Attachment B Statement of Work.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Scope:

The contractor is to furnish all labor (including minimum of one English speaking supervisor per operating grading table), equipment, supervision, transportation, quality control and incidentals other than the items specified as Government-furnished, to provide services to lift, grade, and pack containerized seedlings at the J. W. Toumey Nursery. Performance period is estimated to be November 4 – December 20, 2024, but changes to this timeline could happen due to environmental factors.

Location:

The project is located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, in Watersmeet on the Ottawa National Forest. The specific location is JW Toumey Nursery, USDA Forest Service, E23985 Old US 2 East, Watersmeet, MI 49969. A visit of the project area can be scheduled by calling 1(906)358-4523.

The J. W. Toumey Nursery will be lifting and packing approximately 500,000-600,000 container seedlings as the weather permits. Weather conditions in Watersmeet during Fall Packing season can be below freezing in the morning to temperatures in the 50's and 60's in the afternoon. Wet cold conditions tend to be the norm for this time of season. The grading facility is not heated and has 3 grading tables that can occupy 12 workers per table. Normal work hours will be regular Government working hours of operation (7:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday), unless otherwise mutually agreed to by the contractor and the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Weekend work is usually not anticipated but may need to occur depending on weather conditions. During the seedling pack operation, there may be instances of late morning start-ups or early afternoon shutdowns due to unsuitable weather conditions.

Technical Requirements Crew supervisors shall be actively engaged in the supervision of their crew and ensure seedling quality, at all times while the crew is working with the seedlings. The Contractor or the Contractor's designated representative shall remain on the Nursery work site while seedling processing is in progress. Crew supervisors shall always remain with their designated crews.

The Government will deliver containerized seedlings to the loading area (tunnel). The Contractor shall distribute containerized seedlings in containers (styro-block and/or ellepot) to workstations. A minimum of one grading table will be used. If contractor or government requests to use more tables, that must be agreed upon by COR along with number of additional workers to efficiently operate the second table. 9 graders,1 boxer, 1 box builder, and 1 inspector/paper cutter is generally needed to run one table.

Container seedlings will be carefully pulled from the container (styro-block and/or ellepot) to maintain the root plug. Seedlings will not be abused in any manner, such as beating them against person or objects, ripping them apart, or handling the root systems during the separation process. Each seedling in a container will be graded to ensure that it meets acceptable standards. Any seedling not meeting standards will be discarded onto the floor or dumpster. Standards for each seedling lot will be provided when starting each seedling lot.

The Contractor shall empty remaining contents of container (styro-block and/or ellepot) into the dumpster and stack on pallets in the loading area. The containers will be separated by size and stacked 11 containers to a layer and 12 rows tall for a total of 132 emptied containers per pallet. As pallets are filled, the Government will remove from area and provide additional pallets for stacking. Container seedlings will be “jelly- rolled” in wax-lined paper or plastic and held together with a rubber band at each workstation, with 25 seedlings to a bundle, unless otherwise directed. Seedling counts of twenty-five are considered critical to the operation and are required to be inspected by Contractor. If Government inspections yield incorrect counts operations will cease and may result in deductions and/or reworking.

The Contractor will carefully count and package seedlings at the end of each sorting table. Specifications on the number of seedlings to be packaged in each box will be given to each belt supervisor (generally 300 – 12 “jelly-rolls” of 25). Packaging specifications will be subject to adjustment by the COR or table inspector at any time during the packing process.

Seedling “jelly-rolls” will be received at the end of each sorting table and carefully placed into boxes. The number of seedlings packaged must be accurately counted, tracked, and recorded for each seedling lot. Seedlings must be handled with care. Bundles of seedlings should be placed into boxes gently. Seedlings should not be dropped, thrown, or placed on the ground.

