Solicitation Continuation Sections B - M.docx

Section B -Supplies/Services/Prices

Lifting, grading, and packing bareroot and containerized seedlings JW Toumey Nursery, Ottawa National Forest

FY 2020 – BASE YEAR

Services and Prices

(90% Conifer, 10% Hardwood)

7. 4-0 or 5-0 bareroot seedlings

(90% Conifer, 10% Hardwood)

10. Moving seedlings Loading seedlings for transport

Blocks/Boxes/Bags (B)

10,000

TOTAL

Lifting, loading, grading, and sorting bareroot and containerized seedlings JW Toumey Nursery, Ottawa National Forest

FY 2021 – OPTION YEAR 1

Services and Prices

(95% Conifer, 5% Hardwood)

(99% Conifer, 1% Hardwood)

10. Moving seedlings Loading seedlings for transport

Blocks/Boxes/Bags

TOTAL

FY 2022 – OPTION YEAR 2

Services and Prices

Blocks/Boxes/Bags

TOTAL

FY 2023 – OPTION YEAR 3

Services and Prices

Blocks/Boxes/Bags

TOTAL

FY 2024 – OPTION YEAR 4

Services and Prices

Blocks/Boxes/Bags

TOTAL

Offeror's must provide a proposal on all items to be considered responsive.

Note: 1. Unit prices prevail

2. All quantities are estimated within +15% or -15%

3. M- Thousand seedlings, LF = Lineal Foot

SEE SECTION M FOR EVALUATION CRITERIA TO BE ADDRESSED

A Technical Proposal is required (see instructions at Section L).

No award will be made to a Contractor not registered in System for Award Management database: see web site www.sam.gov.

All payments on the anticipated contract will be made through the Invoice Processing Platform. Go to www.ipp.gov for additional information and to register.

Note: It is the Government’s intent to award one contract resulting from this solicitation. Accordingly, offeror’s shall submit pricing for all line items. However, if upon evaluation, it is determined that multiple awards are in the best interest of the Government, multiple awards may be made. It is the Government’s intent to award a fixed priced contract resulting from this solicitation.

Local Employment Opportunities

Currently within the local community there are individuals that have had previous experience with work associated to lift and pack services. At the time of award the Government will provide the contractor with a listing of local individuals that have expressed a desire to be considered for temporary employment during the period(s) of the contract.

Section C - Description/Specifications

52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference. (FEB 1998) This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): www.acquisition.gov/ www.acquistion.gov/agar (End of clause)

Scope of Contract

The performance-based services covered in this solicitation and resultant contract require the contractor to furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, quality control and incidentals other than the items specified as Government-furnished, to provide services to lift, grade, and pack seedlings at the J. W. Toumey Nursery. This contract is for one year with the possibility of four option year renewals.

Location

The project is located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, in Watersmeet on the Ottawa National Forest. The specific location is JW Toumey Nursery, USDA Forest Service, E23985 Old US 2 East, Watersmeet, MI 49969.

The J. W. Toumey nursery will be lifting and packing approximately 3. 2 million bareroot seedlings and 500,000 container seedlings as the weather permits. Weather conditions in Watersmeet during lifting season can be below freezing in the morning to temperatures in the 50's and 60's in the afternoon. Wet cold conditions tend to be the norm for this time of season. Lifting bareroot seedlings will consist of approximately 300,000 to 500,000 per day due to storage capacity and shipping schedules. The nursery has two coolers, one for lifted seedlings (capacity 500,000 ungraded tubbed seedlings) and one for shipping (capacity 750,000 bagged seedlings). Seedlings have to be graded and packed from the lift cooler before more seedlings can be lifted from the field. Packed seedlings must be shipped prior to grading additional seedlings. Shipping dates are set by the clients based on weather conditions, storage capacity, and planting contracts. Seedling temperature and moisture must be maintained to provide healthy vigorous seedlings for our clients. The grading facility is not heated and has 3 grading tables that can occupy 13-14 graders per table. Shipping schedules will be determined as weather conditions are conducive to out-planting on the Lake States Forests.

