21 Harvesting SOW - revised 2.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK: USDA-ARS Sustainable Water Management Research Unit Corn and Soybean Harvesting A. Introduction/Background Uncertainty in the amount and timing of precipitation is one of the most serious risks to crop production. Producers in the humid regions including the Mississippi Delta (MD) have become increasingly reliant on supplemental irrigation to ensure adequate yields. The majority of irrigated cropland in this region relies on groundwater supplies, mostly from the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer. Excessive withdrawal of groundwater has resulted in a decline in aquifer levels across the region. Ongoing depletion and stagnant recharging of the aquifer jeopardize the long-term availability of the aquifer and place irrigated agriculture in the region on an unsustainable path.

Scientists of the USDA-ARS Sustainable Water Management Research Unit (SWMRU) in Stoneville, MS conduct research projects to develop technologies improving water use efficiency to promote the sustainable use of water resources. Field experiments are necessary in their research. SWMRU personnel prepared, planted, and managed experimental soybean and corn crops, however support is needed to assist the scientists in achieving research goals. Support is needed to harvest the grain, deliver the crop to Farmers Grain in Greenville, Mississippi, and provide yield data by experimental plot unit.

SWMRU needs assistance in harvesting 90 acres of corn located at two farms, and 40 acres of soybean at one farm, and hauling the harvested grain to Farmers Grain in Greenville, MS. All crops were planted on 40-inch row spacing. Figure 1 shows the soybean plantings at Frankel farm. Figure 2 shows the corn and soybean planting at Cumbaa farm (approx. 33.441015, -90.889228).

Bidders are encouraged to visit the site and be escorted by a government representative to confirm locations, dimensions, and conditions of the contract before a bid is submitted. The site visit shall be for the purpose of observing firsthand any conditions relevant to the completion of this contract. No consideration will be given to claims based on lack of knowledge of existing conditions, except where contract documents make definite provisions for adjustment in cost or extension due to existing conditions not readily foreseeable.

Contractor must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting a bid. Registration can be obtained through: https://www.sam.gov/ This contract will be effective for the year 2021.

B. Objective The objective of this contract is to establish an agreement with a contractor to provide crop harvesting for soybean and corn to ARS in the fields shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1. Experimental soybean fields to be harvested marked in colors.

Figure 2. Fields to be harvested at Cumbaa farm, soybean in Field A, B, and C, corn in field D. Coordinates mark location of center pivot irrigation system.

C. Contractor Responsibility

· For each field, yield data needs to be collected using a grain yield monitor equipped on the combine. Yield data will be provided to ARS staff.

· Yield monitor should be calibrated using three loads for each crop. The calibration loads should be between 3,000 and 8,000 lbs.

· For corn the calibration should be performed using the corn plants on the northern side of Field D (Figure 1)

· For soybean the calibration should be performed using the soybean plants in the northern side of Field A (Figure 1).

· ARS staff should be kept informed regarding the harvesting plan so research equipment can be protected against possible damage.

· Contractor will not use ARS equipment and fuel to perform the work as listed above.

· Contractor will be responsible for any cost for the equipment used to perform the work as listed above.

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