FY 25-003 Grounds Maintenance and Landscaping

The Bridgeton Board of Education is seeking competitive proposals from qualified contractors to provide complete grounds maintenance services at all district facilities.  The Contractor shall be responsible all equipment, materials and labor required to maintain the grounds at a consistent professional level.   Mileage and travel time must be factored into the proposal, the district will not reimburse Contractor additional fees for mileage/travel. Scope of Work The Contractor shall provide weekly maintenance of the athletic fields and all grounds.  Services provided shall include, but shall not be limited to the following: Trimming of all shrubs and clean-up of all beds is required three times per year by April 10, July 10 and November 10.  Mulch shall be applied annually throughout the district.Weekly cutting, line trimming and edging shall be performed at all properties including courtyards.  April 1 to October 30 properties shall be cut once per week any time after 3:30 p.m. while school is in session during weekdays and any time on Saturdays (weekend cutting is preferable to the district).  There shall be no mowing over trash and debris, sticks, and branches; all trash, sticks, branches and debris on turf areas shall be removed prior to mowing.  All properties shall be cut to a height of 2.5 inchesTree Trimming as requested by the District.The contractor shall prepare and submit to the district for approval a proposed schedule, showing the sequence of work for the entire season.  The purpose of the submission is to establish a schedule for the work that will be efficient for the contractor and cause the least disruption to vehicular and pedestrian traffic and minimize the inconvenience for scheduling district functions.  The proposed schedule is required at the time of the bid submission.The contractor shall be responsible for line trimming along fences, curbs, building edges, and bleachers.  The contractor shall also be responsible for edging along walkways, driveways, baselines and curbs, along with bordering within designated areas. Courtyards must be mowed and weeded. Courtyards are located at Buckshutem Road School, Indian Ave School, and Bridgeton High School. Flexibility and cooperation on the part of the contractor shall be required in light of athletic activities, graduation ceremonies, weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances.  The Contractor will be given written confirmation of any schedule changes.The contractor shall notify the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds by calling +1 (•••) •••-••••Sign up to see this detail Ext. 2054 if conditions due to moisture make it impractical or inadvisable to conduct grounds maintenance activities.  If work must be postponed, it must be performed on the first day that work is feasible.All courtyards in the district shall be maintained including mulching and weeding.There shall be no weeds present at curbs, sidewalks, blacktops, flowerbeds, track, shotput area, and bleachers, along fence lines, outside courtyards, - or around buildings or stadium at any time.Installation of any flowers and shrubs throughout the district (purchase of the flowers and shrubs are to be an additional charge to the district) that are easily maintained and bug resistant.Removal of any plants or shrubs to increase the appearance of the location.Grind stumps throughout Create flower beds at the request of the District. Grass clippings need not be bagged, as long as there are not large readily visible clumps, but if in the opinion of the Custodian and Grounds Supervisor conditions arise whereby grass clippings cause an excess buildup of thatch and/or surface matting, the Contractor shall be required to correct these conditions by removal at no additional cost. In the event immediate removal is necessary due to school or athletic activities, removal must be accomplished with 24 hours of notification.  Otherwise, removal must be completed within 48 hours of notification.Should the Contractor fail to perform any activity required under the contract, the District may retain the services of any grounds contractor to complete the service and deduct the required payment from the monthly amount due the ContractorNo dumping of grass clippings, debris or weeds is permitted on district property.Each spring, the Contractor shall be required to remove sticks and leaves from grass areas, edge out baselines and the infield arcs, level the baseball fields with infield clay and hand rake the baseball infields to level them. All beds are to be cleaned out of leaves and debris and weeded.Fall clean-up for all district properties shall include, but is not limited to, leaves, gumballs, pine needles, pinecones, etc.  Leaf clean-up shall occur weekly between October 1st and December 1st.   All fall clean-up services shall be completed by December 5th. The following services shall be performed on the field hockey turf on the schedule indicated: August – Fertilize (.7 lb. per 1000 sq. ft.), lime application (800 lb. per ac.).   October – Fertilize (.7 lb. per 1000 sq. ft.), November Top dress and seed goal mouths, December – Over seed (1 lb. per 1000 sq. ft.) and winterize the irrigation system, February – Fertilize (.7 lb. per 1000 sq. ft.), April – Crabgrass and Broadleaf pre-emergent, Cavalcade - ¾ lb. per acre, Fertilize – ¾ lb. per 1000 sq. ft., Broadleaf post emergent spray, End-run (48 oz. per acre) May – Crabgrass and broadleaf pre-emergent, Cavalcade – ¾ lb. per acre, Fertilize - .7 lb. per 1000 sq. ft., Broadleaf weed post emergent spray, End-run @ 48 oz. per acre, top dress and seed goal mouths, round-up and pre-emergent application 30,000 ft. fence 2 oz. glyfoe and .5 oz. Pennant Insect/Disease ControlThe contractor shall comply with the school district’s policy on Integrated Pest Management (IPM).  This will require close communication between the contractor and the district’s Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds. Management and implementation of the program shall have the least minimal effect on human health, non-target organisms, the environment and groundwater.The contractor shall provide a licensed applicator(s), with documentation of license to the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds.A list of any chemicals planned for use around the district shall be submitted to the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds.The contractor shall comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws in regard to mixing, loading/unloading, disposal and application of chemicals.  Any contamination of water, soil or other areas owned by the Bridgeton school district shall be the contractor’s responsibility and the contractor will be held liable.  The contractor shall perform an inspection of all landscape areas at each visit for indications of insect/disease problems along with notification to the district representative.  The infested area shall be treated following notification to the district representative and shall be monitored for appropriate control.  The least toxic, most target specific method shall be utilized for treatment.  No pesticides shall be applied without prior approval from the district.  All treated areas shall be posted and followed up for control and removal of treatment signage.Weed killing shall be performed the 1st week of April and the 2nd week of August prior to the opening of school.  Treatment shall include around the track, the perimeter of the artificial field, fence lines and shot-put beds. Contractor Qualifications Services shall be performed by a contractor who is regularly engaged in the lawn and landscape maintenance business.  The contractor shall provide the district the name and cell phone number of a direct contact for their office.  In addition, a direct cell phone number for the site supervisor shall be provided to district and he/she shall be on site with the crew during service.The contractor shall use trained service personnel directly employed and supervised by the contractor’s staff.  MSDS data sheets shall be provided for all chemicals used on district property.  The contractor’s staff shall notify the Custodian and Grounds Supervisor at least seven (7) days prior to an insecticide treatment to verify posting requirements, boundary concerns and all MSDS sheets. Additional Alternate Service – Snow Removathe event of a major snowstorm (over 6 inches), describe the company’s ability to assist staff with snow removal.  An hourly rate for this service is requested as an add alternate on the bid proposal page.  Services will only be requested on an as needed basis. Not submitting a bid for this service will not disqualify the contractor’s bid for Grounds Maintenance and Landscape.