**Statement of Objectives**

**for**

**Landscaping/Grounds Maintenance Services**

**May 1, 2008**

1.  **[Purpose]{.underline}**

The purpose of this contract is to obtain landscaping/grounds
maintenance services to achieve and maintain a clean, neat and
professional standard at the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory
(USACIL) year round.

2.  **[Scope]{.underline}**

The Contractor shall provide all supervision, administrative and
technical support, labor, tools, transportation, materials, supplies and
equipment, and shall plan, schedule, coordinate and assure effective
completion of all services described herein.

1.  **Grounds**

The grounds at the USACIL consist of approximately two (2) acres of
Bermuda grass and shall be properly maintained free of weeds with the
proper seasonal fertilization applications. Services shall be conducive
to seasonal requirements. The Contractor shall determine how often the
work is to be performed, how much labor is needed to perform the tasks,
what methods will be used to complete the job and which supplies,
materials and equipment are needed.

2.  **Basic Services**

Basic services include: grass cutting, trimming, edging, tree and shrub
pruning, mulching, fertilization, grassing, turf and bed weed control,
insect and disease control, leaf and debris removal, perennial cutback,
aeration, and winter visits.

3.  **[Objectives]{.underline}**

The Contractor shall perform on a continuous cycle, throughout the year,
to maintain evenly cut green grass, neatly trimmed and edged; weed-free
grass and weed-free beds of healthy, correctly pruned, fertilized,
cultivated, mulched plants and flowers; straight standing, mulched,
healthy trees free of insects and disease; and grounds free of leaves,
pine cones, needles, straw, and other debris. The grounds shall reflect
an overall well-manicured appearance.

1.  **Grass Cutting**

All grassed areas shall remain at a uniform height between two (2) and
two and one half (2½) inches. Grass cutting is to be accomplished free
of scalping, rutting, bruising, and uneven and rough cutting. No grass
trimmings shall be left in any of the beds or in the courtyards.

2.  **Trimming**

Trimming operations shall be considered a part of grass cutting and
grass cutting will not be considered complete until all trimming
operations are accomplished. Grass and weeds shall not be permitted to
grow above the ground cover; therefore, all ground cover plants shall be
kept trimmed from borders, sidewalks, streets and/or parking areas.

3.  **Edging**

Edging shall also be considered a part of grass cutting and grass
cutting will not be considered complete until all edging operations are
accomplished. All sidewalks, driveways, street edges, curbs, and other
paved areas shall be edged to maintain a clear zone immediately adjacent
to the paved surface. Edged lines shall be neat and clean, providing a
clear zone free of scalping, rutting, bruising, and uneven and rough
cutting. Extreme care shall be exercised to prevent damage to concrete
during the edging process.

4.  **Tree and Shrub Pruning**

    1.  **Tree Pruning**

> The Contractor shall prune all trees as necessary to keep the lowest
> limbs 7 feet above ground level. This includes any broken limbs
> resulting from, but not limited to, ice or snow storms, winds and
> rain. All cut or fallen limbs shall be hauled away by the Contractor.
>
> Contractor shall paint tree wounds that are larger than 1 inch in
> diameter with tree wound paint.

2.  **Shrub Pruning**

> The Contractor shall prune all shrubs removing dead, diseased, or
> damaged branches. Dead shrubs shall be removed and any stumps cut
> below ground level and the remaining holes covered with dirt.

5.  **Mulching**

Shrubs, hedges, and flowerbeds shall be mulched, by the Contractor, as
necessary to maintain a healthy appearance. All bed edging shall be
realigned as needed. Mulch in bed areas, such as wood bark chips, pine
straw, etc., shall be well groomed after cultivation.

6.  **Fertilization**

The Contractor shall ensure that correct soil conditions are maintained
for each tree, shrub, flower, grass or plant in order to promote optimum
growth, correct environment, and obvious good health for the species of
plant.

Fertilizer used shall contain the appropriate nutrients and shall not be
offensive to the smell. Fertilizer shall be delivered in the original,
unopened containers bearing the manufacturer's chemical analysis, name,
trade name, trademark, and indication of conformance to state and
federal laws. In lieu of containers, fertilizer may be furnished in bulk
if accompanied by a certificate indicating the above information with
each delivery.

7.  **Grassing**

The Contractor shall re-seed or re-sod bare or thinning spots in the
turf, as needed, to maintain uniform appearance to the surrounding area.

8.  **Turf and Bed Weed Control**

The property shall be maintained weed-free by the Contractor, with
special focus on entrances and other high-visibility areas. The
Contractor shall apply herbicides to kill all weeds, wild onions and
other foreign grasses in all areas of the property, including grass and
weeds in parking areas or paved walkways around building.

Trees shall be sprayed to control common bark beetle and other damaging
insects. Herbicides shall be applied to eradicate pre-emergence,
post-emergence, and broadleaf weed. Contractor shall replace all
plant(s), tree(s), etc. damaged or killed as a result of using
herbicides with plant(s), tree(s), etc. of equal species and size, at no
additional cost to the Government.