CONTRACT TIME:

BASE YEAR

OPTION YEAR 1

OPTION YEAR 2

OPTION YEAR 3

OPTION YEAR 4

Work is estimated to begin on or around April 1, 2020 through December 15, 2020 of the base year, with final clean up occurring after each season of lift and grading processes are completed. Some portions of this cleanup may occur while processing seedlings.

Option years are contingent upon the availability of funds. It is the Government’s unilateral right to exercise the option periods.

Contractor Work Requirements

Lifting and loading (Items 1-4)

The work shall include pulling seedlings from the seedbeds after they are undercut by the government, retrieving empty tubs from trailer, loading the seedlings properly into field tubs, and stacking the tubs onto trailers. The government will provide the tractor operator to move the trailer through fields and back to processing facility.

Grading, Sorting, and Packaging of Bareroot and Container Tree Seedlings. (Items 5-9)

The bareroot and container seedling work shall include grading, counting, root pruning, packaging, and keeping an accurate tally of the work completed. Container seedlings will be pulled from their containers for grading. Tubs and containers of seedlings will need to be loaded from back of processing facility on to tables for grading. Once tubs are emptied, they should be refilled with burlap and stacked onto pallets. Once containers are emptied and returned they will need to be stacked by size on available pallets.

Daily cleaning of the packing shed and restrooms is required. Packing shed will need to have discarded seedlings and debris loaded into dumpsters or trailer. Restroom facilities will need to be wiped down, floors swept and mopped, and garbage removed. The government will remove and empty dumpsters and trailers from grading facility.

CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

Lifting and Loading (Items 1-4)

The Contractor shall furnish at least one fluent English-speaking non-working supervisor for every 12 workers that will be used for crew supervision only, (1-12 workers – 1 supervisor; 13-24 workers – 2 supervisors; 25-36 workers – 3 supervisors).

Grading, Sorting, and Packaging (Items 5-9);

The Contractor shall furnish at least one fluent English-speaking, non-working supervisor for each sorting belt. The Government plans to have the Contractor operate 3 sorting belts. Less than 3 sorting belts may be used with the approval of the COR.

All Supervisors shall attend a pre-work training session on proper lifting, handling, and loading of nursery stock, and for proper grading and handling of sorted seedlings. The date and time will be set by the government at least one day prior to the start of the contract operations. Thereafter, the Contractor shall be responsible for the proper training of crews.

The Government recommends that each sorting belt include the following positions:

(Table 4)

Crew supervisors shall be actively engaged in the supervision of their crew and insure seedling quality, at all times the crew is working with the seedlings.

The Contractor or the Contractor's designated representative shall remain on the Nursery work site while seedling processing is in progress. Crew supervisors shall remain with their designated crews at all times.

Administrative Work Stoppage Lifting and Loading (Items 1-4) Work stoppages due to bad weather (heavy rain, snow, excessive mud, wind frozen soil) or plant moisture stress will not be considered as downtime.

Grading, Sorting, and Packaging (Items 5-9) Work stoppage associated with the change to a new seedling lot, changes in specifications, multiple sorts, unacceptable performance, clean up, or other administrative work changes shall not be considered as downtime.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Lifting and Loading (Items 1-4)

A. Undercutting Seedlings – Seedlings will be undercut in the beds by Forest Service personnel prior to hand lifting. The Contractor shall not begin to lift seedlings from the beds until directed by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or government representative.

B. Pulling Seedlings - Seedlings will be pulled from the seed beds by grasping 2 handfuls of seedlings at the soil line in the same seedling row and lifted with a steady pulling motion (not jerking motion) until the seedlings are free from the soil. Extreme care must be taken to avoid kinking or bending the stem of the seedling during lifting. The workers will shake the lifted seedlings to remove the excess soil from the root systems. Seedlings will not be beat or knocked against any object in an attempt to remove excess soil from the roots. Seedling beds are to be completely pulled. Leaving hard-to-pull or partially buried seedlings in the beds will not be permitted unless authorized by the COR on site.

