A06_RFQ_PROPOSED_specfications_seed_mixes_2024.pdf

PROPOSED SCOPE OF WORK FOR: Prairie seed purchase for the Upper Mississippi River NWFR and the Driftless Area NWR

PROJECT GOAL: We plan to establish diverse native prairies on the Luster Heights unit of the Upper Mississippi River NWFR and the Howard Creek Unit of the Driftless Area NWR. The Luster Heights seeding will consist of three different seed mixes: a pollinator mix (Table 1), a dry prairie mix (Table 2), and a dry forb enhancement mix for interseeding (Table 3), plus 50 pounds of rice hulls for a seed carrier. The Howard Creek seeding will consist of two different seed mixes: a mesic prairie mix (Table 4) and a wet meadow mix (Table 5).

Quantities are described in the following tables. All seeds will be planted with a seed drill in late fall or early winter 2024.

CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE:

1.0 TEST REPORTS

1.1 Seed Test;

Submit test reports for a purity and germination test following the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) rules for each seed mixture. The test reports shall indicate the purity percentage and germination percentage for each species.

1.2 Quantity Check;

Provide bag count or bulk weight measurements of material used compared with area covered.

2.0 CERTIFICATES

2.1 Certificates of Compliance;

Prior to the delivery of materials, provide certificates of compliance attesting that materials meet the specified requirements. Certified copies of the material certificates shall include the following:

Seed mixture percentage, percent pure live seed, percent germination, weed seed content, and date tested.

Seed materials shall be delivered in manufacturer's original, unopened containers with labels and tags intact and legible. Seed that is wet, moldy, or bears a test date more than five months old, shall be rejected.

3.0 SEED

3.1 Substitutions will not be allowed without written request from the Contractor and approval from the Contracting Officer. The mixing of seed shall be done by the seed supplier prior to delivery.

3.2 Seed Classification

All seed weights are given as Pure Live Seed (P.L.S.) Provide state-certified seed of the latest season's crop, local genotype from within 200 miles of the jobsite in original sealed packages bearing the producer's guaranteed analysis for mixture percentage, purity, germination, weed seed content, and inert material. Labels must conform with AMS Seed Act and applicable state seed laws.

3.3 Permanent Seed Species and Mixtures

Seeding rate will be vary by mix, see See Appendix A Add rice as carrier at the rate of 10# acre for Luster Heights mixes (Appendix A Tables 1-3) Rice hulls must be U.S. #1 Grade, clean and free from any viable weed seed.

Permanent seed species and mixtures shall be proportioned by weight as follows: See Appendix A

3.4 Quality

Weed seed shall be a maximum 1 percent by weight of the total mixture. Innoculent shall consist of the proper bacteria applied in the amount and manner recommended by the manufacturer to all legumes in the seed mix.

4.0 DELIVERY

Seed mix delivered by no later than October 15, 2024.

APPENDIX A

Table 1. Luster Heights – Pollinator Mix

Quantity = 3 acres

Seeding Rate: 8 lb/acre (61.3 seeds/square foot)

Notes: Pre-mix with 30 pounds of rice hulls

Common Name Scientific Name % of Mix Seeds/ft2 Total

Grasses Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula 25.00% 4.4 2.000 PLS lb Western Wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii 1.50% 1.8 0.120 PLS lb Canada Wild Rye Elymus canadensis 5.00% 0.8 0.400 PLS lb June Grass Koeleria macrantha 1.00% 5.9 0.080 PLS lb Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium 15.00% 6.6 1.200 PLS lb Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis 2.50% 1.2 0.200 PLS lb

