ATTACHMENT 2 SOW-Seedlings.docx

USDA Forest Service - Savannah River

SCOPE OF WORK

Scope of Work Seedlings

Bid Item 1: Nursery seedling bed space for growing spring-sown bare root longleaf pine seedling in linear feet. The Government shall furnish an estimated quantity for Bid Items1 and 2 to the Contractor approximately by March 15.

A. Quantity of nursery bed space

1. Linear feet of seedling bed space is defined as 4 feet by 1 foot.

2. Amount of linear feet that will be needed will be determined by February 1 from COR

a. Target: 48 seedlings per linear foot of spring grown longleaf seedlings per section D.3 seedling specifications “Recommended Seedbed Density.”

3. The maximum linear feet will not exceed 10,500.

4. Spring-Sown longleaf pine bare root seedlings

5. See Technical Specifications (after Item 2) for seed handling, nursery practices, seedlings specifications, and crop monitoring

B. Project Location Seedlings shall be grown within the Atlantic coastal plain within a 200-mile radius of New Ellenton, South Carolina.

C. Government Furnished Property The Government will furnish longleaf pine seed for sowing under this contract and will include the following information for each seed lot, which the Contractor may use to calculate seed needs. The government reserves the right to review the amount of seed requested.

The Contractor shall be responsible for germination testing (if desired), any needed seed treatments, seed storage, and sorting and tracking of all seed furnished by the Government.

A representative sample of each seed lot will be removed and stored prior to shipment by the Government. In the event of seed quality dispute, seed will be submitted to the National Tree Seed Laboratory in Macon, GA for retesting. The Contractor shall bear the cost of the test if the seed is within 10% of the stated germination.

The Contractor shall be liable for all loss or damage of such delivered Government-furnished property until the deliverables required under this contract have been received and accepted.

The Government will deliver the amount of seed estimated by the Contractor at a mutually agreed upon time and bear the cost of transportation. The Contractor shall, at its expense, promptly return to the Government seed storage facility any seed in excess to the needs for producing the required number of seedlings.

Bid Item 2: Nursery seedling bed space for growing 1-0 bare root loblolly pine seedling The Government shall furnish an estimated quantity for Bid Items1 and 2 to the Contractor approximately by March 15.

A. Quantity of nursery bed space

1. Linear feet of seedling bed space is defined as 4 feet by 1 foot.

2. Amount of linear feet that will be needed will be determined by February 1 from COR

a. Target: 92 loblolly pine seedlings per linear foot per section D.3 seedling specifications “Recommended Seedbed Density”

3. The maximum linear feet will not exceed 10,000.

4. See Technical Specifications for seed handling, nursery practices, seedlings specifications, and crop monitoring

B. Project Location Seedlings shall be grown within the Atlantic coastal plain within a 200-mile radius of New Ellenton, South Carolina.

C. Government Furnished Property No Government property will be furnished for loblolly seedlings bed space.

Bid Item 3: Nursery seedling bed space for growing 1-0 bare root other pine seedling The Government shall furnish an estimated quantity for Bid Items, 2, and 3 to the Contractor approximately by March 15.

D. Quantity of nursery bed space

5. Linear feet of seedling bed space is defined as 4 feet by 1 foot.

6. Amount of linear feet that will be needed will be determined by February 1 from COR

a. Target: 92 loblolly pine seedlings per linear foot per section D.3 seedling specifications “Recommended Seedbed Density”

7. The maximum linear feet will not exceed 10,000.

8. See Technical Specifications for seed handling, nursery practices, seedlings specifications, and crop monitoring

E. Project Location Seedlings shall be grown within the Atlantic coastal plain within a 200-mile radius of New Ellenton, South Carolina.

F. Government Furnished Property No Government property will be furnished for other seedlings bed space

G. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS for Bid Item 1, 2, & 3

1. Seed Handling and Storage

1. Seed Delivery: The Government will deliver the seed to the Contractor each option period at a mutually agreed upon date. The Contractor shall have the responsibility for maintaining the seed in a refrigerated facility at 33 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit until initiating stratification.

2. Seed Testing: The Contractor may retest seed at its own expense.

3. Stratification: The Contractor shall stratify the seed if required for maximum yield and performance.

4. Cleaning and Sizing of Seed: The Contractor shall NOT perform additional cleaning and sizing of seed unless approved by the CO/COR. All size fractions shall be sown, and seedlings from different size fractions shall be randomly mixed throughout the seed lot during packing and shipping.

5. Seed lot Identity: The Contractor shall have the responsibility to maintain the seed lot identity throughout the growing process. Seed lots shall not be mixed.

2. Nursery Practices

1. The Contractor shall inventory the Government-supplied seed and report inventory results to the CO/COR. The Contractor shall also notify the CO/COR of the sowing dates, sow seeds in a timely manner to allow enough time for the seedlings to grow to the desired size ranges at the time of delivery, and notify the CO/COR of any Government-supplied surplus seed remaining after sowing because of additional seed information, revised calculations, or any other reason. The Contractor shall re-dry any non-stratified seed if necessary and repackage it for delivery to the Government seed storage facility. If seed is not usable after stratification, the CO will instruct the Contractor as to its proper disposal.

2. Seedling Density: The Contractor shall thin seedlings to an acceptable level if densities greater than the specified maximum acceptable level exist.

3. Resowing: The Government shall furnish additional seed at no cost to the Contractor unless the loss of seed is due to the Contractor's negligence. The Contractor shall bear the cost of resowing.

