Attachment 1 - Statement of Work.pdf

Statement of Work Project: Baling IDIQ Contract

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Scope of Work:

Perform hay (mixed grass and alfalfa) and cornstalk baling for the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Midwest Area (MWA) National Animal Disease Center (NADC) Animal Resources Unit facility in Ames, Iowa.

2.0 Background:

The mission of the USDA-ARS NADC Animal Resources Unit in Ames, IA is to provide animal care and support services for internal users that rely on animal products for research, testing and training. The NADC has mixed grass and alfalfa plots on-site of approximately 80 acres to be baled. In addition, there are approximately 80 acres of corn of which up to 80 acres may require baling of cornstalks. Weather or other circumstances may impact forage available for bailing.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks:

NADC has the following plots on-site which may be baled by the contractor as requested by the NADC via placing an order against the IDIQ:

*Mixed Grass Hay – Approximately 70 acres *Alfalfa Hay – Approximately 10 acres *Cornstalks – Approximately 80 acres

Estimated acres to be baled:

1st Bailing - 60 acres (mixed grass) (all Round / Large Square) and 10 acres Alfalfa (Round /

Large Square) 2nd Bailing - 60 acres (mixed grass) (all Round/Large Square) and 10 acres Alfalfa (Small

Square / Round) 3rd Bailing - 60 acres (mixed grass) (all Round/Large Square) and 10 acres Alfalfa (Small

Square / Round) 4th Bailing - 10 acres Alfalfa (Small Square/Round) and Cornstalk - 80 acres (Round)

The contractor will cut, condition, ted, rake and bale forage and cornstalks from the NADC fields.

Minimum number of acres to be baled will be 20 acres up to a maximum of 310 acres. NADC Farm Management Staff will determine fields to baled.

Hay is to be baled in round bales (with option of Large Square bales if needed) and/or Small Square bales (typically not to exceed 5% of total) as designated by NADC Farm Management Staff. Hay is to be cut, crimped/crushed and tedded. Care shall be taken when raking and baling to prevent dry matter loss. Hay is to be baled when moisture content reaches 15-18%. Propionic Acid and propionic-acetic acid preservatives shall be used with prior approval of NADC Farm Management Staff. The acid preservative shall be applied at the baler and at a rate recommended by the manufacturer. Cornstalks will be baled in round bales. The contractor must exercise care when baling to avoid foreign material being baled and prevent bales from heating or molding from excessive moisture content.

Round Bales shall be satisfactorily baled with net-wrap making a bale that is minimum 4.5’ to 6’ in diameter and approximately 5’ wide with a minimum weight of 1400 pounds and maximum 1800 pounds (cornstalk bale weights between 1100-1400 pounds).

Large Square bales of hay shall be satisfactorily baled with rot-proof twine making a 3’ X 3’ X 8’, a 3’ X 4’ X 8’ or a 4’ X 4’ X 8’ bale.

Round Bales and Large Square that are ragged or having twine/wrap of unequal tension, which makes it difficult to handle/stack, will not be acceptable. Bales shall not contain foreign material that may be injurious to livestock.

Small Square bales of hay shall be satisfactorily baled with rot-proof twine. Bales that are ragged, shorter than 36" or longer than 48", and bales having twine of unequal tension, which makes it difficult to handle and stack, will not be acceptable. Bales shall weigh between 50 and 70 pounds each. Bales shall not contain foreign material that may be injurious to livestock.

Baling to begin as early as May 1, 2026 and may proceed to December 15, 2026. All tasks must be completed in coordination with NADC Farm Management Staff.

The contractor shall supply all needed equipment to perform the baling including but not limited to: tractors, balers, rake, mower, wagons, tractors to pull wagons, fuel, and labor. The contractor shall be required to supervise all areas of the operation under their responsibility. This would include the maintenance and safety of all contractor owned equipment, supplies and personnel.

The contractor shall maintain a record of the type, quantity, and average weight of bales from each field and submit to Farm Manager within 3 business days of completion of each baling order. The contractor will be responsible for hauling all bales from the fields to NADC location as specified by NADC Farm Management Staff. The contractor will be required to bale small squares and stack in location designated by Farm Manager. Hay racks will be supplied by NADC.

Quote submitted must include documented evidence of ability of contractor as well as any sub-contractors performing services to manage and meet the requirements of this solicitation based on the specifications outlined.

5.0 Performance:

Baling to be performed at 1920 Dayton Avenue, Ames, IA 50010 during the period of May 1, 2026 through December 15, 2026. Hay baling will begin no earlier than May 1, 2026 and finish no later than October 15, 2026. Cornstalk baling to occur no earlier than August 15, 2026 and end no later than December 15, 2026.

Exact baling dates to be determined by NADC Farm Management Staff depending on weather and plant growth stage or forage maturity to assure correct timing of baling. Baling to commence within 4 business days after receipt of a verbal or written order by an authorized government employee and be completed within 5 business days depending on weather situation yielding a satisfactory product that is within moisture and quality standards outlined above.

Admission to Property:

The following rules and regulations apply to all property at the NCAH, Ames, Iowa, under the custody of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and to all persons entering on such property. The campus is closed to the general public. Admission to the facility is restricted to authorized persons and approved visitors. No pets or weapons of any kind are allowed on premises.

Upon entry, visitors:

1. Will be required to present Government or other identifying credentials to the Officer at the

Visitor Gate (photo driver’s license, passport, or other official photo identification).

2. Will be issued a visitor’s badge and must wear and display the badge at all times while visiting the facilities.

6.0 Technical Point of Contact:

Should there be technical questions, please contact Stephen Sterle at 515-337-7248, stephen.sterle@usda.gov.