Sol_140L0625Q0031.pdf

140L0625Q0031

1. REQUEST NO.

5a. ISSUED BY

NAME

a. NAME

c. STREET ADDRESS

d. CITY

10. PLEASE FURNISH QUOTATIONS TO

THE ISSUING OFFICE IN BLOCK 5a ON

OR BEFORE CLOSE OF BUSINESS (Date)

2. DATE ISSUED 3. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUEST NO. 4. CERT. FOR NAT. DEF.

UNDER BDSA REG. 2

AND/OR DMS REG.1

RATING

6. DELIVERY BY (Date)

7. DELIVERY

9. DESTINATION

a. NAME OF CONSIGNEE

b. STREET ADDRESS

PAGE OF PAGES

5b. FOR INFORMATION CALL: (No collect calls)

TELEPHONE NUMBER

AREA CODE NUMBER

8. TO:

b. COMPANY

e. STATE f. ZIP CODE

c. CITY

d. STATE e. ZIP CODE

IMPORTANT: This is a request for information, and quotations furnished are not offers. If you are unable to quote, please so indicate on this form and return it to the address in Block 5a. This request does not commit the Government to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of the submission of this quotation or to contract for supplies or services. Supplies are of domestic origin unless otherwise indicated by quoter. Any representations and/or certifications attached to this Request for Quotations must be completed by the quoter.

11. SCHEDULE (Include applicable Federal, State and local taxes)

THIS RFQ

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION

(THIS IS NOT AN ORDER)

IS IS NOT A SMALL BUSINESS SET ASIDEX

06/26/2025

1 66

DENVER FEDERAL CENTER

BLDG. 85

POB 25047

BLM DBS SUPPLIES AND SERVICES - NOC

Denver CO 80225-0047

Multiple

000 000-0000Kenneth Roch

07/25/2025 1900 ED

FOB DESTINATION

OTHER

(See Schedule)X

ITEM NO.

(a)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

(b)

QUANTITY

(c)

UNIT

(d)

UNIT PRICE

(e)

AMOUNT

(f)

This is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requirement to supply native plant materials for land management rehabilitation, or restoration and reclamation efforts for the Sagebrush Steppe region.

Period of Performance: 08/01/2025 to 07/30/2030 Contracting Officer:

Ian Steinheimer Department of Interior National Operations Center Phone: (303) 236-6609 Email isteinheimer@blm.gov

Contract Specialist:

Ken Roch Department of Interior Continued ...

12. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

a. 10 CALENDAR DAYS (%) b. 20 CALENDAR DAYS (%) c. 30 CALENDAR DAYS (%) d. CALENDAR DAYS

NUMBER PERCENTAGE

NOTE: Additional provisions and representations

13. NAME AND ADDRESS OF QUOTER

b. STREET ADDRESS

c. COUNTY

d. CITY e. STATE f. ZIP CODE

14. SIGNATURE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO

SIGN QUOTATION

16. SIGNER

a. NAME (Type or print)

c. TITLE (Type or print)

a. NAME OF QUOTER

AREA CODE

NUMBER

15. DATE OF QUOTATION

b. TELEPHONE are are not attached

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition not usable

STANDARD FORM 18 (REV. 6-95)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.215-1(a)

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

2 66

CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

140L0625Q0031

National Operations Center

Phone: (520) 678-7371

Email: kroch@blm.gov

NSN 7540-01-152-8067 OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION NO. 140L0625Q0031

Department of Interior

Seed Production – Sagebrush Steppe Region

Table of Contents

COMBINED SYNOPSIS AND SOLICITATION NO. 140L0625Q0031

General Information _________________________________________________________________ 2

Description of Action ________________________________________________________________ 3

Description of requirements ___________________________________________________________ 3

Participation Eligibility _______________________________________________________________ 3

Multiple Awards ____________________________________________________________________ 3

Solicitation Addenda _________________________________________________________________ 3

Inquiries/Questions. __________________________________________________________________ 3

Quotation Submission ________________________________________________________________ 3

Government Responses to Inquiries ____________________________________________________ 3

Instructions to Offerors ______________________________________________________________ 3

Pricing All Line Items - Not Required ___________________________________________________ 4

Evaluation criteria and Basis of Award _________________________________________________ 4

ADMINISTRATIVE AND RESPONSIBILITY ___________________________________________ 4

LISTS OF ATTACHMENTS __________________________________________________________ 4

Attachments to the Solicitation_________________________________________________________ 4

COMBINED SYNOPSIS AND SOLICITATION NO. 140L0625Q0031

General Information.

Description: Seed Production - Supply Increase.

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 111998 – All Other Miscellaneous Crop Farming, 111998: All Other Miscellaneous Crop Farming.

PSC: 9440: Miscellaneous Crude Agricultural and Forestry Products.

Contract Type: Firm Fixed-Priced Purchase Orders, Supply.

Participation: Unrestricted Participation for businesses certified under NAICS code 111998: Seed Farms.

Attachments: The specifications as well as this synopsis/solicitation include external attached documents.

Description of Action.

This document, addendums, and attachments stated constitute the combined synopsis and solicitation for commercial items (supplies) prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This solicitation announcement is issued using Simplified Acquisition Procedures under the Authority of FAR 13.5, Simplified Acquisition Procedures for certain Commercial Items. Quotations are requested and a separate request for quotation will NOT be issued.

