Attachment 2- SOW.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Performance Work Statement

Contents Project Title General Information

1.0 Background and Purpose

2.0 Definitions

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

4.0 Deliverable / Schedule ...................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

5.0 Government Furnished

6.0 Travel

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

8.0 Security Requirements

9.0 Data Rights

10.0 Section 508 - Electronic and Information Technology Standards

11.0 Performance Requirement Measures

Attachment

Project Title Bessey Nursery Seedling Shipment Contract

General Information

1.0 Background and Purpose

This contract is for the transportation of perishable Nursery stock in USFS 48ft refrigerated trailer from the Bessey Nursery located in Halsey, Nebraska to various destinations throughout Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Arizona.

The Seedling contract is a yearly contract that has been contracted since the early 1980’s.

2.0 Definitions

N/A

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

A) General Specifications

(1) Nature and location of Work a.) The shipments will consist of highly perishable bare root and container tree seedling stock packed in corrugated shipping boxes, bags or 1-gallon pots.

b.) Vehicles used to transport nursery stock may be required to travel on all types of roads and in all types of weather to make deliveries. Vehicles should be equipped with good mud and snow rated tires or other traction devices. Delivery vehicles will not be required to travel during weather/ road conditions that drivers consider to be unsafe. Drivers are expected to use their best judgment in accordance with industry standards.

c.) All quotes are subject to the attached specifications, wage rates, and terms and conditions. Only Government officials can authorize the expenditure of government funds, the Contractor must have approval from the Government before any emergency repairs to Government-owned equipment are initiated.

d.) An estimate of delivery locations and estimated miles will be supplied in another document.

(2) Government Furnished Property

a. The Government will supply a 48ft refrigerated semi trailer. Trailer can container up to 700 boxes. Trailer photos will be supplied in another document.

b. The Government will furnish the Contractor with a set of delivery locations. A mileage chart based on current information sources (Rand McNally Road Atlas, Google Maps). The Contractor will be responsible for taking the most efficient route to make the delivery.

c. All Nursery stock will be packed in one of the following for shipment:

i.) Corrugated shipping boxes measuring 27”L x 13” W x 13”H weighing from 25 to 60 pounds each. The bulk of the shipments will be in this box size and is referred to as Standard Boxes.

ii.) One gallon pots measuring 5”x 5” x 14” Tall. Pots will be shipped 9 to a plastic case with the dimensions 15” L x15” W x 15” H. Total weight of each case is approximately 30 pounds.

iii.) Long Boxes measuring 37”L x 13” W x 13” H weighing from 25 to 60 pounds. Along with multiple other boxes the same length but smaller width and height.

iv.) Poly bags with 2-year old bare root seedlings measuring 28”L x 14”W x 38”H weighing between 25 and 60 pounds.

v.) The trailer will be filled with diesel before transport.

d. The Government will be responsible for the costs of emergency repairs to the refrigerated van related to normal wear-and-tear. The Government will be responsible for loading seedlings. Only Government furnished items will be authorized to be transported in the Government furnished refrigerated van. The Government will provide training on the proper operation of the refrigeration unit.

e. USFS Fleet requirements. WO FSM 7109.19 ch60.

f. Approval to use the USFS trailer is granted by the Nursery Manager (Line Officer) along with the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands Fleet Manager.

(3) Contractor Furnished Property

a. The driver(s) provided by the Contractor mush a have a current and valid CDL and must operate tractor and trailer in a safe and lawful manner. The Contractor is liable for all repair/replacement costs related to misuse of Government-provided equipment, supplies, and material. The replacement value of the 48’ refrigerated trailer is $140,000; and a full load of seedlings is $200,000. Contractor MUST show proof of insurance at time of award.

Contractor furnishes all operating supplies, including fuel, to pull 48’ refrigerated trailer. The Contractor will be responsible for returning the Government-furnished trailer, documents, and supplies to the Bessey nursery after each delivery and at a time convenient to the Government.

b. The contractor furnished vehicles must capable of pulling a 48ft refrigerated semi tailer.

(4) Technical Specifications

1). Shipping Requirements

a. The contractor shall make shipments of trees seedlings in vehicles equipped to pull and operate the refrigerated 48th semi trailer. The contractor may be requested to move the trailer from one dock to another or from the trailer storage location to dock. Locations are less then 0.5 miles apart.

b. The Contractor’s shall keep the trailer clean of any contaminates, including but not limited to petroleum products. No haul backs are allowed. The contractor is not allowed to haul any other items other than Government items authorized by the nursery manager. Bags of cones and containers are the most common items returned on the truck.

c. Maintaining inside air temperature range listed above is critical while transporting stock. The contractor should monitor the refrigeration unit.

d. Shipments of seedling stock may include bundles of burlap, seed, cones, and tree seed in appropriate containers.

e. The Contractor may be required to back haul other Government property such as recycled seedling boxes, wax seedling boxes for reuse, shipping pallets and conifer cone collections in burlap sacks. The refrigerated unit will be set after talking with the COR.

i. When hauling cone collections to the Nursery the Contractor shall not stack cone sacks more than 2 layers deep and shall provide 2” of air space between each platform. The cones shall be unloaded upon return to the Nursery and not allowed to sit over night in the back of the Contractor’s vehicle.

