Attachment II - Baler Statement of Work (SOW) 2026 02 23.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW) Project: Forage Baler Wrapper & Round Bale Grabber

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Scope of Work: The UDSA-ARS is requesting bids for purchase of a new Forage Baler Wrapper and Round Bale Grabber. Itemized specifications for the purchase are below.

2.0 Background: The USDA-ARS uses this compactor/baler to preserve fresh chopped forages and other materials, or already fermented silages to preserve the silage for current and future dairy cattle feeding studies. The biggest challenge to conducting feeding studies using dairy cattle is forage/silage preservation. There are a variety of forages used for these studies including alfalfa, silage corn, Sudan grass, forage sorghum and cover crops including triticale, hairy vetch and rye among others. Processing forages to make silage is like making sauerkraut or pickles, where a fermentation process takes place and a safe product is produced. Lactating dairy cattle have high nutritional requirements and perform better on good silage/baleage. Traditionally silage was stored in air-tight upright silos but today it is more common to use large silage bags, bunkers, pits or piles, the last three requiring coverage with plastic sheeting/wrapping to capture nutrient quality and prevent spoilage by exposure to oxygen. Over the last 15 years new equipment and methods have been developed to preserve forages as baleage offering smaller, compact, well-preserved bales of silage. These smaller bales allow for long-term storage in a smaller space. During feed-out larger silage bags, bunkers, piles or pits require removing larger quantities of silage each day to maintain freshness and reduce spoilage. In studies where fewer numbers of dairy cattle are used excess silage is removed to feed them leaving large quantities of leftover silage that may go to waste. Fortunately, at the research farm non-study cows in the herd use this leftover silage so it is not wasted. However, when the amount of available forage is limited, due to fewer acres grown and harvested for example, having a daily excess shortens the length of the study due to less silage available at the start. Currently, the custom harvest company used by the research farm requires silage to be stored in large silo bags or bunkers. This is not ideal when smaller quantities of silage are required for a feeding study. Having a small baler wrapper addresses the need for smaller bale sizes when there are fewer dairy cattle are needed and the silage supply is limited.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks:

Having a baler wrapper capable of producing the smallest, most compacted, and well-preserved silage bales enhances the ability to conduct feeding studies with fewer numbers of dairy cattle or to repack silage already preserved in larger bunkers or silo bags.

Brand name or equal:

Baler-wrapper combination & Round bale grabber

Equipment must include:

Baler Hydraulic powered bale chamber Hydraulic drive multiple speeds variations Fixed chamber baler with endless belt minimizes material losses Belt tension must be adjustable to ensure a reliable bale start and good bale ejection Bales must be approximately 2ft by 2ft weighing no more than 200lbs Ability to create up to 90 bales/hour

Wrapper Hydraulically tilting wrapping table Twin wrapping arm Bale delivery ramp Film cutter Ability to apply 4-6 layers of plastic film and 4-12 layers of external plastic wrap

Round Bale Grabber Grab two2 small bales at a time

Universal skidsteer mount

4.0 Government Furnished: NA

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule: The baler wrapper combination, round bale grabber and plastic film will be delivered by the vendor and received the USDFRC Research Farm at Prairie du Sac, WI by August 1, 2026, or as negotiated.

Key Deliverables

Item No. Deliverable Objective Due 1 Production of baler wrapper combination and accessories

Baler wrapper combination will be manufactured according to specifications and fully functional for intended purposes.

Prior to shipping

2 Baler wrapper arrives at the USDFRC Research Farm

Bale wrapper combination is appropriately delivered and arrives without damage at the US Dairy Forage Research Center Farm, S8822 Sunset Dr, Prairie du Sac, WI 53578

August 1, 2026 or as negotiated

6.0 Travel: NA

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel:

8.0 Security Requirements: Vendor is required for on-site installation and training and provides the operations manual (paper version preferred)

9.0 Data Rights: Not applicable

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards: Not applicable