Description of requirements.

The BLM is seeking harvested seed meeting the specifications and required quality detailed in Attachment 1– Specifications at the estimated quantities specified in Attachment 5 – Order Form.

Participation Eligibility.

This procurement is for unrestricted, full and open participation for vendors registered in SAM.gov under NAICS code 111998: Seed Farms. To be considered eligible to participate in this procurement, offerors’ registration in SAM.gov shall reflect the appropriate NAICS code and be active at time of quotation submission. Offeror’s registration in SAM.gov shall remain active throughout evaluation. If selected for an award, the SAM.gov registration must remain active during the life of the contract.

Multiple Awards.

Pursuant to FAR 52.212-1(h), the Government may accept any item or group of items of an offer. The Government anticipates making multiple awards.

Solicitation Addenda.

The following FAR provisions 52.212-1 and 52.212-2 are provided as addenda to this solicitation under attachments: Quote Instructions, and Quote Evaluation.

Inquiries/Questions.

All correspondence related to this announcement shall reference the solicitation number in the subject line: “140L0625Q0031”. Inquiries, questions or comments regarding this solicitation shall be emailed to all of the following members of the Contracting Team:

isteinheimer@blm.gov and kroch@blm.gov; not later than 5:00 PM (MT) on July 11, 2025. Inquiries received after this date and time may not be considered.

Quotation Submission.

Offerors are responsible for ensuring submitted responses to this solicitation are complete and received timely. Offerors shall email its complete quote package to the following members of the Contracting Team: isteinheimer@blm.gov and kroch@blm.gov not later than: 5:00 PM (MT) on July 25, 2025. Late quotations may not be considered. The subject line of responses to this announcement shall reference the solicitation number, “140L0625Q0031”.

Government Responses to Inquiries.

When applicable, Government responses to inquiries submitted will only be issued through an amendment to this solicitation. If it is necessary to amend this solicitation, the amendment will be published on SAM.gov. Offerors are required to acknowledge all amendments that may be issued.

Instructions to Offerors.

When preparing offers, Offerors shall follow the instructions and content requirements in Attachment 4 - Provisions and Clauses. Offerors are responsible for submitting a complete quotation in response to this solicitation that meets all solicitation requirements, such as terms and conditions, representations and certifications, and technical requirements, in addition to those identified in the Addenda.

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/subpart-12.6#FAR_Subpart_12_6 mailto:isteinheimer@blm.gov mailto:kroch@blm.gov mailto:isteinheimer@blm.gov mailto:kroch@blm.gov

Pricing All Line Items - Not Required.

Pricing of all line items is not required. Offerors may elect to provide a quote for one, multiple or all line items in Attachment 5 – Order Form in response to this solicitation. By submitting a quotation, the Offeror represents that it will meet all the requirements stated in Attachment 1 – Specifications for each line item(s) the Offeror has chosen to quote.

Evaluation criteria and Basis of Award.

Evaluation criteria and basis for award(s) for this solicitation are provided within Attachment 3 - Evaluation.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND RESPONSIBILITY SUBMISSION

(1) Authorized contractor personnel. The Offeror shall identify and provide contact information for any individuals authorized to communicate with the Government and detail the capacity of the communications, as well as limitations (if applicable). At a minimum, the Prime Offeror shall include individual(s): designated to make decisions, authorized to contractually sign and obligate the Offeror, and responsible for CPARS and for invoicing. Please include name, title, phone number, email address, functional capacity and limitation(s), if applicable.

LISTS OF ATTACHMENTS

Attachments to the Solicitation 1 - Specifications 2 - Instructions 3 - Evaluation 4 - Provisions and Clauses 5 - Order Form

Specifications

1. INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE

1.1 The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and National Park Service (NPS) have a need for native plant materials for land management rehabilitation, restoration, and reclamation efforts. Common uses for native plant seed include wildfire stabilization and rehabilitation, habitat improvement projects, revegetation of roads, reclamation of mining, orphaned wells, and construction sites, developments and rights-of-way, mitigating erosion and sediment movement into streams, as well as the control and prevention of invasive plant species spread.

1.2 The objective of this contract is to commission seed production of source-identified seed. All seed delivered to the Government shall be source identified (SI) certified native seed under the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) Certification program for Pre-Variety Germplasm (PVG) according to the requirements herein. The Department of the Interior (DOI) agencies collaborating on these orders are BLM, NPS, and USFWS. All seed shall be delivered to the BLM National Seed Warehouse system facilities located in Boise, Idaho.

1.3 The contractor shall provide all required resources, including: the acreage, labor, supervision, equipment, tools, materials, applicable irrigation, supplies, facilities, fees, laboratory tests, seed certification, records, and transportation necessary to cultivate and produce cleaned and tested native seed that meets crop and seed contract quality and quantity standards from species listed. This includes contractor responsibility of all field application; seed crop certification; seed testing fees.

1.4 Under this contract, stock seed (typically Generation Zero (G0) or Generation 1 (G1)) will be furnished by BLM.

2. SEED GROW OUT

2.1 Payment Structure

a. Field Establishment – Once a field has been inspected and accepted in accordance with state certifying standards, the contractor will be paid the amount awarded for the contractor’s offer for field establishment.

b. Seed Production – The contractor shall be paid for seed delivered at the offered per pound price pending final acceptance of seed. Payment may be adjusted based on Pure Live Seed (PLS) per specifications in section 3.4.

c. Additional Seed Production – The BLM has the right of first refusal on any additional seed produced. If the contractor produces seed over the contracted base delivery amount, that seed shall be offered to the Government at the contractor’s awarded bid price. The Government’s decision to purchase the additional seed is optional and at the sole discretion of the Government based on need and available funds.

