Cutting Edge, Inc.

3556 Maple St. August, OR 55632

Phone: (675) 244-8844

ashley.hawkins@cuttingedge.com

April 10, 2011

Mr. Mark Williams

City Manager Augusta, OR

3224 Congress Ave.

Augusta, OR 55632

Dear Mr. Williams,

Cutting Edge, Inc. would like to thank you for the opportunity to submit our Request for a Proposal. We would like to thank you for the chance to possibly have the town of Augusta, OR as one of our clients. Even though we do work for the surrounding towns it would be a great honor to work for the city of Augusta.

Our proposal will provide you will all the necessary information on the estimated costs and billing procedures, scheduling, safety issues, our employees, and our equipment. Our plan is to make you feel at ease about having to choose a company to sign a contract with. This proposal should clear up any worries that you may have about our ability to perform contract jobs.

We would like to thank you for taking the time to read over our proposal. If you have any questions while reading the proposal please call me at (675)244-8844, or email me at ashley.hawkins@cuttingedge.com. Thank you again for taking time out to read this proposal.

Sincerely,

Ashley Hawkins

President, Cutting Edge, Inc.

ashley.hawkins@cuttingedge.com

Table of Contents

SectionsPages

Overview 3

Qualifications 3, 4

Schedule 5

Budget 6, 7

Billing Procedures 7, 8

Employee Background 8

Equipment 9

Safety 10

Insurance 11

Conclusion 11

Overview

At Cutting Edge, Inc. we take ownership in the mowing jobs we provide. We will provide the highest quality service that we can. We focus on each job site as if it is our only client. Every job that we perform is guaranteed with satisfaction. If a customer finds a flaw in our work we fix it free of charge.

In the sections to follow we have broken down the information by sections. We will give special attention to each job. The jobs that we will discuss are Route 24, Willoughby Park, and Augusta Memorial Golf Course. We will discuss the employees working on each site, the equipment that will be used, the safety measures that will be taken, and our companys qualifications.

We will break down the estimated costs, the schedule, and the billing information for each job individually. First, for Route 24 we will provide a broken down table of the estimated costs our company would incur. Also, we will provide a detailed schedule of when we would perform the job. We would also provide a reasoning of why we chose that certain day to perform the job. Also, we will discuss the specific safety measures we would use for this specific job site.

Second, for Willoughby Park we will discuss the estimated costs we would expect to incur. We will also provide a broken down schedule of when we would perform this job. We will discuss how we will work around the citizens of Augusta. Also, we will tell you the specific safety measures that we would use.

Finally, for Augusta Memorial Golf Course the estimated costs that would be charged will be discussed. Also, the schedule that we will follow will be discussed. We will discuss the safety measures we will take for the golf course guests.

Qualifications

The first thing that everyone is always curious about is a companys qualifications. As you may or may not know Cutting Edge, Inc. has been serving communities around Oregon for ten years. We have down city work for the surrounding towns such as Baker, Columbia, Oakland, and many others. Our company has been expanding its business over the past ten years. We hope that Augusta could be one of our future clients.

Also, another thing that people tend to be curious about is a companys previous jobs. Our prior jobs include the 10 mile stretch along Interstate 12 in Baker, OR. Our company performs many other roadside jobs. Another job that our company currently does once a week is the Columbia City Park. About one year ago we signed a contract to landscape Oakland County Golf Course. They have been very pleased with our landscaping ability over the past year. They have currently asked Cutting Edge, Inc. to be the landscaping company for all of the local restaurants.

If you would like to get in contact feel free to ask me for their information, and I will with pleasure provide you the necessary contact information. Here at Cutting Edge, Inc. we are all about providing outstanding quality service.

As you can tell we have a wide variety of jobs that we perform. Everyone that we have ever done business with has been very pleased. We thought it would be helpful to provide a picture of a previous job. The picture shown below is the Oakland County Golf Course. At this job site we do the mowing and landscaping for them.