1.  **Control Methods**

> The Contractor shall utilize only herbicides registered with the EPA
> and applicable state lead agency for the use intended. Use shall be in
> strict compliance with label directions for the control of the target
> weeds. Any proposed changes in approved herbicide usage shall be
> submitted the Contracting Officers Technical Representative (COTR) and
> Contracting Officer (CO) for approval at least five (5) working days
> in advance of the anticipated need.

2.  **Herbicide Use Records**

> The Contractor shall maintain records of all herbicide usage on a
> Contractor provided form. This form shall be filled out as weed
> control operations are performed, and all entries must be available
> upon request for inspection. These records shall be made available to
> the COTR and CO when requested.

9.  **Insect and Disease Control**

The Contractor shall implement a continuous program and provide services
necessary for the control and eradication of insects, using only those
pesticides that comply with the provisions of the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Pesticide Control Act of 1972, Public Law
92516, and the regulations issued there under. Contractor personnel
performing these services shall be licensed pest control technicians.

The Contractor does not have the responsibility for the control of
disease; however, in his/her observation of the trees, shrubs and grass,
the Contractor shall note the presence of such disease and shall
immediately report same to the COTR and CO. Disease treatment will be
handled in a separate contract.

10. **Leaf and Debris Removal**

As necessary to maintain a clean, neat appearance, the Contractor shall
rake up and haul away all dead leaves and limbs as well as other debris
located on the property.

11. **Parking Areas, Driveways, and Sidewalks**

All parking areas, driveways, and sidewalks shall be clean of leaves,
grass and other debris. Weeds shall be removed in accordance with
section 3.8.

12. **Perennial Cutback**

The Contractor shall cutback perennials at the end of their season to
prevent bugs and promote healthy flowering the next season.

13. **Aeration**

The Contractor shall perform aeration of turf at commercially acceptable
times of the year to promote optimum growth of grass and grass seed.

14. **Winter Visits**

The Contractor shall inspect the grounds and remove leaves and other
debris. The Contractor is not responsible for snow removal or ice
treatments to the property.

15. **Project Manager**

The Contractor shall designate an individual hereafter referred to as
the Project Manager (PM) to serve as the central contractor point of
contact with the Government. The contractor shall also designate an
Alternate PM (APM), to serve in the absence of the PM. The PM and the
APM, shall be authorized to act on behalf of the contractor for all
matters relating to this contract to include the authority to bind the
contractor for matters pertaining to this contract. The contractor's
quote shall identify the persons to be designated as PM and APM,
respectively.

4.  **[Period of Performance]{.underline}**

Base period is from date of award through twelve (12) months with four
(4) option periods of one (1) year each

5.  **[Place of Performance]{.underline}**

4930 N 31^st^ Street

Forest Park, GA 30297

6.  **[Background]{.underline}**

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory, located at Fort Gillem,
Georgia.

7.  **[Constraints]{.underline}**

    1.  **Base Requirements**

The Contractor and all personnel shall abide by the following Base
requirements:

-   No firearms

-   Vehicle may be checked

-   Contractor personnel shall have valid federal or state issued IDs

-   Cell phone use is permitted, but hands-free devices must be used
    while in operation of motorized vehicles and equipment

-   All Contractor equipment and personnel shall enter the base through
    Flankers Gate located on Flankers Rd.

-   Any other requirements received upon entry to the base

    1.  **Vehicular Requirements**

Motor vehicle operators shall comply with Fort McPherson/Gillem rules
and regulations regarding motor vehicle use and shall be trained and
licensed for the various categories of vehicles, as follows:

1.  **Privately Owned Vehicles**

> Operators shall have a valid State driver's license or appropriate
> commercial license. A Georgia State Commercial Drivers License (CDL)
> is required for operation of all vehicles rated at 2 1/2 tons or
> above.

2.  **Other Equipment/Systems/Materials Handling Equipment**

> Operators shall have valid certifications for the type equipment to be
> operated. Training, testing, qualifying, and licensing shall be
> accomplished in accordance with Department of the Army Technical
> Bulletins TB 600-1, "Procedures For Selection, Training, Testing and
> Qualifying Operators of Equipment/Systems, Excluding Selected
> Watercraft And Aircraft, Managed/Supported By US Army Troop Support
> And Aviation Materiel Readiness Command" and TB 600-2, "Procedures For
> Selection, Training, Testing, Qualifying and Licensing Operators of
> Construction Equipment, Materiel Handling Equipment, And
> Armor-Vehicle-Launched Supported By US Army Tank-Automotive Materiel
> Readiness Command".

2.  **Environmental Requirements**

The Contractor and all personnel shall abide by the following
environmental requirements:

-   Material safety data sheets (MSDS) shall be provided to the CO and
    COTR

-   Company, individual insect and/or disease control licenses, chemical
    formulation documentation, and amounts on weed control and
    fertilizer shall be provided to the CO and COTR before application

    1.  **Damage to Grounds and Property**

The Contractor shall be responsible for all damage to government and
occupant personal property as the result of the Contractor, Contractor
personnel, and equipment used by Contractor or Contractor personnel.

2.  **Hours of Operation**

All work shall be performed between 6:00am and 6:00pm local time, Monday
through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Federal holidays can be
obtained from
<http://www.opm.gov/Operating_Status_Schedules/FEDHOL/INDEX.asp>.