2.2 Partial Payments

a. The contractor shall not hold produced seed for an aggregate final delivery. The contractor shall deliver seed as it is produced. Seed that is produced to meet the base seed requirement may be produced over multiple growing seasons (For Example: The awarded seed requirement is for

1,000 pounds (lbs.); the contractor may provide 200 lbs. in year one, 300 lbs. in year two, and 500 lbs. in year three to meet the overall base requested amount).

b. Payments are dependent on inspection and acceptance.

2.3 Stock Seed

a. Stock seed to initiate the grow out process will be provided by the BLM.

b. Government Furnished Stock Seed – The Government will provide SI stock seed for seed increase to meet target field size stated, with the seed analysis report for the seed lot, to the grower prior to sowing for the sowing year. The seed analysis report includes: 1) species, germplasm identification term, source location by County, Omernik Level III Ecoregion, and Seed Transfer Zone, seed generation, 2) seed viability, pure seed content, inert content, weed and other crops seed content and percent and, 3) year tested. The seed will be cleaned and tested at a BLM approved state laboratory with a Registered Seed Technologist. PDFs of test result for TZ, purity* and noxious weeds will be provided. Government furnished stock seed is the property of the Government, and any unused portion shall be returned to the Government.

*line items with an asterisk had purity conducted at Bend Seed extractory. New tests from an AOSA certified lab will be conducted upon request.

2.4 Sowing and Field Management

a. All fields shall be enrolled in the state seed certification program for the state with jurisdiction over the field (where applicable) and meet Pre-Variety Germplasm certification requirements and standards in all applicable states. Prior to planting, it is the contractor’s responsibility to know the AOSCA and state Seed Certifying Agency standards for Pre-Variety Germplasm, including field history, limits on plant volunteers, crop isolation, and procedures for initiating and completing the seed certification process.

b. The contractor shall perform industry standard agronomic and other field cultivation practices necessary to ensure healthy crops and seed production yields to meet seed orders including, but not limited to, field cultivation, irrigation, sowing seeds, fertilizing fields, any necessary applications, or cultural methods to control and prevent weeds, pathogens, insects, rodents, and harvesting the crop at the proper time.

c. The contractor shall propose the amount of stock seed needed for sowing purposes by considering the seed lot viability percent, average seeds per pound, and purity to yield the amounts ordered by the Government.

d. Following the certification process, the contractor shall identify each field or portion of a field with a field marker using the germplasm name assigned by the government (e.g. FWS0800-55 or DUT020-11).

e. The seed lot and germplasm identity shall be maintained throughout all phases of the contract.

The seed lot identity and nomenclature shall not be lost, mixed, or contaminated with other seed from other sources.

f. The contractor shall manage seed increase fields in such conditions so that the species genetic purity is maintained in accordance with the isolation standards and land history requirements of the applicable certifying state agency with jurisdiction over the field following AOSCA standards.

g. The contractor is responsible for ensuring proper transplantation of container stock as applicable. If the contractor transplants container stock to the field, either manually or mechanically, it shall occur at the proper time to ensure optimal survival. Standard industry handling and storage practices shall apply to ensure transplant stock does not desiccate or mold before transplanting.

2.5 Seed Lot Isolation Standards

a. Isolation standards may be checked through field inspections. Fields used for seed propagation and grow out shall meet the isolation and land history requirements of the applicable certifying state agency with jurisdiction over the field following AOSCA standards. Isolation and land history requirements shall be met for all cross-pollinated, self-pollinated, and apomictic species.

b. The number of generations allowed of perennial grass species shall be no more than fourth generation (G4), removed from wild collected seed. The number of generations allowed for annual grass and forb species shall be no more than third generation (G3), removed from wild collected seed.

3. HARVESTED SEED QUALITY STANDARDS AND TESTING

3.1 Seed Quality Standards

a. The contractor is responsible for all costs (including equipment, labor, supplies, etc.) associated with seed crop harvesting, cleaning, debearding, and other necessary seed conditioning. The contractor shall ensure seed ordered under this contract is conditioned to meet standards for pure seed, other crop, inert and weed seed, and to include de-bearding of awns, if necessary. All seed ordered under this contract shall be cleaned so that no stems or debris longer than ¾ inch remain unless stated otherwise in these specifications. Awns removed from seeds shall be cleaned out of the seed.

• Bottlebrush Squirreltail (Elymus elmoides): Debearding – seed shall be processed and cleaned so that a minimum of 90% of the individual seeds have less than 1/8” in length of the awn remaining. The remaining 10% of the seeds shall have awns less than ½” in length.

• Needle and Threadgrass (Hesperostipa comata): Debearding – Needle and Thread seed shall be processed, and awns cleaned so that a minimum of 90% of the individual seeds have less than 1/8” in length of the awn remaining. The remaining 10% of the seeds shall have awns less than ¼” in length.

b. All seed supplied must meet or exceed the following seed quality standards:

• Visual: All seed will be inspected for cleaning requirements.

