Attachment 2 Specifications.pdf

Specifications Native Plants Seed Purchase FY2022

Purpose: The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is a unit of the USDA Forest Service located in Wilmington, Illinois, approximately 45 miles southwest of Chicago, Illinois. Midewin staff are restoring prairie on a large scale. This seed contract is for seed that will be broadcast during the dormant season. Seed dispersal will take place in January and February 2022. The seed is needed as early as possible but no later than mid-February, 2022, to achieve the desired planting dates and anticipated results.

S E E D SP E C I F I C A T I O NS

All seed materials shall conform to the following requirements:

1. Any seed received by the Forest Service (Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie) that does not meet these specifications will be rejected and returned at the Vendor's expense.

2. All seed shall be guaranteed by the Vendor to be true to species name and variety.

3. Seed must be of current 2021crop. Crop year 2020 seed will be acceptable with current and adequate PLS documentation and prior notification to Project Manager.

4. Seeds must be of appropriate provenance, wild origin and source must be from:

a. Central or northern Illinois (north and east of a line connecting Adams, Sangamon, and Edgar counties);

b. Northwestern quarter of Indiana (north and west of a line connecting St.

Joseph, Marion, and Vigo counties);

c. Southwestern Wisconsin (southeast of a line connecting between Milwaukee, Dane, and Green counties – Dane, Green, Kenosha, Jefferson, Racine, Rock Walworth or Waukesha counties.

d. The Forest Service will consider seed sourced slightly outside of this area on a case-by-case basis. Vendor must receive prior approval for seed source if outside of the above described seed provenance.

5. All seed shall meet the following PLS and quality requirements:

A. All species are being requested on a PLS basis. PLS shall be defined as (purity) x (total germination). Total germination is defined as (germination + hard seeds + dormant seeds). TZ can be substituted in lieu of germination if necessary. Vendors must indicate in their response if their seed is not available on a PLS basis. Copies of original seed tests from independent seed testing laboratories must be attached to the exterior of seed packaging when received by the Forest Service.

Preference will be given to PLS seed over "bulk" seed. Thus, the Forest Service highly encourages all Vendors to submit bids for PLS seed.

B. Any seed that is not available by Vendors as PLS must still be tested for purity. The pure weight must total the amount ordered, with additional seed being supplied to meet 100% purity by bulk weight (e.g.: 1.11 bulk pounds at 90% purity equals 1.00 pure pounds).

C. All "bearded" or "fluffy" species, such as Asclepias, Aster, Liatris, Symphyotrichum, Solidago etc. are requested on a de-fluffed/de-bearded basis. Vendor must indicate in their response if their seed is not available on a de-fluffed/de-bearded basis. Preference will be given to de-fluffed/de-bearded seed rather than bulk seed. Seed should be de-fluffed/de-bearded as to be flowable through a seed drill designed for planting native prairie seed.

D. All "hulled" species, such as Desmodium, Lespedeza, Dalea, etc. are requested on a de-hulled basis. Vendor must indicate in their response if their seed is not available on a de-hulled basis. Preference will be given to de-hulled seed rather than bulk seed.

E. Carex stricta and other species with seed that lose viability rapidly after ripening should have been stored at appropriate temperatures to maintain viability (approximately 40 degrees Farenheit) prior to delivery.

F. No substitution of species will be accepted except through prior written agreement by project manager.

6. Packaging for all species shall be clearly labeled on the outside of the bag with the following information:

7.

A. Scientific name of species;

B. PLS value, PLS weight, and bulk weight;

C. Pure weight and bulk weight if seed is not available as PLS;

D. Proper documentation of seed tests must be attached to the packaging for all species at time of seed delivery;

E. Year of seed production and date of seed tests.

8. All legume species shall have the appropriate inoculants supplied with seed, if possible.

9. All seed and accompanying seed test documentation as outlined above are requested as early as possible, but due no later than F e b r u a r y 14, 2022. Delivery of seed after February 14th, will only be allowed with prior approval by the project manager, Jennifer Durkin. There shall be no seed delivered to or received by the Forest Service on weekends or holidays without prior approval. Delivery of seed shall be arranged with Jennifer Durkin at 815/423-2144 or (815)-791-3145 or jennifer.durkin@usda.gov.

10. Potential providers may bid on all or a portion of the items, Breakdown costs by individual species, indicating price per pound or price per ounce

11. All deliveries of seeds shall be packaged and delivered to ensure the viability of the seed material upon delivery to the Forest Service. All seed shall be packed and covered in such manner as to insure adequate protection against leakage, damage, rodents and to maintain dormancy while in transit.

12. All delivery/shipping costs shall be integrated into the seed per oz. or lbs.

and the itemized cost. Separate shipping/delivery cost shall NOT be given.

13. Delivery/shipping of all seed, seed tests, and invoices shall be to the attention of the project manager at the following address.

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

30239 South State Route 53

Wilmington, IL 60481

ATTN: Jennifer Durkin