A04_Specifications_PKF_Native_Seed_Supply_2022.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Supply of Native Seed Mixes Sheldon – Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex

PR Number: _____________________

1. General:

1.1. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex (PO Box 111, Lakeview, OR 97630; hereafter Complex) has a requirement for supply of four (4) customized native seed mixes.

1.2. The native seed mixes will be used as part of integrated rehabilitation treatments in an area burned in a wildfire in 2019 on Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge (Poker Fire, eastern Lake County, Oregon), to bolster native plant species competition against invasive annual grasses and invasive forbs and to help restore native function to fire-damaged wildlife habitats.

2. Scope:

2.1. The contractor shall supply a sufficient quantity of the following native seed mixture to apply at 12 lbs. Pure Live Seed (# PLS) per acre to 1,950 acres:

PKF Morgan Filler Mix:

(1,950 acres)

2.1.1. The ‘PKF Morgan Filler’ mix is intended to be aerially broadcast to severely damaged later-seral big sagebrush and low sagebrush communities, that had been documented high-use greater sage-grouse nesting, brood-rearing, and over-wintering areas prior to the fire. This is a “filler” mix intended to be overseeded in an area that had been seeded a couple of years ago, success of which has been negatively influenced by severe to exceptional drought conditions occurring since those efforts.

2.1.2. The intended target area for this mix lies between 4,980 – 5,440 feet ASL elevation; has a generally overall ESE aspect; has rocky/basaltic, variably silt loam/silty clay/fine sandy loam soils; and receives 12-16 inches of precipitation per year on average.

2.2. The contractor shall supply a sufficient quantity of the following native seed mixture to apply at 11 lbs. PLS per acre to 900 acres:

PKF Poindexter Bench Mix:

(900 acres)

2.2.1. The ‘PKF Poindexter Bench’ mix is intended to be aerially broadcast to moderately to severely damaged later-seral low sagebrush and big sagebrush communities, that had also been documented greater sage-grouse nesting, brood-rearing, and over-wintering areas prior to the fire. Invasive annual grasses were present prior to the fire with generally low to very low frequency, though were present at greater frequency in neighboring areas.

2.2.2. The intended target area for this mix is between 4,990 – 5,070 feet ASL elevation. The intended target area is a low, rounded bench having a variably NW to NE aspect; has rocky to very rocky (basaltic), generally shallow to very shallow, silty clay/fine sandy loam soils; and receives 10-12 inches of precipitation per year on average.

2.3. The contractor shall supply a sufficient quantity of the following native seed mixture to apply at 14 lbs. PLS per acre to 500 acres:

PKF Black Rim Mix:

(500 acres)

2.3.1. The ‘PKF Black Rim’ mix is intended to be aerially broadcast to severely damaged big sagebrush and salt desert scrub communities that had been important mule deer cover habitats as well as prime areas for multiple sage-dependent species.

2.3.2. The intended application areas for this mix are between 4,900 – 4,960 feet ASL elevation, in depositional and lee areas around the Black Rim table, and transitional areas around multiple playas in the Black Rim area. The intended target areas are generally flat to shallow slopes with a slightly NE aspect; have fine sandy loam and silty loam, slightly alkaline to alkaline soils; and receive 8-12 inches of precipitation per year on average.

2.4. The contractor shall supply a sufficient quantity of the following native seed mixture to apply at 21 lbs. PLS per acre to 50 acres:

PKF Rock Creek Margin Mix:

(50 acres)

2.4.1. The ‘PKF Rock Creek Margin’ mix will be applied using ORUV-mounted broadcast seeders to degraded sites along ~8 miles of a braided-channel floodplain and associated transitional margins, all with considerable historic disturbance (grazing, farming, past water control/diversion, repeated fires, etc.) and all of which are now largely disconnected from the creek. The target areas are important for mule deer, migratory birds, and numerous other wildlife species.

2.4.2. The intended application areas for this mix are between 4,900 – 5,000 feet ASL elevation; are generally flat but with an overall slightly E aspect; have fine sandy and silty loam, slightly alkaline soils; and receive 10-14 inches of precipitation per year.

