Grounds Maintenance to include snow removal.

Added: Mar 05, 2012 3:41 pm SYNOPSIS OF GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SERVICES





Snow Removal



1. Contractor shall provide all labor, tools, equipment and materials necessary to remove snow and/or ice from the VA Medical Center, 210 S. Winchester Avenue, Miles City, Montana 59301.

3. This is a "This is a Non Personnel Service Contract" only with no repairs involved.

4. Scope of work for snow removal includes:



o Remove snow and/or ice from walks, steps, ramps, decks, roadways and parking lots.

o Priority areas for snow removal is as follows:

1) Nursing Home Entrance & Parking

2) Front Entrance VA Facility and Parking Lot

3) Police Station - Front Entrance

4) North Side Entrances Building 1

5) Quarters Entrances and Garage Area

6) Sidewalks

7) Parking Lots and Driveways



o During snow storms, all priority areas must be kept clean of snow between the hours of 6AM and 8 PM, Monday through Friday, with the exception of Holidays, to be determined annually.



o Equipment shall include blowers, ATVs and/or shovels to remove snow and ice from walks and ramps, truck with blade for roadways and parking lots, and loader and truck to remove large amounts of snow as requested by the VA.

o Workers and equipment must arrive and be ready to perform services within one hour of onset of snowfall.

o Ice melt will be applied to the following areas:

1) Nursing Home Entrances

2) Front Entrance VA Facility

3) Police Station - Front Entrance

4) North Side Entrances Building 1 and Loading Docks

5) Quarters Entrances

6) Other Areas as Needed

o Ice melt and sand will be removed from entrances with improvement of weather.

o Snow removal will not be performed from Friday 5PM until Monday 7AM in the following areas:

1) Front Entrance, Circle Drive and Front Parking Lots.

2) Driveways in Front of VA Garages, Loading Docks (North Side Building 1)

3) West Half of Nursing Home Parking Lot



Grounds Care



1. Contractor shall provide all labor, tools, equipment and materials necessary to maintain specified grounds areas of the VA Medical Center, 210 S. Winchester Avenue, Miles City, Montana 59301.

2. Required response for non-emergency calls is 24 hours.

3. Quarterly grounds inspections will be conducted with the contractor.

4. Scope of work for grounds care includes:



a. Shrub and flowerbed maintenance.



o At the beginning of each season, prior to June, the contractor shall supply and spread 1" of bark on areas contracted.

o Each area contracted will be policed each weekday.

o All debris, branches, etc. will be removed.

o Exposed weed barriers will be recovered.

o All weeds will be pulled.

o Irrigation or insect problems will be immediately reported in writing to the COTR.

o Bark will be raked and groomed.

o Contractor will inspect all areas of the VA during the year to ensure that there is no accumulation of leaves in any area.

o Trees shall be trimmed/pruned annually in early spring as per PRUNING STANDARDS FOR SHADE TREES. All dead branches and suckers shall be removed at this time.

o In addition to the scheduled trimming, any limbs that are damaged by storm, disease or other means that create a safety or fire hazard shall be removed immediately.

o Any trees that completely die shall be discussed with the COTR.

o After broken or dead limbs are removed, the tree injury shall be treated to prevent any disease from attacking the injury.

o All pruning/trimming of shrubs and trees shall be to maintain a well groomed and neat appearance, shape and characteristics.

o Evergreens shall be pruned and trimmed to maintain their original shape and size when new growth reaches a minimum of three (3) inches in maximum length not to exceed six (6) inches. Minimum clearance from buildings, utilities and other obstruction shall be twelve (12) inches.

o Topping and dehorning shall not be permitted.

o Contractor shall plant new and replacement trees and shrubs in accordance with VA landscape plans and on approval of the COTR. Contractor shall submit a cost summary and tree/shrub and other plant replacement schedule to the COTR when requested. This summary will list type, cost, quantity and location of items to be planted. Contractor will be reimbursed for cost of replacement planting upon prior approval from the Contracting Officer on a separate purchase.

o Contractor shall inspect mulched areas and provide and apply additional mulch 2 times per year. This inspection and application will be in June and September. Shrubs, beds, and trees shall have hardwood mulch applied to attain a minimum of 5 inches in depth. Trees shall have a 4-foot diameter of mulch bed. Shrubs shall have a 3-foot diameter of mulch bed.

o All fallen leaves must be removed beginning with the first accumulation. The leaves will be hand raked, vacuumed, swept by lawn sweeper, or removed by other method approved by the COTR. All leaves will be properly disposed of from VA grounds.



b. Mowing and trimming (in areas where applicable).