(3) Location and Method of Loading and Unloading

a. All loading of tree shipments shall normally be picked up between the hours of 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM local time. All unloading of deliveries shall be done during regular local business hours unless otherwise mutually agreed to in advance by the receiving unit and the Contractor.

b. Scheduled tree seedling shipments will be loaded by the USFS and ready for pickup by the driver in advance of the delivery.

c. The Government shall not assume liability for the loss, damage or destruction of the Contractor’s equipment or personal injury to the Contractor’s personnel except for those damages/injuries resulting from negligent or wrongful acts of Government employees while acting within the scope of their employment.

d. The Contractor shall be at the loading dock and ready to accept delivery at the time scheduled for the load. If the Contractor is unable to meet the scheduled loading time the Contractor shall notify the COR in advance. If the Contractor misses the scheduled loading time by more than one hour and fails to notify the COR the contractor will be liable for expenses incurred by the Government.

e. The Contractor shall provide the COR with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) at the delivery destination once loading is complete. The Government will notify the receiving unit of the ETA.

f. If the Contractor fails to meet the ETA by more than one hour without notifying the COR the Contractor may be liable for Government expenses incurred.

g. Nursery stock, or any other material covered by this contract shall not be loaded or unloaded without a Forest Service inspector or receiving officer present onsite. The Contractor may be required to wait for up to one hour at each location before being allowed to commence loading or unloading.

h. When unloading the shipment at the receiving point the Contractor will bring stock to the rear of the vehicle where receiving personnel will unload it. For return haul loads Government personnel will bring material to the back of the vehicle.

i. All material shipped shall be handled in a manner to prevent damage or crushing to individual shipping boxes, pots, bags or conifer cones.

4.0 Deliverable / Schedule

Deliveries and Performance

a. This contract will be a one year contract which will begin in January 15th, 2026 and run through October 2026. Total delivery miles are estimated to be 15,000 – 20,680 miles. The Bidders shall base their quote on Round Trip Miles (RTM), defined as miles driven beginning with the pickup of shipments at the Bessey Nursery, delivery to the designated shipping point(s) and return to the Bessey Nursery.

b. The delivery schedule will be relayed to the Contractor by phone and followed up in writing. Every effort will be made to consolidate deliveries to Ranger Districts on the same Forest or adjacent Forests when feasible.

c. Payment will be made after receipt of a proper invoice from the Contractor at the contract price for round- trip miles driven and goods accepted by the Government. Government reserves the right to cancel all or part of the deliveries and pay for the actual miles driven.

4. Inspection and Acceptance Requirements

(a) Inspection. The following shall be the criteria for inspection at loading and receiving for bare root and container seedling stock.

(1) Loading.

(a)A Forest Service inspector will check and record the ambient air temperature of the trailer after the trailer is loaded and refrigeration unit is running.

(2) Delivery.

(a)The receiving Unit shall record the ambient air temperature of the cargo box on the Nursery’s copy of the shipping ticket prior to opening the truck doors.

(c) The receiving unit will note any other deficiencies found while unloading including damage to shipping boxes, Tree Improvement stock, incorrect box counts or incorrect lot numbers.

(d) The contractor and receiving unit will count the number of boxes, bags or pots delivered and record that amount on the Nursery’s copy of the shipping ticket.

(e) The receiving unit should notify the Nursery immediately if there are discrepancies with the delivery.

(b) The Contractor will be responsible for securing a receipt signature at the delivery location on the Nursery’s copy of the shipping ticket after the receiving unit has verified the number of boxes received, the temperature of the product, the temperature of the refrigeration unit and any damages or discrepancies.

(c) If any vehicle supplied for this contract becomes inoperative or does not meet contract specifications, the Contractor will be notified in writing to correct the deficiencies or furnish replacement equipment meeting specifications within 24 hours.

POSSIBLE trips and destinations for 2025, all originating from the Bessey Nursery, Nebraska National Forest, Halsey, Nebraska.

Destination* Estimated Delivery Dates**

Estimated Mileage

Service Trailer deliver to Grand Island, NE and or Kansas load

February 640 Miles

Ord and Chadron (NFS) Middle of March 600 Miles Pagosa Springs, Colorado (San Juan NF) 1 loads

March 1500 Miles

Fairplay, CO (PSICC NF) End of March 1000 Miles Chadron, NE (NNF&G) & Custer, SD (Black Hills NF)

First of April 690 Miles

Wahoo, York, Lincoln, Beatrice, Tecumseh, Davenport and Alma (All in Nebraska) ****

