4.7.1 MOWING: The contractor shall mow grass to heights appropriate to the season and approvedby the PM, using mulching mowers that leave light deposits of clipping on the turf. Typical summer heights should be 4” and winter heights should be 3”. All mowers shall have closed decks with guards to prevent the discharge of debris. Respondent shall disperse if possible or remove heavy deposits of clippings. Scalping, gouging, or uneven cuts will not be acceptable. CLOSED DECK MULCHING MOWERS WILL BE USED ON ALL UTMB PROPERTIES AT ALL TIMES. 4.7.2 SMALLER TURF AREAS: Respondent shall mow smaller turf areas with a push-type lawnmower to prevent damage to turf, uneven cuts, and creating a dangerous situation. The smaller areas are defined as narrow strips of grass between sidewalks and roadways, sidewalks and bedded areas, Esplanades/Medians with plants or trees that will not allow room for easy passage, turf areas that have hills too steep for riding decks to cut evenly and areas less than 200 square feet in total size. 4.7.3 EDGING: Edging will be performed at all the junction points of all turf grass and hard surfaces, including drives, sidewalks, hard surface planters, retaining walls, building walls, signs, poles/posts, tree rings, plant beds, etc. Metal edgers or string weed eaters may be used to meet application requirements. Detailed edging is required around mulched or un-mulched plant beds, mulched or un-mulched trees, and pole/post will be kept at least no less than 6” and no more than 10” from each unit. All edging shall be sharp clean cuts and conform to the object being edged. Edging will be done to meet or exceed mowing frequencies. 4.7.4 WEED EATING: Weed eating will be done around tight areas to keep tall grass even with the rest of the turf. Scalping these areas such as retaining walls, building walls and hard surface planters will not be acceptable. Caution is to be taken to not damage any bedding plants, shrubs, trees, or other surfaces. Note: Any damages or injuries caused by flying debris from weed eating, mowers, or edgers to pedestrians, buildings, glass, vehicles, or any other items on campus will be the full responsibility of the Respondent for immediate resolution. 4.7.5 DEBRIS AND REMOVAL: Debris is defined as heavy or visible clippings, pruned materials, fallen branches, leaves, silt, displaced mulch, dead plants, dead animals, dead birds,paper, cans, bottles, cigarette butts, or any other loose litter which does not belong or creates an unsightly look. Removal of debris should be performed on all sites including turf, parking lots, streets, curbs, and gutters on the completion of each visit or service. 4.7.6 SPRAYING: Spraying “Round Up” or acceptable equal shall be done as often as needed by a licensed applicator for weed control in concrete expansion joints and cracks. This includes but is not limited to sidewalks, drives, curbs, streets, parking lots, and bus stops. 4.7.7 GROUND COVER: Plants used in beds like Wedelia, Asian Jasmine, etc. This type of plant shall maintain a sharp edge and be kept at a minimum height to provide proper ground cover, depending on plant type andlocation. 4.7.8 SEASONAL/ANNUAL COLOR BEDS: Seasonal/Annual planted beds will be changed out no less than three (3) times per year and no more than four (4) times per year as the weather requires. (ref. Attachment No. 4). 4.7.9 TREE AND PALM TRIMMING AND PRUNING: Respondent shall keep trees, palms, and shrubs trimmed as described below. 4.7.9.1 All tree and palm canopies are to be kept neatly pruned year-round with no extra charge at a minimum level of 8’ above turf and/or sidewalks and 14’ above driveways and/or streets. Maintain all trees, palms, and hedges on a weekly or bi-weekly basis at a level reachable from the ground by pole loppers or saws to allow proper visibility for traffic signals, signs, utilities, and security light pole light clearances. All trees and palms should be kept pruned away from walls, roofs, signs, pole lights, and other structures to prevent blockage and rubbing on other surfaces. 4.7.9.2 Shrubs including Oleanders will be pruned as needed and kept in a clean cut hedge-type appearance as agreed on by the PM. Crape Myrtles will only be trimmed when requested by the PM. Shrubs should be kept at a maximum height of around 6’, however, there are many spots on campus where shrubs or hedges may be pruned to a height of 2’, 3’, 4’, or 5’ depending on species and location. All trimming will be done by proper use of loppers and/or hedge trimmers. String trimmers will NOT be used for this type of work. Special care should be taken to ensure that foliage does not obstruct visibility for pedestrians at crosswalks, vehicles at drives or street corners, signs, lights, fire hydrants, or utilities. 4.7.10 CLEAN AND MULCH: Plant areas are to be weed-free and mulched. Hard surfaces are to be weed-free and cleaned. In some cases, landscape plants might be considered weeds when they are volunteer seedlings in unwanted locations. The PM will help determine this issue if not obvious. 4.7.10.1 Weed-free is defined as being relatively clean and free of unwanted vegetation. The only reasonable acceptance would be growth between visits or services. 4.7.10.2 Keeping hard surface expansion joints and cracks free of any type of growth is the Respondent’s responsibility. 4.7.11 FERTILIZING: Defined as using only high nitrogen, low phosphorous granular fertilizer (typical 24-2-4 or 20-0-10) at least twice a year in March and September. All fertilizer should be approved by the PM before it is applied. 4.7.12 CHEMICAL CONTROL OF PESTS AND DISEASES: Respondent shall perform pest and disease inspections at each visit and submit a written report of each inspection. The Respondent shall apply landscape pest control chemicals and disease control chemicals as needed to prevent or treat affected areas, using the standard principles of Integrated Pest Management. 4.7.12.1 Use of any chemical products in the performance of this scope of work shall be in strict accordance with the laws, codes, and regulations governing such use. Any liability resulting from the use of chemicals rests with the applicator and the applicator’s employer. Any damages caused by the application of chemicals will be the full responsibility of the applicator, including the replacement of the damaged plants and other landscape material or property, and other remedial action required for full and immediate resolution. 4.7.12.2 The Respondent shall supply in writing a report to the PM that describes plans for the application of chemical products and will proceed only after approval. 4.7.12.3 All contract pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, matricides, and rodenticides) applicators on the UTMB campus must-have commercial pesticide applicator licenses from either the Texas Structural Pest Control Board or The Texas Department of Agriculture. A copy of each license is to be kept on file with the PM and renewed annually. 4.7.13 IRRIGATION: Respondent shall manage the proper operation and condition of all irrigation systems at all times on the UTMB properties. Full inspection/testing of irrigation systems and a written report shall be conducted at least during the first scheduled visit of each month. Irrigation watering times shall be based on the needs of the climatic conditions year-round. Respondent shall set the irrigation time clocks for seasonal change and need. Respondent shall use restrictions put forth by the City of Galveston. The total care, repair, and replacement of sprinkler heads, will be the responsibility of the Respondent. Respondent shall make repairs to irrigation systems within 48 hours of the discovery of damage or a report of damage to the PM. Additional repairs to the underground piping, control wiring, valves, and controllers will be submitted in writing with a detailed description of the work needed and a cost estimate. The PM will be responsible for approving all additional repairs not covered by thisRFP.