o Prior to mowing, all debris shall be policed for litter and dispose of it.

o Lawns shall be mowed each week and shall be on a schedule established by the contractor and the COTR.

o Mowing shall be accomplished so that no more than 1/3 of the height of the grass is removed at one mowing. If grass clippings are evident, the contractor must remove the clippings at no extra cost to the Government.

o Mowed grass excluding seed head shall not exceed more than 4.5 inches nor be less than 2.5 inches in height.

o Vegetation in semi-improved areas shall be mowed to the same standards as for turf areas. All sidewalks shall be swept clean after each cutting.

o Roadways, sidewalks, parking lots and dock area shall be policed and all debris removed once per week. Area around and under accessible areas of buildings, utilities, shrubs, fences, bushes, trees, etc., shall be kept free of debris and trash on a weekly basis.

o Lawn trimming will be done weekly around any obstacles within assigned area.

o Edging of sidewalks, curbs, and driveways shall be accomplished so the grass and other vegetation does not extend over edges of respective areas nor back from edges more than 1.5 inches.

o Mowing and edging shall be conducted in such a manner as to prevent scalping, uneven mowing, rutting by equipment, damage to trees, shrubs, fences, buildings, walkways, curbs, sprinklers, or other utility systems or equipment

o Undesirable vines, weeds, and other vegetation growing upon fences, shrubs, fences, poles, hydrants, and areas inaccessible to mowers shall be edged and trimmed so that grass does not exceed height of adjacent grass.

o Contractor shall sweep and clean all curb inlets, street gutters, etc. of all dirt, sand, leaves, trash, vegetation, debris, weeds, etc. on a monthly basis.

o Contractor equipment shall be maintained to provide a good clean cut without scalping.

o A space will be provided on VA grounds for stacking of branches, leaves, etc. by the contractor. The contractor is responsible for removing the pile of debris by the first day of each month from the VA grounds.



c. Irrigation.



o Contractor shall operate all lawn sprinkler systems and equipment.

o Contractor shall clean, adjust, and/or replace all grounds sprinkler parts as necessary to ensure proper and correct operation and water usage, sprinkler heads shall be maintained at ground level when not in use, i.e., pop-up, rotary heads.

o Maintain sprinkler heads and nozzles to insure proper water displacement to provide proper growth of plants and grasses. Adjust all sprinkler heads so that they do not spray any buildings.

o Contractor shall maintain and when necessary repair/replace main pipe lines, connecting lines, all valves, and grounds sprinkler system electrical wiring from electrical controllers to valves.

o Winterize and de-winterize ground irrigation systems to prevent freeze-ups and breakage.

o Water all plants and shrubs that are served by manual and automatic irrigation systems. Water shall be applied in a uniform manner and precautions shall be taken to prevent runoff into streets, drainage catch basins or accumulation into low-lying areas.

o Loss of trees, shrubs, grasses, plants, etc., caused by contractor negligence shall be replaced at no cost to the Government. Replacement shall be of the like quality, quantity, and size.

o Contractor shall limit water usage to amount necessary to properly maintain the facility. Sprinklers shall be adjusted for even coverage such that it will not require excess watering to keep the lawn green. Water usage for irrigation shall be coordinated such that water pressure is not adversely affected. The contractor is to provide a proposed irrigation schedule to the COTR for approval prior to starting irrigation. The COTR may require changes in the schedule to meet VA needs and stay within water system capacity.

o Contractor is responsible for the purchase and replacement of all sprinkler heads that become damaged due to grounds maintenance procedures. Sprinkler heads that are damaged by VA staff, patients or public will be furnished by the VA and installed by Contractor. Sprinkler heads to be replaced with exact type/style and VA approved, as needed.

o The sprinkler system shall be pressurized and ready for scheduled watering no earlier than June 1 of each year, with COTR approval.



d. Walks and slabs.

o Concrete walks; slabs, drive, and border pavers shall be policed daily and kept clear of dirt, leaves, branches, bird droppings, cigarette butts and any other debris.

o Concrete walks, slabs, drives border pavers shall be checked weekly.

o Trash containers shall be emptied as instructed.

o Cigarette butt containers shall be emptied as instructed.



e. Fertilization, Tree Spraying and Soil Sterilization.

A liquid application of fertilizer and weed control is to be done twice a year, in the spring and again in the fall. A tree and shrub inspection will be coordinated with the COTR for all spraying. Spraying is to be done by a state licensed individual. A copy of said license will be provided to the COTR prior to beginning any scheduled spraying. Areas in parking lots with cracks should be sterilized. All state standards required for staff and individual safety shall be followed.