agreeing to the T&C’s prior to starting the project.

Municipal and/or County Parkway Requirements

The Respondent will research the targeted city and/or county areas to see if they have any parkway requirements or require a permit for the project. Some municipalities provide guidelines for plants and other landscape features that are allowed and not allowed in the parkway. The Respondent will inform West Basin staff of any requirements that may create issues with project design or installation. Any requirements will be incorporated into the parkway landscape design templates discussed below.

Parkway Landscape Design Templates

In coordination with West Basin, the Respondent will develop five (5) parkway landscape design templates. As mentioned above, if any of the targeted communities have specific parkway landscape requirements, the requirements will be reflected in the design templates. Also, if the municipality requires a permit, the Respondent will coordinate with the resident to file the proper paperwork and landscape design, in order to obtain the permit. All design templates shall include the following:

• Climate appropriate plants and trees that are listed on MWD’s BeWaterWise gardening website (1-gallon to 5-gallon plants)

• Various materials and design features, such as mulch, decomposed granite, gravel, boulders, steppingstones, pavers, flagstone, etc.

• A stormwater capture element (see www.bewaterwise.com or www.socalwatersmart.com for more information)

• Drip irrigation system to keep plants and trees watered efficiently.

NOTE: As part of this RFP, each Respondent shall provide 1-2 samples of existing residential parkway or front yard designs for West Basin to review.

Landscape Construction

The Respondent will evaluate the parkway and make note of any existing sprinklers, utility boxes, and utility lines. The Respondent will contact Dig Alert, 811 and/or the utility companies to mark any utility lines that may be under the parkway area. The http://www.bewaterwise.com/ http://www.socalwatersmart.com/

Respondent will dispose of any removed materials that will not be utilized, such as old sprinkler heads, removed plants, trees, etc.

Follow-up Inspection, Customer Check-In, and final Release

The Respondent will provide a follow-up inspection and customer check-in approximately thirty (30) days following project installation to repair any irrigation issues, replace dead or dying plants, answer customer questions, and provide final guidance and instruction on how to care for the new landscape.

As part of the follow-up inspection, the Respondent will develop a project release form to the Participant that will release West Basin, it’s partners and the landscape contractor from the project. The customer will agree to release the partners from the parkway project, and they agree to maintain their new parkway and care for the plants and irrigation equipment. The landscape contractor will still be responsible for the plants and irrigation equipment for a certain amount of time, as they specify, but the parkway will need to be turned over to the participant during the 30 day follow-up inspection.

Add On: Hands-on-Workshop (HOW)

Customer training is an important part of this program. In order for the parkway landscapes to succeed, the resident must know how to maintain it. In addition to the individual customer check-ins, West Basin will work with the Respondent to schedule a

Hands-on-Workshop at West Basin’s Carson Headquarters to teach residents how to prune plants and maintain the landscape. The Respondent will provide residents with a checklist of how often to maintain the parkway and what maintenance to conduct. For example, when and how often to prune the plants, how to maintain the mulch, DG, and drip system. How to flush the drip system. West Basin will assist with inviting all program participants to the HOW.

Safety and Customer Service

The Respondent will follow all Cal-OSHA and local safety laws. In addition, Respondent and its employees and contractors will adhere to all customer service best practices that provide program participants with a great experience throughout the project life cycle.

Warranty

The Respondent will provide information on how they will warranty the plants and irrigation equipment.