• PLS: Seed supplied shall meet PLS requirements within the allowable tolerance.

Weed seed for all seed types shall be less than 0.20%.

• Annual Brome limitation: Maximum amount allowed is 200 seeds per pound with no more than two seeds found in the sample. The Government reserves the right to reject seed lots with any “off type”Bromus seeds including Bromus tectorum.

• Amaranthus spp., found in the noxious weed test, or any other purity examination, requires the contractor to complete a DNA test to determine if the species is prohibited or restricted (Palmer’s amaranth).

• 2.00% or less Other crop for all seed

c. Under the Federal Seed Act, all agricultural seed is subject for testing to comply with the standards of the USDA State Noxious – Weed Requirements and the Association of Official Seed Analysis (AOSA).

d. The Government will act in accordance with the noxious weed laws for each respective state where seed increase is undertaken.

e. All seed must qualify for acceptance by meeting all combinations of noxious weeds for all western states; otherwise, the entire lot of seed will be rejected at the Government’s discretion.

f. Seed lots are required to meet the standards for state noxious and prohibited weed seed requirements recognized in the administration of the Federal Seed Act - Rules and Regulations. Official Federal and State lists of noxious weed seeds may be accessed at:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/StateNoxiousWeedsSeedList.p df

3.2 SEED SAMPLING AND TESTING

a. Overview: Initial seed testing costs shall be paid for by the Offeror and included in the bid price offered for the item(s). The BLM will sample all seed lots after being delivered to the BLM’s delivery location. Costs of sampling seed will be the responsibility of the Government.

Samples will be sent to one of the preferred vendor labs. The costs of the first BLM sampled test will be the responsibility of the vendor and will be authorized using attachment 1. Vendor preferred seed testing laboratories will be utilized but only BLM approved seed testing laboratories will be allowed and are limited to Official State Seed Laboratories in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming, and Indiana Crop Improvement Association.

b. The vendor shall provide an Attachment 1 filled out (except sampler, sampling, and lab information) and signed prior to delivery for each seed lot, at each delivery location. The vendor shall send the Attachment 1, shipping documents) to the BLM_ID_Seed_All@blm.gov group email address prior to delivery.

c. The offeror shall designate two different approved seed labs in the delivery paperwork

(Attachment 2), as their facilities of preference. The government will pull an official AASCO certified seed sample at the government facility upon delivery of the seed lot, and the sample will be sent to one of the two labs listed as preferred by the vendor. The offeror will be responsible for the payment of the first test. Additional samples and testing may be conducted at the discretion of the BLM, those samples/tests will be sent to the BLM lab of choice and paid for by the BLM. If a lab is not designated by the offeror on the schedule, the Government will utilize any approved seed testing facility.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/StateNoxiousWeedsSeedList.pdf http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/StateNoxiousWeedsSeedList.pdf mailto:BLM_ID_Seed_All@blm.gov

d. Seed test analysis will include purity (inert, other crop, weed seed), TZ, Western States Noxious Weed Exam, and species check for invasive annual brome species. Germination (when applicable).

e. Seed species that are listed in the Federal Seed Act (FSA) are required to have a germination result listed on the Analysis tag for interstate shipment. For new harvest seed, the USDA has agreed to allow the germination test to be started prior to shipping and provided to the BLM when complete via the same email address.

f. The seed delivered under the contract shall be subject to such inspection and tests as may be determined by the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer Representative to be necessary to ascertain conformance with the specifications stated herein. Acceptance of, or the waiving of the inspection and tests of any seed will in no way relieve the contractor of the responsibility for furnishing seed meeting the requirements of the contract.

g. For replacement or reconditioned seed, the same procedures apply.

3.3 Seed Test Discrepancies and Tolerance

Table 1- Allowable Tolerance Points

ALLOWABLE TOLERANCE POINTS TABLE

PLS Offered (%)

Tolerance Percentage points

Test variance percentage points allowed to determine if test is erroneous

80-100 7.00 15.00

60.00-79.99 6.00 13.00

40.00-59.99 5.00 11.00

20.00-39.99 4.00 9.00

0-19.99 3.00 7.00

a. If the tested Pure Live Seed (PLS) of the first test is less than the offered PLS and below the acceptable tolerance points in Table 1- Allowable Tolerance Points (and all other quantity standards have been met) the Government at its option may:

• Elect to reject the seed and require the contractor to recondition

• If seed does not meet contract specifications the seed may be rejected and the contract line item may be terminated for cause, or,

• Elect to purchase the seed at a price reduction without a second test. Payment at a reduced unit price shall be the full compensation due and payable to the contractor for seed accepted under this condition. Payment will be computed using the following formula, or, Reduced Unit Price = Tested % PLS X Offered Unit Price Offered % PLS

• Elect to retest the purity and germination of the seed and an average of the two tests will be used to determine acceptance, price reduction, or rejection.

b. Erroneous tests: At the discretion of the Government, if the first two test(s) vary by more than the percentage points in Table 1, a third test may be requested by the vendor and approved by the CO. The Government will pull the sample, choose the lab, and ship sample for testing. The two tests with the closest results will be averaged for the purpose of final acceptance or rejection as well as for payment. The party requesting the third test is responsible for the costs of the test.

