Tree Removal and Pruning Services

1 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE UNITED STATES NATIONAL ARBORETUM 3501 NEW YORK, AVE. N.E. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20002 Statement of Work FOR Tree Removal and Pruning Services for the US National Arboretum WASHINGTON, D.C. -- 1 of 13 -- 2 Table of Contents National Arboretum Tree Removal and Pruning Services Section/Title Page 1. General Requirements .............................................................................. 3 2. Pruning and Removal Specifications. .................................................... 4 3. Quotes ...................................................................................................... 7 -- 2 of 13 -- 3 SCOPE OF WORK TREE REMOVAL AND PRUNING UNITED STATES NATIONAL ARBORETUM 1. SCOPE The United States National Arboretum (USNA) located at 3501 New York Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. requires tree maintenance activities, i.e. removal, pruning and stump grinding. These activities shall be performed as described in the requirements section. 2. REQUIREMENTS The Contractor shall perform all work in accordance with all Federal, and District of Columbia laws, regulations, codes, licenses and directives. The Contractor shall perform according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard ANSI A300 “Tree, Shrub and other Woody Plant Maintenance-Standard Practices.” ANSI shall be the authority for definitions and applications relating to tree trimming. The Contractor shall be on an as needed basis. The Contractor shall demonstrate proper and careful grounds care to ensure a pleasing appearance is maintained in the area where tree work is performed. The Contractor shall demonstrate caution to protect all public buildings, facilities and planted areas. The Contractor shall be responsible for safety of workers, Arboretum employees, and the visiting public and shall take proper measures to keep the public out of areas where tree work is being performed. Signage identifying work areas shall be required. GENERAL REQUIRMENTS 1. All labor used in tree work shall be under the supervision of an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist. Tree removal and pruning will be accomplished using approved arboricultural methods. Work must be performed in a manner not to damage other plant material in the vicinity of the work, if problematic the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officers Rep (COR) or Location Monitor (LM) shall be immediately contacted prior to work performance. 2. Use of heavy equipment for removal of trees must be authorized, if required, and approval for off-road access or off existing trails is required prior to commencement of work. Our goal is to limit to impact on turf, planted areas, native plants and plant root zones and irrigation lines. Sensitive areas shall be identified by the COR or LM. Due to weather or soil conditions off road access by heavy equipment may be denied or the use of turf protection mats may be required. 3. FAR clause 52.237-2 Protection of Government Buildings, Equipment and Vegetation (Apr. 1984) shall apply: “The Contractor shall use reasonable care to avoid damaging existing buildings, equipment, and vegetation on the Government installation. -- 3 of 13 -- 4 If the Contractor’s failure to use reasonable care causes damage to any of this property, the Contractor shall replace or repair the damage at no expense to the Government as the Contracting Officer directs. If the Contractor fails or refuses to make such repair or replacement, the Contractor shall be liable for the cost which may be deducted from the contract price.” 4. At a minimum, al limbs and debris under 6” shall be ground to wood chips and deposited onsite at a location designated by the COR or LM. All other wood deemed too large to chip shall be stockpiled at a designated area on the Arboretum grounds as per instruction of the COR or LM. 5. The “American National Standard Institute’ (ANSI) standard Z133.1 “Pruning, Trimming, Repairing, Maintaining and Removing Trees and Cutting Brush-Safety Requirements” shall be the authority for definitions and applications relating to tree safety. 6. All tree work shall be performed between the hours of 7:00am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The Contractor may begin to set up for tree work as early as 6:30am based on special exceptions and must be approved by the COR. Hourly rate shall be calculated for actual time on the job site (Arboretum grounds). Crew shall be required to log in and out daily. 7. The Contractor shall be provided and is authorized the use, in a responsible manner, Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) (Mini Truck) deemed necessary to complete tasks contained in this SOW with approval of the COR and under the supervision of the LM or designated USNA Staff on a case-by-case basis. The equipment shall only be used in the event that the location of the removal is inaccessible by the contractor’s road-ready vehicles. The contractor assumes all liability for damage to the USNA equipment or injury to the contractor’s employee while operating the GFE. 8. Scheduling of tree work shall be coordinated with the COR or LM. The Contractor shall be required to notify the COR or LM prior to commencing any tree work under this requirement and prior to moving to another area of work on the Arboretum grounds. The Contractor shall be required to notify the COR or LM in the event of any scheduled workday. 9. Subcontracting any work under this contract is permitted but with prior authorization from the CO, or COR only. 10. Catastrophic occurrences or emergency situations, as determined by the USNA, shall not be included in this contract. Incumbent has right of first refusal, for work considered catastrophic or an emergency and not covered by this contract. If the incumbent cannot respond to a catastrophic or emergency event in a timely manner, as determined by location, nature and urgency of the event, then the Arboretum has the right to…