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Rocky Mountain Network 19 | Montana VA Health Care System (436)
3687 Veterans Drive | P.O. Box 1500
Fort Harrison, MT 59636-1500
1.877.468.8387 | 406.442.6410
www.montana.va.gov

Scope of Work
02 March 2023
Project Name: Pesticide/Herbicide and Tree Trimming Services Contract
Table of Contents
I. Table of Contents 1
II. Scope of Work 2
III. General Information 2
A. Credentials 2
B. Quality Control 2
C. Period of Performance 2
D. Quality Assurance 2
E. Compliance 3
F. Hours of Operation 3
IV. Specific Tasks 3
V. Recognized Holidays 4
VI. Attachment/Technical Exhibit List 4
VII. Price Cost Schedule 5

Scope of Work
This is a non-personal services contract to provide Pesticide/Herbicide and Tree trimming support of Ft Harrison VAMC. The Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract services providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn is responsible to the Government.
Contractor shall provide integrated pest management treatment to the manicured lawns, xeriscape areas, landscape area and trees, as well as provide tree trimming maintenance at the Fort Harrison Montana campus. The Fort Harrison complex is on the historic register, this includes the parade grounds and the trees planted in, and before, 1945. Ft Harrison VAMC is dedicated to preserving these trees and the parade grounds as best possible. Contract shall be for a base year, followed by four (4) one-year option periods.
The contractor shall provide all personnel, supplies, supervision, tools, materials, equipment, transportation and other items and non-personal services necessary to provide TAB services in accordance with this Performance Work Statement (PWS) except as those items specified as government furnished property and services. The contractor shall perform to the standards in the contract as well as all local, state and federal regulations.
General Information
Credentials
All work, including supervision, shall be performed by certified arborists, licensed Montana pesticide applicators, and trained technicians.
Quality Control
The contractor shall maintain effective quality control to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The contractor s quality control is a means by which he assures himself that his work complies with the requirement of the contract.
Contractor personnel shall present a neat appearance and be easily recognized as contractor employees. Example: wearing of distinctive clothing such as uniform, badges, patches, etc. Contractor shall provide its people all the necessary personal protective equipment to wear while on station.
Period of Performance
The period of performance shall be for one base year and four twelve-month option periods.
Quality Assurance
The Government shall evaluate the contractor s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. The plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable defect rate(s).
Compliance
The contractor shall be fully responsible for compliance with all VA, local, state, and Federal environmental/occupational safety laws, rules and regulations. The contractor shall follow life and safety codes and take necessary actions to avoid conditions that may be hazardous to the health and safety of hospital personnel and patients. The contractor is responsible for meeting all applicable OSHA and VA guidelines for safe working processes; example: lockout/tagout. All work for the duration of the contract shall be performed by trained technicians. All safety measures shall be approved as adequate by the safety officer in advance. The contractors shall follow VA badging requirements so they may provide unescorted services around the facility. Contractors will be escorted by VA personally in secured department or sensitive areas as needed.
Information Security
The Certification and Accreditation (C&A) requirements do not apply. Security Accreditation Package is not required.
Hours of Operation and Scheduling
a. Work shall occur in the Spring season after the award of the Base Period through the month of June. Work shall be completed in full and equipment shall be fully operable throughout that time.
b. Large tree work may be scheduled in off hours to minimize traffic disruption and for visitor safety.
c. Early morning spraying is encouraged when winds are calmer and less people are out.
d. Medical center hours of operation are Monday- Friday 0800-1630, with a 24 hour Emergency Department.
Specific Tasks
a. Contractor shall furnish materials, equipment and labor to execute this contract.
b. Lawn Spraying
i. The VA has banned the use of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D) and requires an Integrated Pest Management Plan. The use of more environmentally friendly options shall be considered first, and the movement towards more toxic options shall be presented to the government Point of Contact (POC) within the Integrated Pest Management Plan for approval before the first application.
ii. At least three (3) days' notice shall be given to the POC prior to spraying in order to notify employees and coordinate with Grounds Staff.
iii. Herbicide applications shall be in the Spring before the emergence of weeds and in the Fall, with one application in-between during summer. Lewis and Clark County noxious weeds shall be controlled as required by Montana State laws.
iv. There are approximately 42 acres of grass and xeriscape to treat and the most common weed is dandelion.
v. After applications, flags (or equivalent) shall be set out to warn staff of chemicals.
c. Tree Trimming
i. Conducted according to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 300 standards. https://www.ansi.org/. Routine tree trimming shall occur once during the fall and once during the winter
ii. Trees shall be kept clean of dead branches to reduce property damage and human injury.
iii. A phasing plan for trimming the trees at their current status and for sustaining their health is required. The historic trees shall be given priority.
iv. Trees that are identified as potential hazards because they are suspected of dying or rotting out (specifically the aging cottonwoods) shall be tested prior to cutting down any trees. Contractor shall be a Certified Tree Risk Assessor.
v. Fort Harrison is subject to gusty wind storms, after such, an on-call trimming or tree removal might occur.
The TAB report shall include details for each space including room number, room name, system served by, required air change rate, and required pressure relationship/ differential.
Note any observed device deficiencies in the report such as broken or out of adjustment drive belts, misaligned sheaves, excessive noise, vibration, dirty coils, dirty filters, etc.
After VA has reviewed the Deficiency Report and provided feedback as needed provide corrective balancing of air systems and spaces identified as deficient.
In the event of an emergency, response time will be expected within 24 hours if there is a risk to property or safety.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This RFI (Request for Information) is for information only.
No award will be made from this RFI.

Please communicate via e-mail to Jeffery.Eller@va.gov by 15:00 February 20, 2024, as to your company s ability to perform service per this brief Scope of Work.

If interested, please provide the following:

Please state your company s business size as related to NAICS code 561730 -

As per the Limitations of Subcontracting: (see FAR 19.505)

a. As Primary Contractor: what % of Total Contract Value will you retain?

b. If using a Subcontractor: what % of Total Contract Value will go to them?

3. Please provide SAMs Unique Entity Identifier number -

4. If you have an FSS/GSA contract that includes this service -

5. Provide FSS/GSA contract number if applicable -

In order for your company s information to be counted in relation to this Market Research all above questions must be answered.

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