Oakland County Golf Course Entrance

Schedule

At Cutting Edge, Inc. we put research into scheduling our clients. One thing we look at is what day of the week does each job site have the least amount of traffic. Also, we like to look at how long each job is estimated to take. We also ask the client what days of the week are best for them. With all of these factors we can create the best schedule to keep our customers happy. The following paragraphs have broken down the information for when we would perform each job for the city of Augusta.

First, through our research we have decided that Wednesdays would be the best day to mow the 10 acre Willoughby Park. We have determined there would be the least amount of people on that day. Also, we have decided that the best time would be from 9am-1pm. This would allow us to ensure safety for the citizens of Augusta, OR. Also, we would be able to perform faster when there are fewer people around.

Second, we have determined that Mondays would be the best day to mow the 23 acre Augusta Memorial Golf Course. We have determined that the best time to mow would be from 6am-12pm. We would mow the golf course May 30 through September 30. This would allow us the opportunity to get started before the course opens. This allows for minimal customer interference as possible. This would provide the maximum safety we would provide.

Finally, we have determined that Tuesdays would be the best days to mow the 5 mile stretch on Route 24. The best time to mow would be from 9-am to 12pm. We have determined that there would be the least amount of track during these hours. This would ensure safety not only for employees, but also the citizens of Augusta.

However, in the event of a major rainy day we would be unable to perform jobs. In this case, we would perform the job on the next non-rainy day. The following week we would resume normal schedule. This rule does not take effect for sprinkling or light misting. Under those circumstances we would be able to still perform our duties.

However, sometimes national holidays happen to fall on our mowing days. Our company policy is to push the job back a day. We do this in respect for the city. However, if we are instructed to go ahead and perform we will.

Budget

Another important factor that bidders look at is a companys estimated costs. At Cutting Edge, Inc. we charge $10 per labor hour. We typically have four to five employees at every job site. We also have a pro-rated mowing fee that we charge per acre or per mile. These rates can run anywhere from $100-$250 for each acre or mile. Tax is also already included in each price that we charge. There is also a standard equipment fee of $25 per hour. The following paragraph will break down the costs that we would charge for each job site.

The first job that we have broken down is the 5mile stretch on Route 24. We estimated that you would have to pay the following amounts.

Total Estimated Cost: $695

Estimated Labor Hour Cost: $120

4 employees @ 3hours each: 4*3= 12*10= $120

Estimated Mileage Cost: $500

5 miles @ $100/mile: 5*100= $500

Estimated Equipment Fee: $75

3 hours @ $25/hour: 3*25=$75

The second job that we have broken down for you is the 10 acre Willoughby Park. We have determined you would incur the following costs

Total Estimated Cost: $2260

Estimated Labor Hour Cost: $160

4 Employees @ 4 hours each: 4*4=16*10= $160

Estimated Acreage Cost: $2,000

10 acres @ 200/acre: 10*200= $2,000

Estimated Equipment Fee: $100

4 hours @ $25/hour: 4*25=$100

The third job that we have broken down is the 23 acre Augusta Memorial Golf Course. We have estimated you would incur the following costs.

Total Estimated Cost: $6200

Estimated Labor Hour Cost: $300

5 Employees @ 6 hours each: 5*6= 30*10= $300

Estimated Acreage Cost: $5750

23 acres @ $250 acre: 23*250= $5750

Estimated Equipment Fee: $150

6 hours @ $25/hour: $150

The grand total estimate cost budget for all three projects would be $9155. Remember that this price would already include tax. Just remember that this is just an estimate. That means prices may very if a contract were to actually be signed.

Also, another thing some people worry about our unsatisfactory jobs. In the event that this would occur we touch up any work for no charge. Even though this rarely happens we like to keep our customers happy. We like to keep our clients for as long as we are around.

Billing Procedures

At Cutting Edge, Inc. our policy is to hand deliver the bill the day after we provide the service. Every bill would be broken up like it is in the previous section. The bill will be dated the date we deliver it. We would expect you to pay no later than exactly one week after the date dated on the bill.