3.4 Approved Seed Testing Facilities

a. Approved Facilities include Official State Seed Laboratories in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Private seed testing laboratories are prohibited for use on this contract.

b. The Contractor shall use an unbiased third party testing facility, not associated with the contractor, for seed lot testing under this contract. The contractor shall not utilize any testing laboratory associated with the contractor, such as having a financial interest, controlling interest, or associated interests. Use of any laboratories associated to the contractor may pose an actual or potential conflict of interest.

3.5 Testing Standards

a. Each seed lot shall be purchased on the basis of a laboratory report of analysis on which the testing for purity, viability, and noxious weeds content was conducted in accordance with the most current version of the AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds, when such rules exist for that species.

4. PACKAGING, MARKING AND DELIVERY

4.1 Packaging and Marking

a. All seed shall be delivered in 50 pound bags except for:

• 20 or 25 pound bags: Blue Grama, Sideoats Grama, Galleta Grass,

• 10, 25, or 50 pound bags: all forbs

b. All seed bags shall be sound, clean, and made from standard poly or woven sacks of similar strength and characteristics. Burlap bags will not be accepted. Paper bags will only be accepted when containing proprietary varieties of seed that are required to be bagged in bags with special markings. ANY BAGS RECEIVED WHICH ARE NOT SOUND WILL BE REJECTED, AND MUST BE RE-BAGGED (to the exact pounds/bag specified above) BY THE CONTRACTOR, OR REPLACED.

Needle and Thread seed shall be double-bagged.

c. The weight of the actual bags shall not be included in the stated weight of the seed delivered.

d. The lot number for all seed shall be marked on the bag (stenciled or marked with indelible ink).

4.2 Analysis Tags

a. The label (the analysis tag) must be attached to each bag of seed and clearly visible when seed is stacked on a pallet. In addition, the SI seed shall have the required certifications tags attached. Incomplete analysis tags may be cause for rejection of seed.

b. Source Identified Seed will include the government assigned germplasm name listed in each line item of the solicitation.

c. Analysis Tag requirements for each contract line item with the following information:

• Lot Number

• Name and Address of Shipper

• Species (Common and Latin), and germplasm ID as assigned by BLM

• Purity

• Germination/TZ

• Crop Seed:

• Weed Seed:

• Inert:

• Noxious Weed Seed and States Tested for

• Origin Location of seed source/origin: Eco-region and Seed Transfer Zone

• Test Date

• Weight of Bag

• Contract and line item number

d. The cost of the bags, labeling, inspections, and certifications (if required) shall be included in the bidder’s price.

e. Analysis tags must contain the information and elements required by the governing state agency with jurisdiction over the production field.

4.3 Pallets

a. All seed, unless prior arrangements are made, must be shipped and delivered on pallets in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the contract. If the contractor chooses to ship seed not on pallets, the delivery personnel are required to unload the seed, stack on pallets and wrap. All supplies must be provided by contractor. Palletized seed must be delivered in a condition that can be safely unloaded with a forklift. Pallets that are not securely wrapped, tipped over, or excessively leaning or bulging may be rejected and returned to the contractor for repackaging. Seed will only be accepted on a pallet sized 48” X 40” unless prior approval has been made with the receiving warehouse. Seed bags cannot hang over the four sides of the pallet. If using a girdle of cardboard, the pallet must be shrink-wrapped prior to adding the girdle to allow for easy removal of cardboard to verify bag count. A slip-sheet (piece of cardboard the same size of the pallet) shall be placed on top of the pallet before seed bags are stacked on pallet. Seed bags damaged due to improper handling or improper protection from the elements will not be accepted or will be subject to other considerations as determined by the Contract Officer (CO). In the event the Government must restack the seed bags because it was delivered not meeting the specifications, the Government will charge the contractor the actual cost incurred by the Government in performing these services or require the contractor to remedy the issue.

b. Each pallet with seed needs to be clearly marked on the outside of the pallet as to species, lot number(s), contract line item number, and number of pounds of each lot. The list should be clearly visible without unpacking the pallet.

EXAMPLE: In this example, a pallet would have 250 lbs of Showy penstemon and 650 lbs of Idaho Fescue. This information should be clearly marked on the pallet. Each pallet should have a similar sheet with the appropriate information for other line items (also available in attachment 2)

Contract

Line Item number Germplasm ID Species Common name Lot # lbs

2059 10 SOS-UTE_123 Penstemon spectabilis Showy penstemon abcd1234 250 2064 20 SOS-NV1-56 Festuca idahoensis Idaho Fescue defg4567 650

c. Where multiple species or lot numbers are included on a pallet, the distinction between lots and/or species must be clearly marked. A slip-sheet will be placed between lots and/or species to clearly separate mixed pallets.

d. If a pallet exceeds 54” in height, another pallet must be inserted before additional seed is stacked for shipping. A slip-sheet will be placed on top of the pallet before additional pallets are double stacked.

4.4 Bill of Lading Shipping Documents

a. To ensure that the correct lot number is being matched to the applicable contract line item number, the shipping paperwork MUST INCLUDE:

● Contract number

● Contractor name

● Contract Line Item number associated with the seed ordered

● Contractor assigned lot number

● BLM assigned germplasm ID

● Species/ common name and scientific name

● Quantity and Weight

● Warehouse delivered to

EXAMPLE: See attachment 2 for example

b. For every shipment prior to delivery, each contractor must provide the below shown itemized list sent via email to blm_id_seed_all@blm.gov for each warehouse delivery. The itemized form is provided as Attachment 2. Contractor will be required to provide a separate itemized list that corresponds to each truck load if multiple or partial loads are being delivered.

