SOW 1232SA25Q0100 updated.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW) Project: Harvesting of Corn for Silage

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Scope of Work: Vendor to chop and bag corn from fields as corn silage at the National

Animal Disease Center (NADC) to fill four (4) to six (6) – 200’ long silage storage bags not to exceed 1400 total tons of corn silage. Bag diameter to be 8’, 9' or 10’ diameter and must be approved by Animal Resources Unit (ARU) Manager prior to use. Vendor will be required to supervise all areas of the operation in which they are responsible.

2.0 Background: The mission of the USDA - National Animal Disease Center (NADC) -

Animal Resources Unit (ARU) in Ames, Iowa is to provide animal care and support services for internal users that rely on animals and animal products for research, testing, and training.

The NADC - ARU has a requirement for chopping corn on Government owned land for corn silage. NADC has corn plots on-site from which the contractor will chop to supply no more than 1400 ton of corn silage. The corn silage is an integral part of the NADC feeding program for our Dairy herd. NOTE: Weather or other circumstances may result in less corn available to supply the noted 1400 ton of silage. In addition, NADC may request a specific cutting height on corn be maintained with regards to all or specific fields.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks:

Vendor responsibilities to include:

- supply the chopper, trucks, wagons, tractors to pull wagons, silage bagger, silage table to load bagger, tractor power to operate required equipment, silage bags, fuel and labor for all the vendor supplied equipment

- chop corn from fields as designated by ARU Farm Manager. The silage chopper to have a minimum of a 3-row head or equivalent cutting capacity and be equipped with a kernel processor.

- delivery of silage from the fields to NADC area as designated by ARU Farm Manager and transfer loads to bagger

- assure consistent particle size of ¾ inch

- monitor/maintain moisture content of silage between 62-70%

- document accurate record of loads and tonnage hauled by each vehicle/wagon

- document accurate record of tonnage harvested from each field

- assure silage is adequately packed in bags to eliminate air pockets that could result in poor quality silage.

- assure airtight seal on packed silage bags

- provide and apply silage inoculant (“PIONEER”BRAND 11A44 or equivalent) at the chopper -provide input on crop maturity and recommendation for harvest timeframe to meet specifications.

A minimum of 1 out of every four (4) loads will be weighed by the vendor at an approved and licensed scale. An average weight will be determined and multiplied by the number of loads. If trucks or wagons, used to haul the silage, vary in size, the “fourth” load of each different vehicle will be weighed. All original weigh tickets and number of loads will be left with the Government Representative, at the conclusion of each day. NOTE: If vendor supplies weigh scale or trucks/wagons have weigh scales, then each truck/wagon will only need one load weighed. If scales are certified accurate by a governmental agency and proof of certification is supplied to NADC then weights will be accepted without secondary verification.

The vendor will be responsible for documenting accurate count of number of loads and tonnage hauled by each vehicle. In addition, vendor will document tonnage taken off each field.

Vendor shall be responsible for supervising all operations under their responsibility. This would include the maintenance and safety of all vendor owned equipment and supplies in addition to personnel safety.

Vendor must have previous direct experience providing equivalent service.

SPECIAL NOTE: BAGS WILL BE FILLED ON A LEVEL ROCK CHIP, GRAVEL OR

CONCRETE BASE.

4.0 Government Furnished: The NADC will furnish if needed the following in conjunction with and throughout the duration of the above operation: one tractor (and/or skid loader) for cleaning silage spills from transfer of silage from wagons/trucks at bagging location, fuel for the NADC tractor/skid loader and sufficient labor to operate the tractor/skid loader.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule:

Required Services (Tasks)

Performance Standards

Acceptable Quality Levels

Methods of

Surveillance

*Chop at optimum Dry Matter (DM)

*Assure consistent chopped particle size

*Assure silage is tightly packed to eliminate air pockets

*Track, record, and provide verified weight (tons) of silage harvested by truck/wagon load

63-68% DM

Particle size of ¾”

No evidence large quantity of air or air pockets.

Track accurate weight of silage hauled by each truck or wagon used.

62-70%

85% or greater at the ¾” size with none larger than 1 ½” size

No evidence large quantity of air or air pockets.

Records legible and easy to understand

Forage Moisture Test and/or forage probe

Visual evaluation of chopped silage prior to bagging

Visual evaluation of bag tension and construction (i.e.

bulges, wrinkles, etc.)

Certified weight scale

*Track, record, and provide verified weight (tons) of silage harvested per field

Safety – personnel and government property

Track accurate weight of silage harvest by field.

No personnel safety issues or damage to government property and/or equipment

Records legible and easy to understand

No reported safety issues

Review of weight/load documents during harvest.

Observation and safety reports

6.0 Place of Performance: USDA, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Ames IA 50010

7.0 Period of Performance: Silage harvest to occur between August 1 to October 30 based on corn maturity and weather. NOTE: Weather and corn maturity may affect harvest dates.

Harvest must commence within 4 business days of request by USDA procurement officer.

8.0 Evaluation Factors: Technical acceptability, delivery, price