C. Seedlings into Tubs – The Government will transport the empty seedling tubs to the lifting site. The Contractor will retrieve empty tubs from the trailers and distribute the empty seedling tubs with wet burlap in them along the seedling bed for use by the lifting crew. After shaking the seedlings to remove all loose soil, the seedlings shall be immediately placed in the field tub and covered with burlap. All layers of seedlings in each tub will be placed in the same direction with no mixing of tops and roots. The seedlings must not be exposed to the open air for more than 20 seconds from the time they are free of soil to the time they are placed in the tub and covered with burlap.

Stockpiling of seedlings on the ground will not be allowed. The burlap will be placed in the seedling tub so that they cover the roots of the seedlings. All of the roots and some of the shoot must be covered with moist burlap. The burlap will be tucked in on all sides of the tub when the tub is full. Filled tubs will be stacked on pallets on the trailer. Seedling lots will be labeled by Government employee on site.

D. Loading of Filled Tubs – The Contractor will load filled seedling tubs and properly stack them on pallets located on Government furnished trailers for transportation to packing facility. This will include, but will not be limited to, the following steps:

i. When authorized by the COR the Contractor will separate full tubs by individual seedling lots.

ii. Full tubs will be loaded onto pallets on the hauling trailer. Loading will be done when authorized by the COR or Government representative to maintain seed lot identity.

iii. The Government Inspector on site will track and label seedling lots prior to transporting for quality assurance.

iv. Filled tubs will be loaded onto trailers within 25 minutes when directed by the COR or Inspector to do so.

v. The maximum amount of tubs per trailer will be 144.

vi. At the end of each work day the empty tubs will be collected by the Contractor and loaded onto the hauling trailer. This tub pickup will be authorized by the COR.

vii. There will be at least one fluent English-speaking Contractor’s rep with the lifting/loading crew.

viii. Workers are expected to dress appropriately for any kind of weather.

Grading, Sorting, and Packaging (Items 5-9)

E. Delivery of Seedlings to Sorting Tables -The Government will transport seedlings from the pre-cooler to the loading end of the sorting tables on pallets. The Contractor shall distribute the seedling tubs to the sorters on each belt either by hand carrying the tubs or by transporting them on the top belt of the sorting table. The Government will deliver containerized seedlings to the loading area. The Contractor shall distribute containerized seedlings to work stations.

F. Return of Empty Tubs with Burlap -The Contractor shall return the empty tubs with burlap to the loading ends of the packing shed. The Contractor shall dump excess soil from the tubs into the dumpster provided, place one sheet of wet burlap back into the empty tub and stack them on pallets provided. Pallets will have 6 stacks of nested tubs. Each stack will contain 18 tubs, or amount specified by Government representative. The Government will transport completed pallets to the field.

G. Return of Emptied Containers - The Contractor shall empty remaining contents of container into the dumpster and stack on pallets in the loading area. The containers will be separated by size and stacked 11 containers to a layer and 12 rows tall for a total of 132 emptied containers per pallet. As pallets are filled, the Government will remove from area and provide additional pallets for stacking.

H. Grading of Seedlings

i. Seedlings will be graded to customer height and caliper specifications and Toumey Nursery grading standards for each seedling lot. The specifications will be displayed on white board suspended above each sorting table. Printed specifications will also be given to each belt supervisor. Grading specifications will be subject to adjustment by the COR or table inspector at any time during the grading process.

ii. Each bareroot seedling will be completely separated from other seedlings in a manner that branches and roots will not be stripped or otherwise damaged. Seedlings need to be separated completely, so as to allow shoots and roots to untangle and straighten. Seedlings will be grouped so that roots are straightened to facilitate root pruning. Work will cease and be considered unacceptable if seedling roots are not adequately separated from other seedlings and straight to facilitate root pruning and may result in payment deductions.

iii. Container seedlings will be carefully pulled from the container to maintain the root plug. Seedlings will not be abused in any manner, such as beating them against person or objects, ripping them apart, or handling the root systems during the separation process.

iv. Each seedling in the tub or container will be graded to ensure that it meets acceptable standards. Any seedling not meeting standards will be discarded onto the floor or dumpster.