Required Documentation:

1.) Attachment 1 for seed testing, Vendor portion filled out correctly and signed mailto:blm_id_seed_all@blm.gov

Company Name: ABC Seed Company

Contract #: 140L372xC00xx

Warehouse Delivery location: Boise or Ely

SSID Co nt ra ct li ne

G er m pl as m

ID

(a s a ss ig ne d by

B

LM

Sc ie nt ifi c N am e

Seed Type Common Name

H ar ve st

Y ea r

Lot

Pound s

9 10

SOS-

UTE_123

Penstemon spectabilis Showy penstemon 2027

4 20 SOS-NV1-56 Festuca idahoensis Idaho Fescue 2027

5 80

SOS-CA23-

26 Bromus marginatus Mountain Brome 2027

0 100

SOS-FWS-

051 Asclepias speciosa Showy milkweed 2027

***** Examples************

4.5 Delivery Requirements

a. F.O.B. Delivery - All seed delivered as a result of this solicitation must be delivered to the Bureau of Land Management locations as specified in the contract. Seed shall not be unloaded without a Government official present. Offeror's price(s) must include the cost of these delivery requirements. In the event the Government must move the seed because it was delivered and unloaded in the wrong place, the Government will charge the contractor the actual cost incurred by the Government in performing these services. Seed bags damaged due to improper handling or improper protection from the elements will not be accepted.

b. The contractor will be required to make an appointment with the appropriate Government delivery personnel at least two (2) working days prior to delivery to arrange for unloading at the destination. If the seed does not arrive on the scheduled delivery date and the contractor is not communicating with the warehouses about the delay, the contractor may be required to reschedule two (2) working days prior to making a new delivery appointment. Deliveries shall be made between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday excluding Federal holidays, unless prior approval has been made with the receiving warehouse. The DELIVERIES WILL BE SCHEDULED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS TO EACH Government Delivery location.

c. When scheduling deliveries with the Warehouses, the contractor must coordinate (physically speak) with the warehouse staff. The Government reserves the right to refuse deliveries that are not scheduled in advance. Consideration to Government for late deliveries will be exercised.

d. FREEZER STORED SEED REFRIGERATED SHIPPINGPrior harvest sagebrush, winterfat, spiny hopsage, rabbitbrush are required to be shipped via refrigerated shipping at a minimum of March 1st thru October 31st. but may be required outside of that window depending on weather conditions. Consultation with the COR should occur to determine if refrigerated shipping is required beyond October 31. Refrigerated shipping shall keep the seed at 32 degrees F or below. Shipping temperature above 32 degrees F will be subject to termination by the Contracting Officer.

Office/Organization Purchasing Seed Pounds Delivered Bill To:

Boise Regional Seed Warehouse 1962 Commerce Ave Boise, ID 83705 Phone: 208-308-3981, (Brandon Brown) 208-384-3206 – warehouse number

CONTRACTOR

5. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

5.1 Inspection

a. The state Seed Certifying Agency shall inspect all fields to certify acceptance of proper field management at contractor expense.

b. The contractor may apply for re-inspection on a field that failed to meet the minimum standards. The contractor shall apply and have the cause for rejection corrected before the deadline specified on the inspection report by the Seed Certifying Agency. There will be only one re-inspection per field. The contractor shall pay any Seed Certifying Agency fees for re-inspections.

c. The Government reserves the right to conduct site inspections of fields prior to and during production.

d. Field Condition Updates Deliverable Due Date Provide to

Progress Update (yield, condition, problems, actions to address problems)

Every Six Months after Field Establishment

Contracting Officer and COR

Four Photos Per Field Every Six Months after Field Establishment

Contracting Officer and COR

5.2 Acceptance and Payment

a. Acceptance of work will be determined by the contractor's compliance with terms, specifications, and performance standards including those provided by the State Seed Certifying agency.

b. Final acceptance will be deemed to occur only after the COR has received a copy of all the following at the specified delivery location:

• Seed Analysis Request Form

• Favorable seed test and visual inspection (see section 3.2 and 3.3 for testing requirements)

• Physical seed of the same favorable seed test lot

• Germination results for Federal Seed Act covered species.

c. Final acceptance of all seed to be delivered under this contract shall be the responsibility of the

Contracting Officer. Quality of the deliverables is subject to verification by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) with final payment to be withheld pending completion of any necessary rework by the contractor.

d. Where more than one lot of seed is furnished under a single schedule item in the contract as a whole, payments will be made on the basis of the test results on each individual lot of seed from each location making up the total quantity under such schedule item. Seed from individual lots not meeting the minimum requirements set forth in the Schedule will be subject to deductions or rejection, as hereinafter provided.

e. The decision to accept or reject seed is the responsibility of the Ordering Contracting Officer in accordance with the terms and conditions of this contract. Any disputes shall be referred to the Contracting Officer or Ombudsman.

THE BLM IS NOT OBLIGATED TO ACCEPT ANY SEED LOT THAT FALLS BELOW STATED TOLERANCE

POINTS IN THE ALLOWABLE TOLERANCE POINTS TABLE.