First or second week of April

650 Miles

Hartington, Norfolk, Butte (All in Nebraska)****

First, second or third week of April

800 Miles

Chamberlain, Tyndall, Martin (All in South Dakota)****

First, second or third week of April

1200 Miles

Saratoga, WY (Med Bow Routt NF) May 9th 900 Miles Cody, WY (Shoshone) May 16th 1200, Miles Sheridan, WY (Big Horn NF) 2 loads June 2000, Miles Dillon, CO (White River NF) 1 loads May and June 900 Miles Gunnison, CO (GMUG NF) Late May or June 1200 Miles Arapaho Roosevelt NF 2 loads Late May or June 2200 Miles South Fork, CO. Rio Grande July or August 1200 Miles R3 Seedlings September 1800 Miles Cody, WY (Shoshone) September 1200, Miles

TOTAL ESTIMATED MILES 20,680 miles

1. Destinations may change depending on the number of orders received before the first part of April.

2. Actual delivery date will be determined according to weather and planting conditions.

3. All mileage is estimated and may change as the destinations changes.

4. The loads may change and involve more than one drop point.

5. Trailer is a standard 48ft semi-trailer with kingpin connection.

6. Delivery sites vary and can be in the city or forest.

Some loads may be combined, decreasing the total number of miles. Bidders should carefully review General and Technical specifications.

5.0 Government Furnished

(5) Government Furnished Property: See Attachment 1 Pictures of Trailer.

a. The Government will supply a 48ft refrigerated semi trailer. Trailer can container up to 700 boxes. Trailer photos will be supplied in another document.

b. The Government will furnish the Contractor with a set of delivery locations. A mileage chart based on current information sources (Rand McNally Road Atlas, Google Maps). The Contractor will be responsible for taking the most efficient route to make the delivery.

c. All Nursery stock will be packed in one of the following for shipment:

vi.) Corrugated shipping boxes measuring 27”L x 13” W x 13”H weighing from 25 to 60 pounds each. The bulk of the shipments will be in this box size and is referred to as Standard Boxes.

vii.) One gallon pots measuring 5”x 5” x 14” Tall. Pots will be shipped 9 to a plastic case with the dimensions 15” L x15” W x 15” H. Total weight of each case is approximately 30 pounds.

viii.) Long Boxes measuring 37”L x 13” W x 13” H weighing from 25 to 60 pounds.

Along with multiple other boxes the same length but smaller width and height.

ix.) Poly bags with 2-year old bare root seedlings measuring 28”L x 14”W x 38”H weighing between 25 and 60 pounds.

x.) The trailer will be filled with diesel before transport.

d. The Government will be responsible for the costs of emergency repairs to the refrigerated van related to normal wear-and-tear. The Government will be responsible for loading seedlings. Only Government furnished items will be authorized to be transported in the Government furnished refrigerated van. The Government will provide training on the proper operation of the refrigeration unit.

e. USFS Fleet requirements. WO FSM 7109.19 ch60.

Approval to use the USFS trailer is granted by the Nursery Manager (Line Officer) along with the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands Fleet Manager.

6.0 Travel

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

a. USFS Fleet requirements. WO FSM 7109.19 ch60.

b. Approval to use the USFS trailer is granted by the Nursery Manager (Line Officer) along with the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands Fleet Manager.

8.0 Security Requirements

All loading of tree shipments shall normally be picked up between the hours of 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM local time. All unloading of deliveries shall be done during regular local business hours unless otherwise mutually agreed to in advance by the receiving unit and the Contractor.

b. Scheduled tree seedling shipments will be loaded by the USFS and ready for pickup by the driver in advance of the delivery.

c. The Government shall not assume liability for the loss, damage or destruction of the Contractor’s equipment or personal injury to the Contractor’s personnel except for those damages/injuries resulting from negligent or wrongful acts of Government employees while acting within the scope of their employment.

d. The Contractor shall be at the loading dock and ready to accept delivery at the time scheduled for the load. If the Contractor is unable to meet the scheduled loading time the Contractor shall notify the COR in advance. If the Contractor misses the scheduled loading time by more than one hour and fails to notify the COR the contractor will be liable for expenses incurred by the Government.

e. The Contractor shall provide the COR with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) at the delivery destination once loading is complete. The Government will notify the receiving unit of the ETA.

f. If the Contractor fails to meet the ETA by more than one hour without notifying the COR the Contractor may be liable for Government expenses incurred.

g. Nursery stock, or any other material covered by this contract shall not be loaded or unloaded without a Forest Service inspector or receiving officer present onsite. The Contractor may be required to wait for up to one hour at each location before being allowed to commence loading or unloading.

h. When unloading the shipment at the receiving point the Contractor will bring stock to the rear of the vehicle where receiving personnel will unload it. For return haul loads Government personnel will bring material to the back of the vehicle.

i. All material shipped shall be handled in a manner to prevent damage or crushing to individual shipping boxes, pots, bags or conifer cones.

9.0 Data Rights

10.0 Section 508 - Electronic and Information Technology Standards N/A

11.0 Performance Requirement Measures

1-Description This contract is for the transportation of perishable Nursery stock in USFS 48ft refrigerated trailer from the Bessey Nursery located in Halsey, Nebraska to various destinations throughout Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Arizona.