**COMONWEALTH OF MASACHUSETS**

**GROUNDSKEPING/LANDSCAPING AND SNOW**

**REMOVAL SERVICES**

## RFR# FAC23

## Facilities Procurement Management Team

**MA Operational Services Division**

**One Ashburton Place**

**Rom 1017**

**Boston, MA 02108**

**[Products Covered in the Following Excerpt:]{.underline}**

Athletic Fields

Turf Services

Groundskeeping

Landscaping Services

# Irrigation

Aeration Maintenance Consultation

Top-dressing Installation Irrigation Design

Services

Other Services

Seeding Consultation Installation \<\$10,000

Renovation Landscaping Design

Fertilization Excavation Services

**EXCERPT:**

***Environmentally Sound Landscaping***

As part of the statewide effort to minimize the environmental and health
impact of landscaping practices, the PMT encourages contractors to work
with departments to implement environmentally preferable landscaping
practices at state facilities. As part of this effort, the PMT hereby:

-   Reserves the right at any time during the term of the contracts to
    eliminate, change or otherwise restrict certain practices or
    products that have been deemed by the PMT, in consultation with the
    Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, to be unsuitable for use
    at state facilities.

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-   Strongly encourages contractors to promote and work with departments
    on the use of state landscaping guidelines as outlined in appendix
    I.

-   Requires Contractors to adhere to any mandatory language contained
    in the current or future landscaping guidelines.

-   Encourages Bidders to submit a brief description of their own
    environmentally preferable landscaping practices and/or how the
    bidders plan to incorporate the attached guidelines into their work
    as part of these contracts. Any description should be brief in
    nature (i.e. no more than 500 words).

***Please note:** Any information in this section will not be used as
part of the RFR evaluation; however, it will be used to provide
information to departments about the environmental services offered by
contractors.*

***c. Snow Removal, Sanding and Salt Services***

Contractors will be responsible for clearing public roadways ***(with
the exception of those roadways managed by the Massachusetts Highway
Department)***, main walkways, emergency exits, outside stairways//ramps
and parking lots on an as needed basis. This section will follow the
guidelines and rate structure set by the Massachusetts Highway
Department's Contract for Snow and Ice. All rates, equipment and
conditions will coincide with MHD. The hourly rates for these services
will be posted to Com-PAS on a yearly basis when made available from the
Massachusetts Highway Department.

**Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Lawn and Landscape Practices**

The following elements of landscaping are provided to help landscapers
and contract users design and maintain an aesthetically pleasing
landscape that conserves water, reduces chemical use, promotes native
plant species and enhances biodiversity. Outdoor water use can account
for more than half of the total water used in summer months in some
communities. Invasive species, pesticides and natural habitat
destruction can all negatively impact the environment.

Listed below are environmentally sound landscaping recommendations can
help minimize negative environmental impacts, encourage conservation and
resource protection, and promote a healthy landscape. The guidelines
are:

**1. Minimize Lawn Size**

By reducing lawn size during site and landscape design, property owners
can substantially reduce the amount of water used for landscape
maintenance. Replacing lawn area with native trees, shrubs and ground
cover can benefit properties by creating privacy and shade around
buildings and lead to reduced cooling costs, and creates habitat for
wildlife. The amount of water necessary for irrigation purposes is
directly related to the features of the landscape.

**2. Avoid Invasive Species and Promote Use of Native and
Drought-Tolerant Plants**

Invasive plant species are becoming a significant problem in
Massachusetts due to their ability to spread rapidly in the absence of
natural predators. Native plants and diverse habitats suffer as a
result. When designing lawns and landscapes, Contractors should avoid
known invasive species wherever possible. Alternatively, native plants
have adapted to the environmental conditions of New England and will
create wildlife habitat. Native species will need less landscaping
input, such as water and chemicals, than other species. When designing
new lawns and other landscapes, native plants should be used to the
greatest extent possible. In order to simplify and maximize the
efficiency of soil care, group together plants that require similar
nutrients and amounts of water. To get information on native species,
please refer to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program report entitled: THE
VASCULAR PLANTS OF MASACHUESTS: A COUNTY CHECKLIST. The program may be
contacted to order the report at 508-792-7270 or via the web at
<http://ww.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhpubs.htm>.

**3. Design Landscapes to Prevent Water Run-off**

Sloped regions of landscape can lose significant amounts of water from
run-of. At a minimum, on slopes of 6% or greater, drought-resistant
ground cover should be installed. If the slope is well compacted, water
absorption can be increased by aeration techniques. The use of contours
or grades on slopes also increases the availability of water to plants.

**4. Water Only When Necessary**

Over-watering is wasteful, and can cause turf problems by encouraging
fungal growth and disease resulting in the development of shallow,
compacted rot systems that are vulnerable to drought and foot traffic.
Turf water needs vary according to many factors including: amount of
solar radiation, temperature, humidity, grass species and rate of
growth, rooting depth, and soil texture. Rather than adhering to a
regular watering schedule, soil and turf conditions should be monitored
to determine when watering is necessary. It is especially important when
scheduling automatic irrigation systems to be aware of the landscape
water needs to determine whether or not watering is necessary.