5.3 Rejected Seed

a. If seed delivered under the contract is rejected, and a replacement is requested, the contractor must promptly replace such seed before the end of the contract period of performance. The contractor shall also remove or cause to be removed the rejected seed within ten (10) calendar days. If the rejected lot is removed, reconditioned and resubmitted as the replacement lot, A NEW LOT NUMBER MUST BE ASSIGNED to that seed by the contractor. If this lot was certified the contractor shall have that lot re-certified by the appropriate state agency. All freight and drayage charges in connection with seed that is rejected shall be borne by the contractor.

b. If the rejected seed is not removed from the BLM facilities or other delivery points within ten

(10) calendar days from the date of receipt of notice rejection, the BLM may elect to terminate the contract for cause and charge the contractor storage costs and/or may arrange for the seed to be shipped to the contractor at their expense. If storage costs are charged, they will be based on commercial rates for the area involved and will be deducted from payments otherwise due the contractor, for each day exceeding 10 days until the seed is removed. The contractor may be given one opportunity to replace the rejected seed if time allows. If reconditioned or replacement seed delivered is also rejected the BLM may terminate the contract for cause. Re-procurement charges maybe assessed to the contractor if the seed is still needed, otherwise, actual damages may be assessed as determined by the Contracting Officer

6. RECORDS

6.1 As per the Federal Seed Act Sec. 3 (2009) found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/fsa, the contractor shall provide requisite information and appropriate documentation, i.e. lot numbers, receiving records , variety and origin, growers declaration, conditioning/blending records, sales and shipping disposition records, labeling records, file samples, record check list.

6.2 The seed lot and germplasm identity shall be maintained throughout all phases of the contract.

The seed lot identity and nomenclature shall not be lost, mixed, or contaminated with other seed from other sources such as from other Provisional or Empirical Seed Transfer Zones (https://www.fs.usda.gov/wwetac/threat-map/TRMSeedZoneMapper.php)

8. DEFINITIONS

https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/fsa https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/fsa https://www.fs.usda.gov/wwetac/threat-map/TRMSeedZoneMapper.php

Annual Brome is any ANNUAL BROME SPECIES OF SEED which has characteristics that are non-native, invasive and weedy which include the following varieties Bromus secalinus, Bromus tectorum, Bromus rubens, and Bromus japonicas, however the list may not be all inclusive

Association of Official Seed Analysts, Inc. (AOSA) – is an organization of official state, federal, and university seed laboratories in the United States and Canada with the purpose of establishing Rules for Testing Seeds, achieving standardization among analysts and laboratories.

(http://www.aosaseed.com).

Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) – Is an international organization that develops certification requirements and standards that accommodate plant germplasm (whether newly acquired accessions or named varieties) of native grasses, forbs, and woody plants. These certification procedures provide third-party verification of source, genetic identity, and genetic purity of wildland collected or field or nursery grown plant germplasm materials.

(http://www.aosca.org)

Container Production – Is a technique of sowing seed, germinating, and growing plants in cells or containers prior to transplanting into the field, usually in a controlled environment. The steps usually ensure increased levels of seed germination, plant growth and survival in the field.

Container production and transplant costs - is the vendor cost of container production in a greenhouse or shade house and the cost of transplanting the material to a field to meet the order.

This cost is separate from the field maintenance costs and is usually a one-time cost.

Contracting Officer (CO) - an individual with the authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings. The term includes certain authorized representatives of the contracting officer acting within the limits of their authority as delegated by the contracting officer.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) - an individual designated and authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer to perform specific technical or administrative functions.

F.O.B: (freight on board) destination

Generation 0 (G0): Seed from the original wildland collection site or a germplasm which has gone through genetic manipulation and is now defined as a new G0 manipulated germplasm.

Generation 1 (G1) – the first-generation seed produced after wild collection. G0 is wild collected seed; G1 is the seed produced from G0 plants, G2 is 2nd generation of seed, and so forth.

Generation 2 (G2): Fields planted from G1 seed or plants.

Generation 3 (G3): Harvested from fields planted with G2 plants or seed.

Germplasm Identification Term - an identifying term officially recognized by AOSCA that identifies a specified germplasm in accordance with AOSCA rules for "Nomenclature and Labelling for Plant Germplasm Types", (https://seedcert.oregonstate.edu/). For example, the following could serve as a Germplasm ID: FWS0800-55 or DUT020-11 http://www.aosaseed.com/ http://www.aosca.org/

Isolation Distance - for stands of source-identified germplasm, an isolation distance is used to prevent another genetic strain of the species or other cross-pollinating species from breeding with the target germplasm. All cross-pollinated and self-pollinated grass seed lots shall be separated by the isolation standards required by the applicable state.

International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) – is an international organization that develops unbiased and uniform seed testing methods and standards (https://www.seedtest.org/en/home.html). ISTA are accredited seed laboratories that meet uniform seed testing standards through the Accreditation, Proficiency Test and Auditing Programs.

(https://www.seedtest.org/en/memberlaboratories.html).

Large Lots – is a field of one acre or more in size of a single species and unique germplasm.

Minimum Seed Lot Standards – are the minimum standards for viability, purity, moisture, other crop seed, weed seed and Pure Live Seed (PLS) for each seed lot of a species.

Native Grass and Forb Seed Accession – Is a collection of seed that represents a species germplasm from a specific area within the project area and a unique seed collection with a single identity and nomenclature.