v. Acceptable bareroot seedlings will be placed in groups of five or ten, depending on species, on the sorting belt with the roots and tops properly oriented. The graders will cover unsorted bareroot seedlings with moist burlap when sorting ceases for any reason.

vi. Container seedlings will be “jelly-rolled” in wax-lined paper or plastic and a rubber band at each work station, 25 to a bundle, unless otherwise directed.

vii. Seedling counts, of five, ten, or twenty five are considered critical to the operation and are required to be inspected by Contractor. If Government inspections yield incorrect counts operations will cease and may result in deductions.

viii. Once a seedling order has been met the COR or table inspector will direct the Contractor to either save remaining tubs or containers of seedlings or dump them in the dumpster at the end of the pack shed. Excess un-graded seedlings that are to be saved will be returned to the loading end of the pack shed in the tubs with burlap covering the root systems. The Contractor shall consolidate partial tubs. All tubs or containers will be stacked on pallets and the lot identification tag will be inserted into one of the tubs or containers to maintain identity of the seedlings. The Government will transport stacked tubs to the pre-cooler or move stacked containers.

ix. There is no heat in the packing shed building, so workers will need to dress appropriately.

x. On occasion the Government may require Contractor to discard seedlings into provided tubs.

I. Bunching, Banding, and Pruning Seedlings

i. Groups of graded bareroot seedlings will be root pruned at the end of and/or along the sorting belt and gathered into bunches of 25 or 50 seedlings, depending on species, unless otherwise directed by the COR or table inspector. Each bunch should be aligned for proper root pruning.

ii. Bareroot seedlings will be pruned based on the customer’s specification for the seedling lot. The specifications will be displayed on the white board suspended above each sorting belt. Pruning specifications will be subject to adjustment by the COR or table inspector at any time during the grading process.

iii. Seedling roots will not be abused in any manner during the bunching and pruning operations. This includes striking them against person or objects to straighten them, combing them with fingers, or allowing the root systems to dry out. No bareroot seedlings will be left uncovered during breaks, down time or any other work stoppage. When work stoppage occurs, bunches of seedlings may be completed and placed in the seedling tub or covered with moist burlap.

iv. Bunches that have been root pruned, will be banded using Government provided rubber bands and a plastic banding tube, also provided, at the end of each sorting table.

J. Packaging of Seedlings The Contractor will carefully count and package seedlings at the end of each sorting table. Specifications on the amount of seedlings to be packaged in each bag or box will be given to each belt supervisor. Packaging specifications will be subject to adjustment by the COR or table inspector at any time during the packing process.

v. Seedling bunches will be received at the end of each sorting table and carefully placed into bags or boxes.

vi. The amount of seedlings packaged must be accurately counted, tracked, and recorded for each seedling lot.

vii. Seedlings must be handled with care. Bunches of seedlings should be placed into bags or boxes gently. Seedlings should not be dropped, thrown, or placed on the ground.

viii. When using boxes, the Contractor must build the box using staples to secure the bottom flaps, then line the inside of the box with a polybag liner.

ix. Appropriately seal bags/boxes after filling with seedlings. Bags are sewn shut with a sewing machine. When using boxes, the liner must be tucked around the seedlings to prevent moisture loss, then the box must be stapled shut on top.

x. A pre-printed sticker label must be affixed to the outside of each bag/box.

xi. Filled bags/boxes must be carefully loaded onto pallets.

xii. Move irons and pallets for easy loading. Load pallets with appropriate amount of bags/boxes, per COR instruction. Once pallet is filled, adjust the irons so pallets can be stacked and moved with forklift.

xiii. Handle bags/boxes of seedlings with care. Do not drop or throw bags/boxes onto the ground or pallet. Set them gently to maintain seedling viability.

xiv. Keep different seedling lots separate when packing into bogs/boxes and when loading onto pallets.