Forbs Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum 0.50% 1.3 0.040 PLS lb Prairie Onion Allium stellatum 1.00% 0.3 0.080 PLS lb Lead Plant Amorpha canescens 2.00% 0.9 0.160 PLS lb Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata 1.50% 0.2 0.120 PLS lb Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca 2.00% 0.2 0.160 PLS lb Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa 1.00% 0.1 0.080 PLS lb Canada Milkvetch Astragalus canadensis 2.00% 1.0 0.160 PLS lb White Wild Indigo Baptisia alba 0.50% 0.0 0.040 PLS lb Partridge Pea Chamaecrista fasciculata 10.00% 0.8 0.800 PLS lb White Prairie Clover Dalea candida 2.00% 1.1 0.160 PLS lb Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea 3.00% 1.6 0.240 PLS lb Showy Tick Trefoil Desmodium canadense 0.50% 0.1 0.040 PLS lb Pale Purple Coneflower Echinacea pallida 1.50% 0.3 0.120 PLS lb Ox-eye Sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides 2.00% 0.4 0.160 PLS lb Round-headed Bush Clover Lespedeza capitata 0.50% 0.1 0.040 PLS lb Meadow Blazing Star Liatris ligulistylis 1.00% 0.3 0.080 PLS lb Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya 1.50% 0.5 0.120 PLS lb Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica 0.25% 3.7 0.020 PLS lb Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis 0.50% 0.0 0.040 PLS lb Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa 1.00% 2.1 0.080 PLS lb Virginia Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum virginianum 0.50% 3.2 0.040 PLS lb Long-headed Coneflower Ratibida columnifera 1.00% 1.2 0.080 PLS lb Yellow Coneflower Ratibida pinnata 2.00% 1.8 0.160 PLS lb Prairie Wild Rose Rosa arkansana 0.50% 0.0 0.040 PLS lb Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta 1.00% 2.7 0.080 PLS lb Brown-eyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba 0.25% 0.2 0.020 PLS lb Gray Goldenrod Solidago nemoralis 0.25% 2.2 0.020 PLS lb Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida 0.50% 0.6 0.040 PLS lb Showy Goldenrod Solidago speciosa 0.50% 1.4 0.040 PLS lb Smooth Blue Aster Symphyotrichum laeve 1.00% 1.6 0.080 PLS lb New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 0.50% 1.0 0.040 PLS lb Sky Blue Aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense 0.50% 1.2 0.040 PLS lb Ohio Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis 2.00% 0.5 0.160 PLS lb Hoary Vervain Verbena stricta 1.00% 0.8 0.080 PLS lb Culver's Root Veronicastrum virginicum 0.25% 5.9 0.020 PLS lb Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea 4.00% 1.3 0.320 PLS lb

Table 2. Luster Heights – Dry Prairie Mix

Quantity = 1 acres Seeding Rate: 10 lb/acre (60.8 seeds/square foot)

Notes: Pre-mix with 10 pounds of rice hulls

Grasses Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii 10.00% 3.7 1.000 PLS lb Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula 18.00% 4.0 1.800 PLS lb Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis 5.00% 7.3 0.500 PLS lb Prairie Brome Bromus kalmii 1.00% 0.3 0.100 PLS lb Canada Wild Rye Elymus canadensis 6.00% 1.1 0.600 PLS lb Slender Wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus 6.00% 1.5 0.600 PLS lb June Grass Koeleria macrantha 1.00% 7.3 0.100 PLS lb Switchgrass Panicum virgatum 1.00% 0.5 0.100 PLS lb Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium 20.00% 11.0 2.000 PLS lb Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans 8.00% 3.5 0.800 PLS lb Rough Dropseed Sporobolus compositus 2.00% 2.2 0.200 PLS lb

Sedges & Rushes Bicknell's Sedge Carex bicknellii 1.20% 0.7 0.120 PLS lb Plains Oval Sedge Carex brevior 0.80% 0.9 0.080 PLS lb

