Landscaping Services

Background
The Pacific Southwest Research Station (USDA Forest Service) requires landscaping services at the PSW Forest Fire Laboratory located at 4955 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, CA 92507.
The goal of the contract is to maintain healthy, green, and weed-free lawns and planter/parkway areas that are aesthetically pleasing to employees, visitors, and the public.
This procurement will include a base year and four option years.

Work Details
- Provide ground maintenance services according to a monthly schedule: March through October, four services per month; November through February, two services per month.
- Perform mowing of grass weekly July through October (4 times per month) and bi-monthly November through February (2 times per month), maintaining grass height between 2.5 and 3.5 inches; mulch or remove grass clippings and clean sidewalks.
- Edge sidewalks, driveways, curbs, and other concrete or asphalt edges with every lawn mowing service.
- Prune and trim grass around trees, shrubs, buildings, fences, poles, posts, fire hydrants, parking lot bumper blocks, boulders, and other fixed obstacles; follow ANSI Z133.1-1994 standards with Class II medium pruning for general maintenance and Class IV lifting or cutback for traffic or safety conflicts; coordinate all pruning with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).
- Remove litter and weeds from all landscaped areas at each scheduled service; remove unauthorized plants or suckers; maintain a weed-free environment along roadsides, parkways, and visitor parking areas.
- Apply a commercial fertilizer program for all grounds, trees, and shrubs under six feet tall in early spring (with pre-emergent herbicide) and early fall; contractor to submit a fertilizer schedule for the base year and option years.
- Aerate soil on improved grounds twice per year during April and October to maintain healthy turf conditions.
- Conduct general litter patrol and removal of all natural and man-made debris during each service; place trash in the nearest contractor-provided dumpster.
- Submit an annual service schedule identifying facilities by title and approximate service times for acceptance at the pre-work meeting; allow up to 30 days for schedule adjustments based on inspections and obtain written approval from the CO/COR for any deviations or permanent changes.

Period of Performance
Base Period: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024; 1st Option Period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025; 2nd Option Period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026; 3rd Option Period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027; 4th Option Period: July 1, 2027 – May 30, 2028.

Place of Performance
USDA Forest Service, PSW Forest Fire Laboratory, 4955 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, CA 92507.

Bidder Requirements
Offerors must assign a Foreman as key personnel and may not substitute key personnel during the first 90 days without written notice and approval.
Offerors must provide three government past performance references (or four if first-time to USDA) and no more than five total references for evaluation.
Contractor employees requiring routine unaccompanied access to the facility must comply with USDA Personal Identity Verification (PIV) policies and maintain eligibility for a USDA LincPass.