Alternatives to automatic irrigation systems, such as soaker hoses and
other drip irrigation technologies, hand held hoses, and manually
controlled sprinklers may be appropriate in certain circumstances and
may lead to more efficient water use. If a green lawn is not a priority,
watering may not be necessary as many types of grass become dormant in
the summer months and revive when better weather conditions return.
These recommendations are applicable whether the water used comes from a
public water supplier or from a private well.

**5. Install Rain Shutoff Devices on Automatic Irrigation Systems and
Set System to Water**

**Infrequently (if automatic irritations systems are necessary)**

A rain shutoff device shuts of the automatic irrigation system when it
rains, protecting the landscape from over-watering and reducing water
costs. Rain shutoff devices are inexpensive, easy to install, and can be
installed on any automatic irrigation system. System controllers should
be set to water only when necessary \-- generally weekly is sufficient.
They should also be set to meet the types of outdoor water restrictions
that may be imposed by the community or water supplier.

**6. Water Plants at Optimal Time of Day**

Using an overhead irrigation system during a hot, sunny day results in
massive water loss by evapotranspiration. To avoid this problem,
watering should occur in the early morning, when plants are already wet
from dew. Though water loss is very low at night because of cooler
temperatures, watering at this time can encourage the development of
diseases, especially during humid nights, because plants will dry
extremely slowly. Never water during the heat of the day.

**7. Employ Water Reuse Technologies Wherever Possible**

Water reuse technologies, including cisterns and reclaimed wastewater
are strongly encouraged as proper use of these technologies can greatly
reduce water use from public water supplies. The

Department of Environmental Protection has recently published Interim
Guidelines on Reclaimed

Water (Revised) \-- January 3, 2000. It can be found at:

<http://ww.state.ma.us/dep/brp/wm/t5pubs.htm>.

**8. Mow Lawns to Minimize Harmful Environmental Impact**

Most turf grass species are healthiest when kept between 2 ½ and 3
inches. Longer grass shades the soil, improving moisture retention.
Longer grass also has more leaf surface to take in sunlight, allowing it
to grow thicker and develop a deeper rot system, which in turn helps
grass survive drought, tolerate insect damage, and fend of disease. Keep
lawn mower blades sharp to avoid the tearing of grass blades. Whenever
possible, use mulching lawn mowers and leave grass clippings on the
lawn. If removal of clippings is necessary, make every effort to compost
them.

**9. Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Techniques**

Integrated Pest Management is a method of carefully analyzing different
threats to a particular landscape's health and dealing with them
individually, using limited amounts of selective chemical pesticides or
herbicides only when absolutely necessary. Alternative tactics for
dealing with pests diseases, and weds include biological or mechanical
controls, choosing plants that resist disease, providing god air
circulation, and creating environments that favor the desired species
over the pests. IPM is superior to chemical treatments because it avoids
both long-term soil problems and the killing of beneficial species. For
details about IPM and lawns, The Homeowner's Guide to

Environmentally Sound Lawncare is available online at:

<http://ww.massdfa.org/pesticides/publications/homeowner.htm>.

**10. Nourish and Protect Plants with Compost and Mulch Products**

Lawn debris and grass clippings can be reused to fertilize the soil as
compost. Spreading a layer of compost over the soil is also beneficial
because it introduces microbial activity that prevents grass thatching
and breaks down dead plants. When installing lawns or plants, consider
adding between 12 and 18 inches of compost and/or organic material to
improve soil conditions and improve water retention. Use mulch in
flowerbeds and around shrubs and trees to minimize evaporation, reduce
wed growth, and decrease erosion. To promote resource conservation, use
recycled mulch products whenever posible.

**11. Use Appropriate Fertilizers Efficiently to Protect Water Sources**

Run-off from lawns fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
contributes significantly to water pollution, so they should be applied
in a manner that uses them efficiently. First, before applying
fertilizer indiscriminately, soil should be tested to determine the
optimal amount and type of fertilizer to be applied. Consider using iron
instead of or in combination with nitrogen, as this element also causes
plants to green but does not produce the harmful nitrate run-off that
nitrogen does. A slow-release (water insoluble) nitrogen fertilizer will
remain in the soil longer than a fast-release (water soluble) product
and will reduce the amount of fertilizer that needs to be used by
promoting absorption by plants and preventing the fertilizer from
quickly leaching into groundwater. Near water sources and storm drains,
use a drop spreader instead of a rotary spreader to apply fertilizer.
Consider establishing buffer zones near water sources by withholding
fertilizer application. This will prevent erosion and also reduce the
amount of fertilizer reaching the water body. Avoid applying fertilizers
at any time when there is likely to be a lot of rainfall or little
absorption by the soil, such as in the late fall or winter when the soil
is often either frozen or minimally absorbent. Fertilizer applied at
these times is highly likely to leach out of the soil and into the water
supply without benefiting the intended plants.

**12. Promote Habitat Restoration**

When considering habitat restoration, make sure to consider the types of
local flora and plant species that currently exist and that have been
planted historically. Additionally, when conducting restoration
projects, invasive species should be replaced with native species.

**13. Address Issues Specific to Athletic Fields and Golf Courses**

There are special issues and considerations relevant to the care of
athletic fields and golf courses. For advice on environmentally sound
maintenance of golf courses, contact the UMass Extension Turf Program at
508-892-0382. For information about turf management for athletic fields,
contact the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture at (617)
626-1700.