K. Sweeping Cull Seedlings and Cleanup Cull seedlings and soil shall be swept from the floor throughout the work shift to provide a safe working environment for all personnel in the packing shed. Material shall be swept and loaded into dumpsters provided or piled at the end of pathways. The Government will transport and empty dumpsters as needed throughout the shift. After packaging the last seedlings, a final clean-up will involve a thorough clean-up of the packaging shed, sorting tables, and drains. Scrapers and water hoses should be utilized to clean the facility. Additionally, all lifting tubs must be cleaned (scraped and rinsed with hose) and all burlap should be removed from tubs and neatly laid onto pallets.

Moving Seedlings (Item 10) L. The Contractor may assist with moving seedlings, as requested by the COR. Duties may include the following:

i. Load trucks with seedlings: Bags or Boxes of packaged seedlings are moved from a pallet and gently stacked into a refrigerated semi-truck trailer.

ii. Container/Block pickup: Blocks of containerized seedlings are picked up from the ground or greenhouse benches and gently stacked onto pallets or trailers for transport to the packaging shed.

Miscellaneous Requirements (Items 1-9) M. The Contractor’s and Contractor's employees' vehicles shall not be permitted anywhere on the Nursery site other than in the designated parking area. However, the Contractor may use one crew bus or similar vehicle per crew to transport employees and required supplies between the parking area and the crew work area. While traveling to the work site on the nursery property the Contractor’s vehicles will not exceed the 15 MPH maximum speed limit.

N. The Contractor and Contractor's employees shall use service roads only and will not drive or walk in fields, unless specifically directed to do so by the Contracting Officer Representative.

O. Contractor and Contractor's employees shall perform work in a safe manner. A daily safety briefing with the work crew is the responsibility of the Contractor. The Contractor will provide a first aid kit for his/her employees to use in the case of an injury. The Contractor will also be responsible for administering first aid to injured employees or providing someone who is trained to administer first aid.

P. No firearms or controlled substances are permitted on the nursery site. No warming or cooking fires will be permitted in the parking lot or elsewhere on the Nursery site.

Q. No smoking will be permitted in the packing shed or other buildings. Smoking is permitted outside, at least 25 feet from a building.

R. The contractor and contractor's employees shall maintain a clean work site. Lunch sacks and other debris shall be placed in Contractor-furnished garbage receptacles. Cigarette butts shall also be disposed of in the garbage receptacles (not in fields or roads).

S. Government-furnished equipment shall not be misused or abused by Contractor or employees.

T. Only the Contractor and employees shall be permitted in designated work areas. Family members and acquaintances of the Contractor or employees are not permitted to loiter on the Nursery site. Employees of the contractor are not permitted to bring their children to the work site when daycare and/or supervision of the children by other means are not available.

U. Routine phone messages for the Contractor and their employees will not be accepted by the Nursery Receptionist. Only emergency phone calls should be directed to the Nursery front office.

V. The Contracting Officer may require dismissal from the contracted work for any employees whom he/she deems incompetent, insubordinate, or otherwise objectionable.

Service Delivery Summary The Contractor service requirements are summarized into performance objects that relate directly to mission essential items. The performance threshold briefly describes the acceptable levels of service required for each requirement. These thresholds are critical to mission success.

Performance Requirements Summary The purpose of the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) located in this section is to:

a. List the work requirements for satisfactory contract performance (see PRS Column 2).

b. List the contract standard performance (see PRS Column 2).

c. List the quality acceptable level (see PRS Column 3).

d. Identifies the effect of performance outside allowable error level (see PRS Column 4).

e. Identifies quality control issues in performance (see PRS Column 5).

f. Identifies method of surveillance and percentages of sampling (see PRS Column 6).

g. Identifies the schedule/occurrence of performance surveillance (see PRS Column 7).

J.W. TOUMEY – PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT SUMMARY

allowable error level

throughout seedlings infractions process for full payment

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payment

process for full payment

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process for full payment

for full seedlings payment

group 1 throughout infractions process for full payment

allowable error level

infractions

for full seedlings payment

throughout

process

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throughout

process for full payment

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process payment

of seedlings

25 minutes of lifting.

seedlings

lots payment specifications

lots payment specifications

lots payment specifications

allowable error level

lots payment specifications

lots payment specifications

lots payment specifications

full quality lots payment specifications

lots

required

lots payment specifications

lots payment specifications

lots payment specifications

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVELS

The option years will not be exercised if quality is found to be below 90% acceptable for the duration of the annual period of performance.

