Questions_and_Answers_for_Lower_Ebbs_Seed.docx

Questions and Answers for Lower Ebbs Seed

RFQ AG-84M8-S-17-0001

Q1. With reference to the winter wheat will you accept tote bags 2000lbs or do you want 50lb bags or bulk delivery?

A1. 2000 lb bags will work for delivery of the winter wheat Q2. I have a question in regards to sampling the seed. Would it be more efficient if you had the Department of Ag or an AOSA certified sampler, in accordance with the methods prescribed in the journal of seed technology pull an official seed test and submit to your lab of choice? Will the FS Travel to each site to pull samples if the seed is coming from different locations/states?

A2. The following clarification has been added to the RFQ:

Weed free and viability seed testing must be completed before seed is shipped to the Great Basin Research Center in Ephraim UT. If Forest Service personnel are unavailable to pull samples, Contractors must use an independent third-party contractor who is responsible for pulling seed samples from seed lots and then sending the samples to the seed lab in accordance with standard chain-of-custody procedures following standards of Association of Official Seed Analysis (AOSA). Certificates of testing results must be provided to the Fishlake National Forest for review and approval prior to shipment.

Weed-free specifications – Seed tests should show that a particular seed lot does not contain seed of noxious weed species in any appreciable amounts. In addition, seed lots should not contain seed in any appreciable amount of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). For all other weed species, the combined total weight of seed from such species should not exceed 0.5% in a seed lot. In addition, the seed lot should contain no more than 2% by weight (total) of other types of non-weedy seed which includes seed from agronomic crops and native, non-weedy plant species other than those specified in the contracted seed mix.

Viability Seed testing – Seed used for project seeding must be analyzed by an independent third-party seed lab that follows standards of the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA). Representative seed samples of individual seed lots used for seed testing should be pulled after the purchase order or task order is received for a seeding project. If Forest Service personnel are unavailable to pull samples, Contractors must use an independent third-party contractor who is responsible for pulling seed samples from seed lots and then sending the samples to the seed lab in accordance with standard chain-of-custody procedures.