4. Undercutting: The Contractor shall undercut the roots to a depth of 6 inches in early August, and to a depth of 8 inches in early October, or as needed to produce the specified root morphological characteristics.

3. Seedling Specifications

LOBLOLLY PINE (1-0)

Other Pine (1-0)

Range: 10-14 per square foot Target: 23 per square foot Range: 20-25 per square foot

Minimum: 6 inches Maximum:12 inches

Minimum: 6 inches Maximum: 9 inches Target: 8 inches Minimum: 6 inches Maximum: 9 inches

Minimum: 0.4 inches (10.2mm) Maximum: 0.8 inches (20.3mm) Target: 0.20 inches (5.1 mm) Minimum: 0.14 inches (3.5mm) Maximum: 0.25 inches (6.4mm)

-- Five first order lateral roots >1mm in diameter -- Numerous and fibrous second order lateral roots per first order laterals -- Mycorrhizae present to abundant Buds:

-- 90% or more of crop with winter buds Foliage:

-- Medium green Roots (Minimums):

-- Five first order lateral roots >1mm in diameter -- Numerous and fibrous second order lateral roots per first order laterals -- Mycorrhizae present to abundant Buds:

-- 75% or more of crop with winter buds Foliage:

-- Medium green

4. Crop Monitoring and Inventory Contractor shall monitor seed germination, crop condition, growth, and estimated production, and shall provide seedling inventories by July 1 and October 15. The October inventory shall provide the number of seedlings meeting the above specifications and the cull rate percentage. Alternate dates may be used if agreed upon by the Contractor and CO/COR.

The Contractor shall immediately notify the CO/COR of insect, disease, cultural, or climatological problems that may have effects on seedling quality or cause a 10% or greater decline in the amount of acceptable seedlings produced under this contract.

The Contractor shall provide reports for all activities conducted on seedlings, as well as estimated inventories of seedlings, throughout the growing season as requested by the Government.

Bid Item 4, 5, and 6: Lifting and Packaging The Government shall furnish an estimated quantity for Bid Items 4, 5 and 6 to the Contractor approximately by December 15. This date may change based on the start time of the planting contract.

A. Bid Item 4: Longleaf pine seedlings:

a. Spring Sown (1/2-0) longleaf pine bare root seedlings that have been grown in item 1 (nursery bed space longleaf pine seedlings).

b. Quantity of longleaf seedlings required will be stated in the seedling order

c. See specifications for seedlings, lifting, packaging and delivery.

B. Bid Item 5: Loblolly pine seedlings:

a. 1-0 loblolly pine bare root seedlings that have been grown in item 2 (nursery bed space loblolly pine seedlings)

b. Quantity of loblolly seedlings required will be stated in the seedling order

c. See specifications for seedlings, lifting, packaging and delivery.

C. Bid Item 6: Other Pine Seedlings:

a. Quantity of specific pine seedlings, for example shortleaf or slash pine, will be stated in the seedling order. No minimum quantity designated.

b. See specifications for seedlings, lifting, packaging and delivery.

D. Specifications

a. Lifting and Handling Lifting shall begin at the request of the COR, and the Contractor shall not "stockpile" seedlings in anticipation of ordering. The Contractor shall lift and grade seedlings, then put them into a cooler at 33-35 degrees Fahrenheit for a cool down period prior to shipment. Unless otherwise agreed to by the CO/COR, the Contractor shall ship longleaf pine seedlings within two days, and loblolly pine seedlings within five days of lifting. The Contractor shall perform all lifting and handling practices in a manner to minimize seedling damage, such as, tearing, stripping, or cutting root lengths below contract specifications, and to minimize desiccation of the roots. The Contractor shall cover immediately with wet burlap or other suitable moist material, the roots of lifted seedlings, and process them or place them immediately in temporary cold storage at 33-35 degrees F.

b. Packaging

1. Seedlings shall be packaged and shipped in multilayer Kraft-polyethylene bags.

2. Roots shall be moistened in the packing container prior to closure, and seedlings shall be packed with moist peat moss, gel, or other acceptable moisture holding material distributed throughout the container. Seedlings roots shall be moist, but with no free water in the container.

3. Each bag shall be clearly marked identifying seedlings for Savannah River, date lifted, species, and number per bag.

4. Bags of seedlings shall not exceed 50 lbs. There shall be a consistent number of seedlings in each bag and shall contain + 10% of the quantity specified on the bag.

5. Bags of seedlings shall not be thrown, kicked, crushed, or dropped during packing, storage, or delivery. The Government reserves the right to reject mishandled seedlings.

Bid Item 7: Shipping or Delivery

1. The Government shall furnish an estimated shipping schedule to the Contractor by December 15, and the Government and Contractor shall coordinate the actual seedling shipments, providing a minimum of five (5) days notice prior to shipment. The Government requests for delivery will average approximately 25,000-100,000 seedlings per load.

2. The Contractor shall load and deliver all seedlings in an enclosed truck or trailer, or truck or trailer enclosed on three sides and covered by a tarp.

3. The delivery address: USFS Savannah River 1 mile inside Aiken barricade, New Ellenton, SC 29809

4. Upon delivery, the Contractor shall provide a nursery shipping ticket to the Government, which shall contain the Contract Number, number of bags, number of seedlings per bag, and total number of seedlings shipped.

5. The Contractor shall notify the COR as to the arrival time of each seedling shipment to the delivery location.

6. The Contractor shall be responsible for all trees produced for the Government until the trees are delivered to, and accepted at, the agreed-upon Government sites.