Attach 2 SOW_Seedling Plant Lifter 60in.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

Contents Project General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

2.0 Background

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

4.0 Government Furnished

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

6.0 Travel

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

8.0 Security Requirements

9.0 Data Rights

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards Attachment

Project Seedling 60” Lifter purchase for USFS National Nursery System.

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

This requirement is for the purchase and delivery of one (1) Plant Lifter, 60-inch model, to be installed and operated at the U.S. Forest Service J. W. Toumey Nursery facility.

The 60” Plant Lifter is a critical piece of field equipment used to lift bareroot seedlings from nursery beds during the harvest season. It enables efficient, high-quality lifting of seedlings with minimal root damage, ensuring the stock meets quality standards for reforestation programs.

This purchase is a replacement for the nursery’s existing lifter, which is failing due to mechanical wear and age. The current unit is no longer reliable and has experienced repeated breakdowns that threaten timely harvest operations.

Acquisition of the new lifter is necessary to maintain operational readiness and to meet biological timeframes for seedling lifting and packaging. The nursery must complete lifting operations within narrow seasonal windows to ensure seedlings are dormant, properly conditioned, and ready for shipment to reforestation projects across multiple regions.

2.0 Background

Forest Service nurseries produce millions of bareroot seedlings annually to support national reforestation and restoration efforts. Each nursery’s lifting season typically spans only a few weeks during winter or early spring when seedlings are dormant. Reliable, high-performing mechanical lifters are essential to completing harvest operations within these critical biological windows.

The Plant Lifter 60” has been identified as the standard lifting system across multiple Forest Service nursery facilities due to its durable construction, proven reliability, and compatibility with existing tractors and field configurations. Its use ensures consistent lifting depth, minimal root pruning, and uniform handling of bareroot seedlings.

Replacing the failing lifter with a new unit will restore the nursery’s ability to meet its production goals and prevent interruptions to the reforestation pipeline.

This procurement ensures operational continuity, cross-compatibility with nursery automation systems, and equipment.

Lifting of bareroot seedlings must occur during a short, biologically constrained window when seedlings are dormant and soil conditions permit harvest. Delays caused by equipment failure or replacement lead times would result in the loss of the lifting season, threatening seedling survival and directly impacting reforestation schedules.

This procurement ensures that lifting operations proceed on schedule, preserving seedling viability and supporting critical national reforestation and restoration objectives. The Plant Lifter 60” is the only model known to meet the nursery’s existing operational, biological, and equipment compatibility requirements.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

The Seedling Plant Lifter 60” shall meet or exceed the following specifications:

• Working width: 60 inches (1524 mm)

• Adjustable cutting depth and angle for variable soil types and species

• Vibrating or oscillating blade system for loosening soil and freeing roots

• Designed for use with a Category II, three-point tractor hitch

• Hydraulic lift and control system compatible with standard tractor hydraulics

• Heavy-duty steel frame construction for continuous commercial nursery use

• Replaceable wear parts (blades, bearings, bushings)

• Capable of lifting bareroot seedlings with minimal root damage

• Designed for efficient use by manual field crews during harvest operations

The vendor shall provide assembly and technical documentation sufficient for on-site installation by nursery maintenance staff.

Upon delivery and assembly, the unit will be inspected by designated nursery personnel to confirm compliance with specifications. Acceptance will be based on:

• Visual inspection for damage or defects

• Verification that all required components and accessories are present

• Successful attachment to a nursery tractor

• Functional test confirming lifting and hydraulic operation

4.0 Government Furnished

No government furnished items.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

The plant lifter shall be delivered FOB Destination to the designated Forest Service nursery:

J.W. Toumey Nursery

E23985 Old US2 E Watersmeet, MI 49969

Delivery shall include unloading, inspection, and verification of condition upon arrival. Delivery must occur no later than February 2, 2026 to ensure the lifter is assembled, tested, and operational before the start of the lifting season.

Key Deliverables Item No.

Deliverable / Item Title

Description Frequency Reference Delivery Format

Due By

1 Lifter Plant Lifter 60 with hydraulic drive (8.6

cu. in.

motor).

Once Attachments Ship to Toumey Nursery E23985 Old

US 2 E

Watersmeet, MI, 49969

February 5, 2025

2 Top Link Hydraulic Top Link Cat II (26" closed with hoses)

Once Attachments Ship to Toumey Nursery E23985 Old

US 2 E

Watersmeet, MI, 49969

February 5, 2025

2 Shipping

Freight to Toumey Nursery

Once Attachments Ship to Toumey Nursery E23985 Old

US 2 E

Watersmeet, MI, 49969

February 5, 2025

6.0 Travel

No travel for this project.

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

Sales representative and any staff involved in supply and delivery.

8.0 Security Requirements

No Security Requirements.

9.0 Data Rights

No data for this project.

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards No information or technology requirements.

Attachment