Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. General Maintenance: a. There will be no usage of fertilizer in any form. Only a pre/post emergence will be used. b. Requirements for grounds preparation for special events will be coordinated with the Contractor to permit normal work schedule to be adapted to meet needs. Where extra service is required, the Contractor shall provide such services at an agreed upon rate between the Contractor and the Facilities Administrator. This cost will be provided as a per-acre cost along with the project bid. c. Grounds will be available for services during daylight hours, seven days a week. d. Playing fields are not included in the service areas. 2. Grass cutting: a. An acceptably cut grassed area shall be cut to a uniform height. Mowers will be set to cut grass to a height of no more than three (3) inches and not less than two (2) inches. The grass shall not be scalped, unevenly mowed, and the ground shall not be rutted by equipment. Trees and shrubs shall not be damaged. The Contactor shall repair or replace turf, shrubs, trees, and fences, which have been damaged during mowing operations within fifteen (15) calendar days of damage. Sidewalks, curbs, gutters, storm inlets and drives shall be free of grass cuttings as determined by the Field Maintenance Supervisor. Mow and trim all grassed areas as indicated in schedule from March to November and from December to February (except inclement weather periods). All excessive grass clippings will be removed and disposed of away from park grounds. Cutting frequency shall be weekly March thru November and Bi-monthly (mostly for leaf pickup) December thru February unless otherwise negotiated. Treatment of Fire Ants will be provided weekly, on an as needed basis after grass cutting. 3. Drainage Ditches: a. Vegetation in and adjacent to the drainage ditches on improved grounds shall be mowed to the same standards as for the adjacent grass cutting. Ditches without water shall have the entire area mowed. Those with standing water in them will be mowed to within six (6) inches to twelve (12) inches of the waterline. All vines, shrubs and trees shall be removed. Drainage ditches shall be mowed while the adjacent grassed areas are mowed. 4. Grass and Weed Trimming: a. The grass and weeds shall be trimmed around structures and objects that cannot be mowed around during the grass cutting operation. Trimming shall be done on the same date that the adjacent grass is cut. Chemicals may be used around buildings, fences, trees, and other objects with a kill zone of not more than six (6) inches from objects. Grass and weeds penetrating or overlapping pavement surfaces will be chemically removed. 5. Herbicides Used: a. The Contractor shall use only herbicides that are registered with the USEPA for the use intended and which are approved by the Facilities Administrator. The Contractor will always use all herbicides in strict conformance with MSDS labels book of all herbicides used and have it readily available for reference on site for review. Contractors must be certified by the state of South Carolina through Clemson Extension Services to spray controlled herbicides and must also provide a copy of the current certification (annually) prior to renewal of the contract. b. The Contractor shall keep a log of what product he/she used, where he/she used, and at what rate. This log shall be strictly for RCRC properties only and given to the Parks Superintendent. 6. Policing Grounds and Paved Areas: a. Prior to mowing the contract area, the Contractor shall pick up and dispose of trash and litter on all improved grounds and paved areas. Trash and litter include paper, plastic, bottles, cans, cardboard, rags, limbs, sticks and other similar solid materials and foreign debris. An acceptably policed area shall be free of such trash and litter. The contractor will vacuum or blow the parking lots. 7. Shrubbery, Tree, and Leaf Maintenance: a. Hedge trimming will occur four (4) times a year: January, April, July and October by the last day of the months, respectively. b. Tree limbs shall be pruned and maintained, as needed, up to a height of eight (8) feet. c. Fall leaves shall be removed from the site.