Payment will be made for the number of seedlings actually packed, as recorded on daily packing sheets, based on inspections, and verified by Government Inspectors, except as may be reduced for unsatisfactory performance or increased for premium performance.

More than 15 infractions in Lifting and Packing Group 1 or two in Group 2 will be considered unacceptable performance for the day.

Unacceptable work or work methods are listed in the following 2 groups.

Group 1- Lifting A. Excess soil on seedling roots.

B. Abuse of seedlings while removing excess soil.

C. Failure to properly cover lifted seedlings.

D. Piling seedlings on the ground rather than placing them in a seedling tub.

E. Exposing root systems for more than 20 seconds.

F. Leaving any seedlings in the seed beds.

G. Walking on seedlings.

H. Over or under filling seedling tubs.

I. Failure to place seedlings in the same direction (mixing tops and roots) in the field tub.

J. Pulling seedlings with a jerking motion.

Group 2- Loading K. Failure to load filled tubs on the hauling trailer within the 25 minutes of lifting.

L. Mixing seed lots on the ground or on the trailer.

M. Tubs not stacked correctly allowing for potentially damaged seedlings or unsecure

ADDITIONAL CHARGES

The Contractor will be charged for the following damage, loss, waste or abuse of Government property and seedlings:

(a) Seedlings not covered, left exposed to the elements, damaged, abused, destroyed, or loss of seedling lot integrity.

(1) Tub of seedlings = $50

(2) Individual Seedlings:

1-0 = $0.35 each 2-0 = $0.21 each 3-0 = $0.23 each 4-0/5-0 = $0.24 each Transplants = $0.24 each

(b) Property and equipment

(1) Broken tubs = $20.00 each

(2) Grading calipers = $29.00 each

(3) Packing Bags = $3.00 each

(4) Styroblock container = $8

(5) Other property and equipment = Fair market cost for repair or replacement, to include all related charges.

Section D – Packaging and Marking

Technical Requirements:

1. Accurately count, track, and record amount of seedlings packaged, per COR instruction

2. Handle seedlings with care – Place seedlings into bags/boxes gently. Do not drop, throw, or set seedlings on the ground.

3. Appropriately seal bags/boxes after filling. Bags are sewn shut with a sewing machine. When using boxes, the liner must be tucked around the seedlings to prevent moisture loss, then the box must be folded/closed shut.

4. Affix pre-printed sticker labels to the outside of each bag/box.

5. Adjust irons and pallets for easy loading. Load pallets with appropriate amount of bags/boxes, per COR instruction. Once pallet is filled, adjust the irons so pallets can be stacked and moved with forklift.

6. Handle bags/boxes of seedlings with care – Do not drop or throw bags/boxes onto the ground or pallet. Set them gently to maintain seedling viability.

7. Keep different seedlots separate when packing into bags/boxes and when loading onto pallets.

Section E - Inspection and Acceptance

52.246-4 Inspection of Services - Fixed-Price. (AUG 1996)

CONTRACTOR QUALITY CONTROL PLAN

Quality Control Plan

The Contractor shall provide a Quality Control Plan (QCP) with the technical proposal. The Contractor shall supplement the QCP within 10 days of contract award based on items awarded to the Contractor and Government comments.

The general Quality Control Plan must demonstrate how the Contractor will assure quality meets the requirements and specifications of the contract. It shall specify how quality will be monitored to assure the performance standards are met; the supervision of crew and work; and the personnel that will be performing the quality control. Quality control includes the monitoring of quality while work is in progress.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Government inspections are for the purpose of satisfying the Government that the services are acceptable and do not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility for maintaining quality control. The Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or designated inspector will conduct all inspections. The Contractor (or designated representative) is encouraged to be present to observe inspections. Summary results will be made available on request.

Inspection and Acceptance Requirements for Lifting and Loading Seedlings (Items 1-4) The COR or designated inspector will make inspections.

