Attachment 2_Statement of Work_Alfalfa Harvesting.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW)

Project: Alfalfa Harvesting Services

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Scope of Work:

The USDA-Dairy Forage Research Farm at Prairie du Sac, WI is seeking quotes for alfalfa mowing, chopping, merging, bagging, and storage harvesting services for four separate cuttings annually of approximately 386 acres (or approximately 1,550 acres total) as well as two haylage bagging’s of approximately 500 feet each (or

1,000 feet total).

2.0 Background:

Alfalfa is grown at the farm for silage. The cutting, chopping and storing of the alfalfa is labor intensive and requires specific farm equipment. The vendor must have experience with previous alfalfa harvesting to ensure that the fields and crops are not damaged. The harvest timing will be dependent on weather. The quantity will be determined by the number of acres harvested. When forage is stored in 12ft ag bags, the quantity will be determined by the foot.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks:

Alfalfa harvesting services for 4 cuttings. Approximate acreage: 1st crop 386 acres, 2nd crop 386 acres, 3rd crop 386 acres, 4th crop 386 acres. These acreages may vary depending on winter survival of the crop and feed needs. Operations needed for each cutting include discbine mowing, merging of windrows, a self-propelled chopper, 3 forage trucks, packing tractor, and the personnel to operate each piece of equipment for crops that are stored in a forage bunker. For crops that are stored in a

12ft Ag bag all of the above items will be needed with the addition of a 12 ft self-propelled bagger. The approximate number of ft of forage bagged in a 12ft bag is around 1000Ft. The vendor must supply their own diesel fuel for their equipment. The price must be quoted based on the number of acres harvested which must be confirmed before an invoice is submitted. The quote must also contain the cost per foot of putting forage in a 12Ft diameter bag.

Current forage harvesting plan that is subject to change based on the farm’s needs.

• Need Item 1st cut: 1st crop alfalfa 386 acres. For 1st crop, forage will be stored in a forage bunker. Mowing, chopping, merging and one large packing tractor is needed. 3 forage trucks or wagons will be needed. Harvest to be performed one week after notification is received from the USDA indicating that field conditions are ready. Estimated date to cut is May 17th-May 25th.

• Need Item 2nd cut: 2nd crop alfalfa 386 acres (100 of which will be spring seeded alfalfa) will be stored in forage bunkers. Mowing, chopping, merging and one large packing tractor needed for two days. 3 forage trucks or wagons will be needed for two days. Harvest to be performed one week after notification is received from the USDA indicating that field conditions are ready. Estimated date to cut will be June 17th-25th.

• Need Item 3rd cut: 3rd crop alfalfa 386 acres will be stored in 12ft ag bag.

Mowing, chopping, merging and self-powered 12’ forage bagger. 3 forage trucks or wagons will be needed for two days. Harvest to be performed one week after notification is received from the USDA indicating that field conditions are ready.

Estimated date to cut will be July 17th-25th 2021.

• Need Item 4th cut: 4th crop 386 acres alfalfa will be stored in an ag bag. Mowing, chopping, merging and self-powered 12’ forage bagger will be needed. 3 forage trucks or wagons will be needed. Harvest to be performed one week after notification is received from the USDA indicating that field conditions are ready.

Estimated date to cut will be August 17th-25th.

4.0 Government Furnished:

The work will take place on 386 acres of USDA-ARS land within the Badger property in Prairie du Sac. The US Dairy Forage Farm will provide and install oxygen-limiting plastics used to line the concrete forage bunkers prior to feed storage and provide and install bunker covers. Farm will also provide silage bags for any crop that the farm decides to store in a 12ft bag.

5.0 Key Deliverables:

• Alfalfa mowing, chopping, merging, and storage harvesting services for up to

1,550 acres (with an approximate 1,550 acres spread across 4 harvests, but subject to increase/decrease).

• Haylage bagging of approximately 1,000 feet split between two of the four harvests or 500 feet each (the exact number of feet may be lower depending on the actual number acres harvested).

Current forage harvesting plan is subject to change based on the farm’s needs.

Delivery:

The specific schedule will be contingent on the weather and crop and field conditions. The quantity will be determined by the number of acres actually harvested. All loads of chopped alfalfa must be weighed on the farm weigh scale to determine the total amount of forage harvested. Weight recording sheets will be provided. Automatic digital weigh wagons can be used by the vendor to record weights.

Approximate Service Delivery Dates:

• May 17th-May 25th

• June 17th-25th

• July 17th-25th

• August 17th-25th

Please quote the base term and 4 optional years as follows:

• Base Year: 05/1/2026-04/30/2027

• Option Year 1: 05/1/2027-04/30/2028

• Option Year 2: 05/1/2028-04/30/2029

• Option Year 3: 05/1/2029-04/30/2030

• Option Year 4: 05/1/2030-04/30/2031

• Optional 6-month extension of services: 05/1/2031 – 11/30/2031

6.0 Travel:

Then vendor will need to travel to the USDA Dairy Forage Research Farm for the days it will take to harvest the alfalfa. The vendor must provide own diesel fuel to power their equipment.

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel:

The vendor’s personnel who perform the harvesting must have previous experience harvesting alfalfa and must be trained and certified to use the farm equipment.

8.0 Security Requirements:

The vendor does not require a security clearance to complete the work. The vendor must check in and out each day with USDA staff.