Forbs Prairie Onion Allium stellatum 0.80% 0.3 0.080 PLS lb Lead Plant Amorpha canescens 2.00% 1.2 0.200 PLS lb Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca 1.40% 0.2 0.140 PLS lb Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa 0.80% 0.1 0.080 PLS lb White Wild Indigo Baptisia alba 1.00% 0.1 0.100 PLS lb New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus 0.40% 0.1 0.040 PLS lb Partridge Pea Chamaecrista fasciculata 4.00% 0.4 0.400 PLS lb White Prairie Clover Dalea candida 0.60% 0.4 0.060 PLS lb Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea 1.60% 1.1 0.160 PLS lb Prairie Cinquefoil Drymocallis arguta 0.20% 1.7 0.020 PLS lb Stiff Sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus 0.40% 0.1 0.040 PLS lb Round-headed Bush Clover Lespedeza capitata 0.60% 0.2 0.060 PLS lb Rough Blazing Star Liatris aspera 0.40% 0.2 0.040 PLS lb Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis 0.40% 0.0 0.040 PLS lb Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa 0.40% 1.0 0.040 PLS lb Wild Quinine Parthenium integrifolium 0.40% 0.1 0.040 PLS lb Foxglove Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis 0.20% 1.0 0.020 PLS lb Large-flowered Beardtongue Penstemon grandiflorus 0.60% 0.3 0.060 PLS lb Prairie Wild Rose Rosa arkansana 0.80% 0.1 0.080 PLS lb Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta 0.60% 2.0 0.060 PLS lb Gray Goldenrod Solidago nemoralis 0.20% 2.2 0.020 PLS lb Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida 0.20% 0.3 0.020 PLS lb Heath Aster Symphyotrichum ericoides 0.20% 1.5 0.020 PLS lb Sky Blue Aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense 0.40% 1.2 0.040 PLS lb Ohio Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis 0.40% 0.1 0.040 PLS lb Hoary Vervain Verbena stricta 0.60% 0.6 0.060 PLS lb Heartleaf Alexanders Zizia aptera 0.40% 0.2 0.040 PLS lb

Table 3. Luster Heights – Dry Prairie Forb Enhancement Mix

Quantity = 1 acres Seeding Rate: 1 lb/acre (4.9 seeds/square foot)

Notes: Pre-mix with 10 pounds of rice hulls

Forbs Prairie Onion Allium stellatum 10.00% 0.4 0.100 PLS lb Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa 14.00% 0.2 0.140 PLS lb Pale Purple Coneflower Echinacea pallida 32.00% 0.6 0.320 PLS lb Rough Blazing Star Liatris aspera 10.00% 0.6 0.100 PLS lb Large-flowered Beardtongue Penstemon grandiflorus 12.00% 0.6 0.120 PLS lb Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta 4.00% 1.4 0.040 PLS lb Sky Blue Aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense 2.00% 0.6 0.020 PLS lb Ohio Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis 16.00% 0.5 0.160 PLS lb

Table 4. Howard Creek – Mesic prairie mix

Quantity = 29 acres

Seeding Rate: 12 lb/acre (38.8 seeds/square foot)

Grasses Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii 7.50% 3.3 0.900 PLS lb Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula 11.42% 3.0 1.370 PLS lb Canada Wild Rye Elymus canadensis 8.75% 2.0 1.050 PLS lb Slender Wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus 7.50% 2.3 0.900 PLS lb Switchgrass Panicum virgatum 1.75% 1.1 0.210 PLS lb Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium 10.58% 7.0 1.270 PLS lb Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans 16.67% 8.8 2.000 PLS lb Forbs Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa 0.50% 0.1 0.060 PLS lb Whorled Milkweed Asclepias verticillata 0.08% 0.0 0.010 PLS lb Canada Milkvetch Astragalus canadensis 1.33% 1.0 0.160 PLS lb Partridge Pea Chamaecrista fasciculata 5.00% 0.6 0.600 PLS lb White Prairie Clover Dalea candida 0.08% 0.1 0.010 PLS lb Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea 0.75% 0.6 0.090 PLS lb Showy Tick Trefoil Desmodium canadense 1.25% 0.3 0.150 PLS lb Ox-eye Sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides 0.42% 0.1 0.050 PLS lb Rough Blazing Star Liatris aspera 0.25% 0.2 0.030 PLS lb Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya 0.25% 0.1 0.030 PLS lb Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa 0.08% 0.3 0.010 PLS lb Yellow Coneflower Ratibida pinnata 0.17% 0.2 0.020 PLS lb Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta 0.42% 1.7 0.050 PLS lb Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida 0.17% 0.3 0.020 PLS lb Heath Aster Symphyotrichum ericoides 0.08% 0.7 0.010 PLS lb Smooth Blue Aster Symphyotrichum laeve 0.42% 1.0 0.050 PLS lb Prairie Spiderwort Tradescantia bracteata 0.33% 0.1 0.040 PLS lb Blue Vervain Verbena hastata 0.33% 1.4 0.040 PLS lb Hoary Vervain Verbena stricta 0.83% 1.0 0.100 PLS lb Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea 0.58% 0.3 0.070 PLS lb