1). Inspection Procedures – The Government will determine and record the Contractor’s daily accomplishment by lineal foot during the seedling lifting portion of the contract.

2). Quality Inspection Requirements – Lifting and loading quality inspections will be measured by visual means to determine if the work is being done properly and is within compliance of the technical provisions of the contract.

The COR will notify the Contractor (or representative) of infractions as encountered. Infractions will be documented on the Lifting Inspection Form (see Appendix) and used to determine damages.

Inspection and Acceptance of Sorting, Pulling, and Grading (Items 5-9)

Inspection of the sorted and graded seedlings will be done by COR or a designated Government inspector. Correct sorting, grading, and counting are critical to meeting contract requirements, a 0-10% sample will be taken from each seed lot. The root system, stem and foliage of the seedlings will be visually inspected for compliance with the nursery grading standards. The root systems will be measured following root pruning for compliance with the customer specified root length. Stem caliper and top height will also be measured for compliance with the grading standards for the product age and species. Seedlings that have defects will be counted and recorded by defect type. Seedling counts that are incorrect will be incorporated into acceptable seedling payment by number of seedlings over or under the designated count. The percentage of defective and acceptable seedlings sampled will be used to calculate the total number of defective and acceptable seedlings in the seed lot.

Defects include:

-seedling counts over or under the designated quantity -seedlings too short or too tall (plus or minus ½ inch) -caliper too small (plus or minus .25mm) -missing or broken terminal bud -J rooting -forked or multiple stems -discolored, diseased, or dead seedling -roots pruned too long or too short (plus or minus 1 inch) -number of seedlings in bundle not specified amount required -mechanical damage to seedling or roots -stripped roots -maintain seedling/soil plug integrity

Note: any of these defects may be deemed acceptable or changed by the COR on an individual seed lot basis.

The partial payment will be calculated using the following formula:

Total seedlings sorted in the seed lot X (bid price X actual percentage acceptable seedlings) = partial payment.

Example: If the seedling lot has 20,000 seedlings to be shipped out for an order and 20 bundles of 50 seedlings are inspected, or 1,000 seedlings. Of those 20 bundles, 12 had no defects, 5 bundles each had 6 defects, 3 bundles each had 4 defects (42 total defects total). 42/1000 would equal 95.8% acceptable, which would equal a full payment.

The packing shed floor will be visually inspected to ensure that good seedlings are not being thrown on the floor. If good seedlings are found on the floor the contractor or their representative will be notified and required to rework the seedlings. Re-grading or reworking seedlings more than 3 times per day by an individual will result in a daily desincentive payment.

The Contractor or his/her representative will be immediately notified of the seedling lots found to be below 90% acceptable. Work deemed unacceptable will be reworked to the standard established in the specifications before payment will be made. The cost of re-inspection will be borne by the contractor.

Section F - Deliveries or Performance

52.242-15 Stop-Work Order. (AUG 1989) 52.242-17 Government Delay of Work. (APR 1984)

452.211-75 Effective Period of the Contract. (FEB 1988) The effective period of this contract is from approximately March 15 through December 15 annually:

· The main SPRING season runs 3-5 weeks between March 15 – May 15. This season involves the majority of the bareroot and containerized seedling lifting, pulling, and packing operations. This season requires a full contract crew for simultaneous lifting and packaging on all 3 belts.

· Additionally, depending on weather:

· A small FALL season may run 1 – 2 weeks between October 25 – November 15. This season is for lifting and packaging a small amount of bareroot seedlings. It only requires only a small contract crew, and lifting and packing can be performed separately by the same workers.

· A small WINTER season may run for 1 – 2 weeks between December 1 – 15. This season is for pulling and packaging containerized seedlings. It only requires a small contract crew to fill one sorting belt. (End of Clause)

Lifting and Loading (Items 1-4) The minimum daily production rate for lifting will be:

Approximate Lineal Bed Foot/Hour 1st day – 500 feet/hour 2nd day – 700 feet/hour 3rd day and subsequent days – 900 feet/hour.

If the minimum daily production times are not met, the Government may request additional workers to meet these requirements.

