Specifications include, but are not limited to: 2.2.1 The contractor shall provide grounds maintenance services in a professional manner in accordance with acceptable professional practices and the highest standards appropriate to promote a healthy lawn and to minimize damage to trees, shrubs, other desired plants, and surrounding property. For purposes of this RFQ, lawn shall be defined as any grassy areas located within property boundaries of Department buildings, including but not limited to areas surrounding any trees, bushes, and shrubs and areas within any mulched planter beds. The contractor shall provide grounds keeping services in the area within the yellow lines indicated on Attachment #2. 2.2.2 The contractor shall mow and string trim all lawns for the first time in the spring to two and a half (2 ½) inches in height. Thereafter, the contractor shall mow and string-trim all lawns to three (3) inches in height. 2.2.3 Prior to mowing, the contractor shall remove and properly dispose of all trash, debris, and limbs from the lawn. 2.2.4 The contractor shall execute mower turns at different locations on the lawn to minimize bare spots in the lawn. 2.2.5 When mowing lawns within ten (10) feet of buildings and occupied parking lots, the contractor shall capture grass clippings with a mower bagger; however, a mower bagger is not necessary when there are no vehicles in the parking lot. The contractor shall remove grass clippings from all sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. The contractor shall remove grass clippings from the lawn when a visible trail is left behind the mower. The contractor shall allow short grass clippings that do not form a visible trail to filter down into the turf. 2.2.6 The contractor shall provide shrub/bush trimming services, as needed, to maintain the health, height and smooth appearance of the shrubs/bushes. The contractor shall trim the shrubs/bushes to a height determined by the designated Department representative. 2.2.7 As soon as saplings appear around the base of trees, the contractor shall remove saplings without inflicting damage to the tree. 2.2.8 The contractor shall apply lawn chemicals including, but not limited to, fertilizer, crabgrass/weed preventer/killer, and grub and insect control at intervals and dosages recommended by the manufacturer and at the request of the Department representative to produce a faultless lawn. In addition, the contractor shall remove weeds and resolve all lawn blemishes as they appear. At the request of the Department, the contractor shall apply weed preventer/killer to problem areas located within Department parking lots and side-walks. 2.2.9 The contractor shall apply mulch each spring to areas surrounding all bushes and mulched beds to a minimum depth of two and one-half (2 ½) inches. The contractor shall remove enough old mulch to allow for a new application of mulch. The contractor shall aerate the old mulch bed with a fork to prevent matting. The contractor shall use oak bark or pine mulch. The contractor shall keep mulch away from the base of all plants. 2.2.10 The contractor shall remove and properly dispose of old mulch and debris after each application, shrub/bush trimmings, and collected grass clippings.