ERVICES TO BE PERFORMED: Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment and material support necessary in providing lawn care services to the Winnebago County PARKS Department for the maintenance of its seven boat landings and one miscellaneous facility. This Request for Proposal does not include snow or ice removal, or any other type of services related to winter conditions. SITE INSPECTIONS: Each Contractor may inspect the various sites prior to the submission of the Request for Proposal in order to become acquainted with all conditions of the properties outlined in the specifications. After proposal award is announced and first service is performed, Contractor may be required to perform a mandatory walk-through with the Parks Director, or his designee. LAWN CARE SERVICES REQUIREMENTS MOWING: Grass to be cut weekly to maintain an approximate 3-inch height. No more than 40% of the height is to be removed at one time. Mowing shall start each year around the 4th full week of April followed by 23 consecutive mowing cycles with an approximate seven-day separation between mowings at each particular site (24 total mowing cycles). Additionally, at the PARKS option, Contractor may be instructed, via email or phone call, to vary the final two cycles (23 and 24) such that the normal seven-day period between mowings at each site is extended out to ten or more days, depending upon the rate of grass growth in September and October. In any event, the Contractor will be obligated to inform PARKS immediately upon completion of the 21st cycle of mowing in order to allow PARKS an opportunity to assess conditions and decide whether or not to commit to the aforementioned delayed mowing option. Mowing equipment shall be operated in such a manner as to prevent damage to the turf, nearby trees, shrubs, perennials, and structures. Further, mowing shall be done with clean, sharp blades, alternating the direction whenever mowed. The quality of each mowing application will be such that upon cutting at the various sites, a sampling of any given area of work will demonstrate that the majority of grass blades are, for the most part, evenly hewn with as little shredding as possible. Contractor is to cut under dry conditions when able. During wet conditions, Contractor will use caution and will be responsible for any damage done to the turf. Should damage occur, Contractor will proceed to employ appropriate turf repair measures to the damaged locations once wet conditions have moderated (see TURF RESTORATION below). Before mowing, paper and other small debris shall be picked up and disposed of off-site. Clippings must be removed from parking lots and walkways. Clippings will not be discharged into gutters, rock-filled ditch lines, storm drains, rip rap areas or water surfaces. Contractor will take precautions to protect park patrons as well as park patron property at all times. This may require delaying the scheduled mowing(s) should the degree of boat landing usage warrant it. Contractor shall also take precautions at the Jerry Finch Winnebago County Dog Park as dogs will be present. When necessary, Contractor will work with PARKS in coordinating mowing for special events at applicable boat landing facilities (i.e. periods involving tournament preparations and competitions). Prior to the 4th week of April, PARKS will provide the Contractor with a listing of those periods of “special boat landing usage” as a means of indicating those occasions when mowing activities may have to be curtailed at specific sites; updated lists will be provided as necessary. Any questions regarding the schedule shall be addressed to the PARKS Director. The Contractor will mow areas during times that minimize the potential for noise disturbances to be carried outward to residents in close proximity to the sites. As such, unless previously authorized by the PARKS Director, mowing operations will not occur outside the time period of 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. TRIMMING:...