Noxious Weeds (Federal and State) - is a combined list of prohibited or restricted weeds that occur on any of the federal or state noxious weed lists, in accordance with the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) and the Plant Protection Act (Pub.L. 106–224) in 2000, the Federal Seed Act 7 USC 1551-1611, and the individual States’ Department of Agriculture seed laws and state prohibited and restricted noxious weed control and quarantine lists. Each State maintains official noxious weed lists for seed control and for quarantine of noxious weeds. The lists may be combined. The USDA Plants Database (https://plants.usda.gov/) provides federal and state noxious weed lists. However, the most current state noxious weed list is posted at the individual States’ Department of Agriculture web site.

OFFER: The FAR definition of offer is- An offer is a response to a Solicitation that, if accepted, would bind the offeror to perform the resultant contract. Responses from solicitations for requests for proposals are offers called proposals.

ORIGIN (Definition according to the Federal Seed Act): The State, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or possession of the United States, or the foreign country, or designated portion thereof, where the seed was grown (Federal Seed Act).

Production costs and Maintenance - are the costs of production and field maintenance to meet the pounds ordered which could be one year or multiple years.

Project Inspector (PI) – is a designated subject matter individual working directly with the Contracting Officer’s Representative. They have no authority to change the terms and conditions of the order or inspect/accept material.

Pre-Variety Germplasm (PVG) – is an AOSCA certification program for plant reproductive material development based upon verification of species and source to facilitate orderly procurement, production, and distribution of plant germplasm materials. Germplasm types include: (1) Source Identified Type (unevaluated germplasm identified only as to species and location of the wild https://www.seedtest.org/en/home.html https://www.seedtest.org/en/memberlaboratories.html growing parents); (2) Selected Type (germplasm showing promise of desirable traits, having been selected either within or as a common site comparison among accessions or populations of the same species); (3) Tested Type (germplasm for which progeny testing has proven desirable traits to be heritable); finally (4) Variety/Cultivar release if eligibility requirements are satisfied. AOSCA certification standards for PVG materials are available at: https://aosca.org/programs-services/pre-variety-germplasm/ NOTE: Since all seed lots under this contract are Source Identified germplasm they are thus unrestricted natural accessions.

Pure Live Seed (PLS) – is the percent by weight of viable seed in a seed lot determined after germination and/or Tetrazolium (TZ) tests and purity analysis at a certified lab. The following formula shall be used to calculate the PLS percentage:

(% Purity) x (% Germination (TZ)) = % PLS

Reconditioning - is to re-clean the existing Lot to meet BLM standards. When the vendor re-cleans the seed, the vendor is responsible for obtaining the new certified tags showing that the re-cleaning has occurred.

Seed Analysis Report – is an official seed quality report issued by the state certified seed-testing laboratory for a seed lot. The standard Purity, Germination, TZ report includes seed viability and seed purity, including an all states noxious weed exam. A Crop & Weed Report includes a list of all seed contaminants found in a bulk exam for the crop.

Seed Certifying Agency – is a state sanctioned service that develops standards and procedures for certifying crop seed in accordance with AOSCA guidelines. If a state certifying agency does not have a program for Pre-Variety Germplasm certification, seed grown under this contract shall meet AOSCA Pre-Variety Germplasm certification requirements and standards.

Seed Conditioning - is a process where cleaning and de-bearding seed by different methods to remove debris, straw material, weed and other undesirable seed and disease organisms (e.g. ergot, smut) and other contaminants.

Seed Quality Standards– are standards established for seed quality of each species that include 1) seed viability minimums, 2) inert matter maximums, 3) Pure Live Seed (PLS), (PLS) minimums, 4) other crop seed maximums, 5) weed seed maximums, 6) all-states noxious weed seeds, 7) prohibited and restricted weed seeds by individual states. Federal and State prohibited and restricted weed lists can be found at https://plants.usda.gov/.

Seed Viability – is the amount of live seed, including dormant seed as determined from a germination test or TZ test, whichever is greater. Either test result is acceptable.

Small Lots – is a field of less than one acre in size of a single species and unique germplasm, small lots could be 10 ft. in a row, a tenth acre plot, or 0.99 acres. These small lots are often used to make an initial G1 increase.

Source Identified (SI) Class – is the first step of the Pre-Variety Germplasm natural track.

Unevaluated germplasm identified only to species with the location of the wild growing parents.

Germplasm from a wildland stand with unrestricted representation of the intact wildland plant population on the original site. Genetic manipulation must be purposefully avoided when such accessions are increased in field or nursery production. NOTE: All seed lots under this contract shall be Source Identified Germplasm.

https://aosca.org/programs-services/pre-variety-germplasm/ https://aosca.org/programs-services/pre-variety-germplasm/

Transplant – is manually or mechanically planting container-grown plants in the field. It’s a technique used for certain crops to improve the likelihood of survival and the rate of growth during plant development or to shorten the period until seed production.

Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 – Instructions to Offerors – Commercial items.

Solicitation Point of Contact

The only authorized points of contact for this acquisition are the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist. Send questions and quotes to:

Ian Steinheimer Contracting Officer

(303) 236-6609 isteinheimer@blm.gov and

Kenneth Roch Contract Specialist

(520) 678-7371 kroch@blm.gov

Quote Requirements

Quoters are required to provide the following items as part of a complete quote. Quoters that submit an incomplete quotation package may be found unresponsive and may not be considered for further…