Our company would either accept cash or check. We would expect you to place your bill and payment in an envelope. You would be able to pay either in person or by mail. If you were to pay in person, you would be expected to pay by no later than 5pm on the final day of payment. The same rule applies for checks. Our company would have to receive your check by 5pm on the final day. If we were to receive after that date late fees would be put in place.

Our company policy on late fees is that an additional $50 per day will be charged for every day past due. However, we rarely have to put this policy into effect. We expect payment just like you expect mowing services. Hopefully, all of our policies make sense to you.

Now that we have discussed the scheduling and the budgeting, I will discuss a little more about Cutting Edge, Inc. The first thing I will start with is our employees.

Employee Background

Cutting Edge, Inc. likes to hire the best of the best for our Company. We only hire dedicated, hardworking, friendly, and professional employees. First, every potential employee is given a background check. Our company does not hire anyone with a criminal background. We want to make our local citizens feel safe around our employees.

After they pass the background check they are put through a one week trial period. The trial period ensures that we hire the best fit for our company. Also, it allows us to monitor their work ethic. Finally, it allows us to see how they interact with our community.

Also, at Cutting Edge, Inc. we require a strict dress code. Our employees are required to wear jeans, work boots, and a company shirt that is provided. Also, we do not allow any facial hair, facial piercings, visible tattoos, or wild hair. We like our employees to be well groomed. Our main goal is for them to be presentable to the public eye.

The following picture allows us to show you one of our employees. This would potentially be someone that would be working for you.

A hardworking employee

Equipment

This past August Cutting Edge, Inc. upgraded to all new equipment. The equipment that we upgraded was our riding lawn mowers, weed eaters, edgers, and leaf blowers. Our company spent $100,000 on our equipment. Also, every piece of equipment has advanced safety features.

There are two features that we focused on. One of the safety features is blade covers to prevent flying rocks. This helps prevent our employees and citizens from getting hurt. Also, we have new air tight grass bags. This prevents dust from being in the air. This helps prevent irritation for anyone with allergies.

Dont worry every job that we perform uses our new and improved equipment. The photo below shows one of our new and improved riding lawn mowers. This mower is the mower you would see on every job site.

New and improved riding lawn mower

Safety

At Cutting Edge, Inc. we are all about safety. We require all of our employees to wear certain safety gear. This also protects the local community. Our employees are required to wear orange vests on every job site. This allows for them to be easily seen by bystanders. Also, employees are required to wear protective safety glasses, ear plugs, and gloves. We like to provide the greatest amount of protection possible at each job site.

At Cutting Edge, Inc. we also care about the safety of our community. Our employees are required to stop working if anyone comes within 10 feet of them. We also require them to place signs at every entrance of the park. This allows the community to know that mowing is in progress.

The following picture shows all the safety gear our employees wear. We care about protecting our employees. We want to protect them from possible harm.

Mandatory safety features

Insurance

In the ten years that Cutting Edge, Inc. has been open no one has ever been injured. However, there will always be the fear that someone will get injured. If someone were to get injured we will foot the bill. Our company would pay for every medical bill that is required. Even though we do not plan on anyone every getting hurt, we like to have a plan in place. Anyone on the job site is our responsibility. Our main goal is to let the community know that we care about them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we hope that we would be able to perform the above jobs for you in the future. I hope that every worry that you could possibly have was covered. We have once again covered our current clients that we perform jobs for. Again, any contact information that you would like do not be afraid to ask for it. We have also gone over the schedule that we would follow for each of the three job sites. Also, we have gone over the estimated costs that you would incur. Also, we covered the billing procedures that our company would follow.

We also covered all of the company information that you would need to know. We have provided you with an overview of how we choose our employees. Also, we covered the equipment that would be used at each job. We talked about the safety measures that we would follow. Lastly, we discussed the possibilities of injuries.

Hopefully, you do not have any further questions about Cutting Edge, Inc. We hope to hear back from you in the future. Once again, thank you for taking time out of your day to read our Mowing Proposal.

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