The Contractor must build the boxes using staples to secure the bottom flaps, then line the inside of the box with a polybag liner. Appropriately seal boxes after filling with correct number of seedlings. The liner must be tucked around the seedlings to prevent moisture loss, then the box must be stapled shut on top. A pre-printed sticker label must be affixed to the outside of each bag/box. (1 label on the small end of each box and 1 label on long end of a box per iron/pallet. Filled boxes must be carefully loaded onto pallets. Move irons and pallets for easy loading. Load pallets with appropriate amount of boxes, per COR instruction. Once pallet is filled, adjust the irons so pallets can be stacked and moved with forklift.

Handle boxes of seedlings with care. Do not drop or throw boxes onto the ground or pallet. Set them gently to maintain seedling viability. Keep different seedling lots separate when packing into boxes and when loading onto pallets.

Cull seedlings and soil shall be swept from the floor throughout the work shift to provide a safe working environment for all personnel in the packing shed. Material shall be swept and loaded into dumpsters provided or piled at the end of pathways. The Government will transport and empty dumpsters as needed throughout the shift. After packaging the last seedlings, a final clean-up will involve a thorough clean-up of the packaging shed, grading tables, and drains. Scrapers and water hoses should be utilized to clean the facility.

Inspections and Acceptance

Government inspections are for the purpose of satisfying the Government that the services are acceptable and do not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility for maintaining quality control. The Contracting

Officer's Representative (COR) or designated inspector will conduct all inspections. The Contractor (or designated representative) is encouraged to be present to observe inspections. Summary results will be made available on request.

The COR will notify the Contractor (or representative) of infractions as encountered. Infractions will be documented on the Lifting Inspection Form and used to determine damages.

Inspection of the sorted and graded seedlings will be done by COR or a designated Government inspector. Correct sorting, grading, and counting are critical to meeting contract requirements, a 0-10% sample will be taken from each seed lot. The root system, stem and foliage of the seedlings will be visually inspected for compliance with the nursery grading standards. Stem caliper and top height will also be measured for compliance with the grading standards for the product age and species. Seedlings that have defects will be counted and recorded by defect type. Seedling counts that are incorrect will be incorporated into acceptable seedling payment by number of seedlings over or under the designated count. The percentage of defective and acceptable seedlings sampled will be used to calculate the total number of defective and acceptable seedlings in the seed lot.

Defects include:

· seedling counts over or under the designated quantity

· seedlings too short or too tall (plus or minus 1/2 inch)

· caliper too small (plus or minus 0.25mm)

· missing or broken terminal bud

· forked or multiple stems

· discolored, diseased, or dead seedling

· number of seedlings in bundle not specified amount required

· maintain seedling/soil plug integrity Note: any of these defects may be deemed acceptable or changed by the COR on an individual seed lot basis.

Government-Furnished The Government shall provide the Contractor the following listed materials, supplies, property or services, for use in the performance of this contract, hereinafter referred to as Government-Furnished.

(1) Sorting Tables: The Government will furnish three (3) Sorting Tables for seedling processing. The tables can accommodate up to 9 graders.

(2) Rubber bands: The Government will supply the rubber bands for banding the bundles of seedlings.

(3) Wax-lined paper: The Government will provide the wax-lined paper required for wrapping container seedlings.

(4) Packing material: The Government will furnish seedling boxes.

(5) Cleaning Equipment: The Government will furnish push brooms and scrapers, shovels, pitchforks, broom, and hose needed to clean the packing shed.

(6) Measuring equipment: Government will furnish rulers and caliper gauges at each workstation on the grading table.

(7) The Government will deliver full containers of seedlings on pallets to the processing area.

(8) Equipment Maintenance: Except for contractor performed clean up, the Government will maintain and repair all Government–furnished property.

(9) Restroom facilities: The Government will provide restrooms for the contractor’s employees along with necessary equipment to clean the restroom facility.

(10) Dumpsters: The Government will provide at least one dumpster for the placement of cull seedlings and soil that is swept up from the packing shed by the Contractor. The Government will empty the dumpsters as needed.

(11) Storage pallets and iron stackers: The Government will furnish storage pallets with iron bars for stacking filled seedling bags to be stored in the tree cooler.