Cover Crop/carrier Oats/Winter Wheat Avena sativa/Triticum aestivum 22.50% 1.2 2.700 PLS lb

Table 5. Howard Creek – Wet meadow prairie mix

Quantity = 7 acres

Seeding Rate: 12 lb/acre (189.6 seeds/square foot)

Common Name Scientific Name % of Mix Seeds/ft2 Total

Grasses Fringed Brome Bromus ciliatus 9.17% 4.0 1.100 PLS lb Bluejoint Grass Calamagrostis canadensis 0.42% 5.1 0.050 PLS lb Virginia Wild Rye Elymus virginicus 8.33% 1.5 1.000 PLS lb American Manna Grass Glyceria grandis 1.25% 3.9 0.150 PLS lb Fowl Manna Grass Glyceria striata 0.83% 5.9 0.100 PLS lb Rice Cut Grass Leersia oryzoides 2.08% 3.1 0.250 PLS lb Fowl Bluegrass Poa palustris 2.92% 16.7 0.350 PLS lb

Sedges & Rushes Bottlebrush Sedge Carex comosa 1.75% 2.3 0.210 PLS lb Pointed-broom Sedge Carex scoparia 0.42% 1.5 0.050 PLS lb Common Fox Sedge Carex stipata 1.42% 2.1 0.170 PLS lb Tussock Sedge Carex stricta 0.25% 0.6 0.030 PLS lb Brown Fox Sedge Carex vulpinoidea 1.17% 5.1 0.140 PLS lb Path Rush Juncus tenuis 0.33% 14.7 0.040 PLS lb Dark Green Bulrush Scirpus atrovirens 1.50% 30.4 0.180 PLS lb Woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus 0.67% 50.0 0.080 PLS lb

Forbs Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata 2.00% 0.4 0.240 PLS lb Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum 0.17% 1.2 0.020 PLS lb Grass-leaved Goldenrod Euthamia gramnifolia 0.08% 1.3 0.010 PLS lb Joe Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum 0.17% 0.7 0.020 PLS lb Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale 0.25% 1.4 0.030 PLS lb Sawtooth Sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus 0.33% 0.2 0.040 PLS lb Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica 0.17% 3.7 0.020 PLS lb Monkey Flower Mimulus ringens 0.08% 8.4 0.010 PLS lb Virginia Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum virginianum 0.50% 4.8 0.060 PLS lb Giant Goldenrod Solidago gigantea 0.17% 1.8 0.020 PLS lb Panicled Aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum 0.25% 1.7 0.030 PLS lb Swamp Aster Symphyotrichum puniceum 1.42% 5.0 0.170 PLS lb Purple Meadow Rue Thalictrum dasycarpum 0.08% 0.0 0.010 PLS lb Blue Vervain Verbena hastata 1.08% 4.4 0.130 PLS lb Common Ironweed Vernonia fasciculata 0.25% 0.3 0.030 PLS lb Culver's Root Veronicastrum virginicum 0.08% 2.9 0.010 PLS lb Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea 2.08% 1.0 0.250 PLS lb

Cover Crop/carrier Oats/Winter Wheat Avena sativa/Triticum aestivum 58.33% 3.1 7.000 PLS lb