FAQs_for_Gardening_Services_Solicitation_(Aug_23-2013).pdf

Gardening Services Solicitation No. S-EC300-13-Q-0003

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. If there is a tree/plant that iguanas like, can the contractor recommend replacing it?

Who would be responsible to pay for its replacement?

The plants that currently exist on the New Consulate Compound must stay as they are, and any change must be submitted to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for consideration and approval. The COR will report them to the Contracting Officer (CO) to check the circumstances and determine the responsibility to pay for its replacement.

2. Will the area indicated on Exhibit A remain the same?

The landscape design of the NCC will not change between now and award.

3. Will a copy of the gardens’ drawings be provided to the contractor?

The selected firm will be given access to information to assist with the gardening plan that needs to be submitted. The Contractor shall meet all of the standards of performance identified in Sub-part 3.0 deliverables.

4. What is the maximum height of trees/plants required?

Currently, there is no specific requirement for the height of the trees. Please check Subpart

1.6.

5. What variety of lawn is going to be planted?

The current lawn is basic grass.

6. What other type of trees/plants have been planted in addition to the existing ones?

Before contract begins, the following plants will be planted around the building:

Flowering shrubs

Palm Trees

Succulent/Perennials

Evergreen shrubs

Stachys coccinea

Lantana Montividensis (grass)

Calladium SP

Cannopy Tree

The winner of the contract is not responsible to plant them, only to perform complete gardening and landscape maintenance services.

7. Are you going to keep the mulch as an ornamental plant?

The mulch is not an ornamental plant. Mulch is colored wooden pieces used with decorative purposes in gardens, usually in big areas or around the tree.

8. Will an automatic irrigation system be installed in the whole garden area or does the contractor have to water them manually?

The portion of the compound near the main administrative building will have an automatic irrigation system, but the other half of the compound will need to watered manually. See subpart 1.10.

9. What actions are going to be taken if iguanas reproduce?

All pest control strategies must be submitted to the COR for approval. Please see Subpart

1.12.

10. Does the solicitation include lawn care of the trees planted at Santa Ana Street and part of the consular waiting area (west sidewalk)? What about the walkways and domes?

Are these areas responsibility of the gardening contract?

The maintenance of the walkways, parking lots, and driveways are to be handled by the janitorial services contractor. The trees outside of the compound are maintained by the City of Guayaquil.

11. How frequent should the maintenance of the gardens at the Consul General’s residence

(CGR) be done?

Currently, there is one gardener at the Consul General’s residence who works every day.

12. Are you going to plant new trees or plants around the perimeter walls?

Due to security issues, we can only plant very small bushes or grass. However, there is currently soil within the planters.

13. Are we allowed to cut or fumigate weeds?

Weeds must be cut or pulled out. There is no fumigation allowed without explicit approval from the COR. Please check Subpart 1.5.4.

14. Have the current trees been replanted?

The current trees on the compound are either newly planted or existing trees. Nothing has been replanted.

15. Do the existing plants have guarantee? How long does the guarantee last?

For the portion of the compound nearest to the Administrative building, the plants are new and come with them a one year guarantee. However, the plants on the other half of the compound are existing and have no guarantee.

16. Who covers the cost of organic fertilizers needed to perform in this contract?

For information on government-furnished items, please see Attachment 1. The Government will reimburse the Contractor for any materials or equipment that the Government requests contractor, please see Subpart 5.0.

17. Once plants get deteriorated due to life expectancy or otherwise, who is responsible for their replacement? What will be the mechanism to work out these issues?

Any maintenance problems with plants need to be reported to the COR immediately and a decision will be made on a case-by-case basis. Contractor will pay replacement if negligence or irresponsible practices were performed. Please review subpart 1.6.4.

18. Who is responsible for maintenance of all machinery? Who is to supply gasoline, lubricants and spare parts for the machines? Who covers these costs?

For all government furnished property listed on Attachment 1, the Government will maintain and replace.

19. How were the palm trees and other trees planted? Is there any type of guarantee they were planted properly by the responsible party?

The current trees on the compound are either newly planted or existing trees. The new plants come with a 1 year guarantee.

20. Who is responsible for cleaning the waterfall or fountain?

The fountain maintenance and cleaning will be performed by the Consulate Maintenance

Staff.

21. Where do the debris going to be stored?

The Contractor shall promptly remove collected debris to an authorized recycled area on site.

Please review subpart 1.9.

22. Do we have to submit copy of the identification and certificate of the company’s manager?

Please review Section 3.