Loading of full tubs onto trailer within the specified time span is required for each day.

The volume of seedlings lifted will influence the grading operation. If sufficient volume is available for a full grading work day, the lifting operation may be suspended.

The Contractor’s notice to proceed will not be issued until the seedling physiology, ground and weather conditions are suitable for work. Weather and seedling physiology will dictate the contract work schedule throughout the contract period.

All work will be performed between the hours of 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM central time with a ½ hour lunch break. Two breaks of 15 minutes each may be scheduled by the Contractor. Work may be required on the weekends (Saturdays/Sundays) at the option of the Government. There may be instances of early afternoon shut downs and late morning start-ups due to unsuitable weather or ground conditions.

Grading, Sorting, and Packaging (Items 5-9)

1) The volume of seedlings lifted will influence the packing operations. It is necessary to balance the amount of seedlings lifted with the capacity of the packing operation to process the seedlings in a timely manner, while maintaining lifting and packing production rates.

2) The Contractor shall work the packing shed a maximum of eight hours per day, between the hours of 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM central time, Monday through Friday, unless otherwise specified by the COR. Saturday and Sunday work can be performed with prior approval from the COR.

3) Minimum Bareroot Grading Operation Production Rates: If the minimum daily production times are not met, the Government may request additional workers to meet these requirements.

Minimum Container Grading Operation Production Rates:

4) The Contractor may control the on-off switch of the grading belts. Grading of seedlings will not start at the beginning of the day and after breaks, until directed by the COR or Belt Inspector.

5) The Contractor shall adjust his work force according to packing production rates, availability of seedlings for packing, and the physiological condition of the seedlings as judged by the COR or knowledgeable nursery official.

6) At the end of each work day, the Contractor or his Representative and the COR or Lead Inspector will discuss the following work days operational plan.

Moving Seedlings (Item 10) During peak lifting and packing processes, the Government employees may request seedling movement assistance to keep the overall operation running smoothly. When requested by the COR, the Contractor may be asked to assist with the following:

· Load trucks with seedlings

· Container/Block pickup

Miscellaneous (Items 1-9) Daily communications will be required between the Contractor and the COR. The Inspection Forms will need to be agreed upon and any discrepancies will need to be worked out daily.

Section G - Contract Administration Data

452.215-73 Postaward Conference. (NOV 1996) A post award conference with the successful offeror is required. It will be scheduled within 10 days after the date of contract award. The conference will be held at: J. W. Toumey Nursery. (End of Clause)

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government shall provide the Contractor the following listed materials, supplies, property or services, for use in the performance of this contract, hereinafter referred to as Government-Furnished Property. This property shall be used and maintained by the Contractor in accordance with the provisions of the “Government Property” FAR clause, (Reference Clause 52.245-1 (Jan 2017)).

(1) Sorting Tables: The Government will furnish three (3) Sorting Tables for seedling processing. The tables can accommodate up to 13 sorters.

(2) Root Pruning Tables: The Government will provide manual root pruners (paper cutters) on stands for pruning seedling roots. Accommodate 2-4 root pruners depending on the type seedlings and speed of processing.

(3) Rubber bands, plastic bander: The Government will supply the rubber bands for banding the bundles of seedlings and a plastic bander that holds the rubber bands on each sorting table. Accommodate 1-2 banders.

(4) Wax-lined paper: The Government will provide the wax-lined paper required for wrapping container seedlings.

(5) Packing material: The Government will furnish seedling bags. The Government will provide someone to place the seedlings in the bags, sew the bags closed, and label the bags for each sorting table.

(6) The Government will provide seed lot projections and write lot specifications on the white boards suspended at the end of each sorting table.

(7) Cleaning Equipment: The Government will furnish push brooms and scrapers, shovels, pitchforks, broom, and hose needed to clean the packing shed.

(8) Measuring equipment: Government will furnish rulers and caliper gauges at each work station on the sorting table.

(9) The Government will deliver full containers of seedlings on pallets to the processing area.

(10) Equipment Maintenance: Except for contractor performed clean up, the Government will maintain…