2.5. Seed mixes shall be supplied packaged as follows:

2.5.1. The ‘PKF Morgan Filler’, ‘PKF Poindexter Bench’, and ‘PKF Black Rim’ seed mixes (SOW Paragraphs 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3) shall be supplied in individually labeled 1,000 lb. totes or similar, for bulk loading of aircraft hopper(s).

2.5.2. The ‘PKF Rock Creek Margin’ seed mix (SOW Paragraph 2.4) shall be supplied in individually labeled 50-pound sacks (standard poly, cotton, or heavy paper), for field transport and hand-loading of ORUV seeder hopper(s).

2.6. Seed material shall meet the following requirements:

2.6.1. Native seed will be required to be “source identified.” The source for native plant material should be as close to Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge as possible, to include (but not necessarily limit to) geographic location, elevation, and climactic conditions. Seeds must have their origin in this area, unless otherwise cleared through the Technical Coordinator(s). Per US Fish & Wildlife Service policy (601 FW 3), unless sufficient justification can be provided to counter the policy at the Service’s discretion, all plant materials must be adapted to the conditions of the site and it is necessary to acquire seed that has the best chance of germinating to achieve rehabilitation goals.

2.6.2. Seed shall be certified “weed free”, indicating there are no noxious weeds in the seed.

2.6.3. Seed supply should be based on pure live seed (PLS) per pound, based upon purity and germination testing.

2.6.4. All species provided through this contract will be from the harvest year of 2022. All seed will be required to have been tested within 120 days of sale for purity, germination, and noxious weed content. Seed certification tag without testing documentation will not be accepted. Inert matter will not exceed 10%.

3. Deliverables:

3.1. Prior to delivery, contractor shall provide to the Technical POCs electronic copies of the results of purity, viability (germination and/or TZ test(s)), weed test (including all-states noxious weed analysis), and crop and weed test(s). Information is required for all seed lots.

4. Delivery:

4.1. Seed is to be delivered to Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge headquarters, 38782 Hart Mountain Road, Plush, OR 97637. Map coordinates are 42° 32.947’ N and 119° 39.292’ W (WGS84). Refuge headquarters is located at a junction on a long, rough, steep and winding gravel road. Access can be hard on equipment and vehicles. Contractor(s) are strongly encouraged to take adequate preparation and precautions when traveling to the Refuge headquarters.

4.1.1. Loading docks are not available. Seed shall be loaded to account for this unfortunate fact. This will also slow offloading, so the contractor and/or their delivery agent will need to accommodate within their schedule(s) the extra time needed to safely offload.

4.2. Seed delivery is anticipated to be on or about November 1, 2022, but no later than November 30, 2022. Actual delivery date(s) for seed will be dependent upon local weather conditions and availability of Complex personnel; contractor shall coordinate actual delivery dates with the Technical Coordinator.

4.2.1. Seed shall be delivered between Monday thru Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (PST), except Federal Holidays.

4.2.2. Contractor shall contact the Technical POCs at least 48 hours prior to delivery to ensure Government staff and equipment will be available to receive and inspect delivery.

5. Evaluation and Acceptance:

5.1. Seed will be inspected and inventoried upon delivery by the Technical POC or their designee. Government acceptance is contingent upon the following:

5.1.1. Results of purity, viability (germination and/or TZ test(s)), weed test (including all-states noxious weed analysis), and crop and weed test(s);

5.1.2. All delivered bags being individually labeled with the contained mix (see paragraphs 2.5.1, 2.5.2, 2.6.1, and 2.6.2 of Statement of Work);

5.1.3. Condition of delivered seed; and

5.1.4. Completeness of order.

6. Technical Point of Contact (POC):

6.1. Kevin Goldie, Wildlife (Habitat) Biologist, Sheldon-Hart Mountain NWR Complex, PO Box 111, Lakeview, OR 97630; Phone: 541-947-3315 x1002; Email: kevin_goldie@fws.gov