B08 Alfalfa Pellet Specs.doc

Solicitation: 140F0221Q0023

SPECIFICATIONS

PROJECT TITLE: ALFALFA PELLETS FY2021

BRACKGROUND: The National Elk Refuge (NER) (about 25,000 acres) was established in 1912 as protected winter range for elk. The Service has been feeding elk on the refuge, in the winter since that time. It happens every year, there have been 8 times in the last 100 years when we didn't have to feed but that is an anomaly. We feed pellets (as opposed to straight hay) because they store longer, up to 5-6 years with very little problem, and hold their nutrient value much longer than hay. The size and nutrient parameters are based on a study that was done approximately 25 years ago. The pellets are stored in 3 large, enclosed Quonset style buildings. We have approximately 8000 elk on us during the winter along with 300-500 bison. Each elk is fed approx. 8-10 lbs. per animal per day, bison 20 lbs. per day - these amounts are dependent on snow conditions and available forage. A feed season usually lasts around 60 days. We have some pellets left over in the storage areas, but you can see by the math that we usually feed out about 36-40 tons per day, about 2400 tons a year. We try not to keep the old pellets past the 5-year mark. Since we have old pellets, we don't need a full year’s purchase, just enough to "top off" our supply.

SCOPE OF WORK: The contractor shall supply Alfalfa Pellets per the requirements listed below in the Statement of Work (Scope of Work) specifications that meets the attached specifications, the North American Weed Free Forage Program, and Wyoming hay certification standards.

The pellets furnished under this invitation shall contain sun-cured alfalfa only from the 2021

Season (first or second cutting), with less than 10 percent non-injurious plant material and shall be of sufficient quality of Hay Quality Testing Standards, described herein.

Bentonite (used as a binder material) shall not exceed two (2) percent by weight. No other additives such as molasses, grains, or urea allowed.

Contractor warrants the hay in the pellets contains no residues of Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin, Heptachlor, Methoxychlor, Toxaphene, or any other agricultural chemicals restricted under food and drug regulations.

Hay purchased for pelleting for delivery under this contract cannot be sprayed with Dimethoate in the ten (10) days immediately preceding cutting of the hay crop.

LOCATION:

National Elk Refuge (Headquarters)

675 East Broadway Avenue

Jackson, WY 83001

Line item number 00010 – Alfalfa Pellets Quantity: approximately 1250 tons

SIZE AND SHAPE

FIVE-EIGHTHS INCH DIAMETER ALFALFA PELLETS. Pellets shall be 5/8‑inch diameter and shall be at least 1 1/4-inch minimum length. The pellets shall be manufactured using pressurized steam to ensure uniform moisture content, hardness, and length. An acceptable product under this invitation is determined by procedures in item #3 below.

Note: The government reserves the right to increase the quantity up to an additional 625 tons at the time of award or within 120 calendar days after receipt of Notice of Award at or below the unit bid price. Exercising this option is dependent on whether funding becomes available.

PELLET SAMPLING

At least eighty (80) percent of each load of alfalfa pellets delivered shall meet the minimum length specification, which will be determined by a minimum of two random samples from each load sampled. Samples will consist of a minimum of five (5) pounds of pellets per sample.

Payment made upon pellet sampling shall be as follows:

100% - 80%

- Accept load for 100% of load value

50% - 79%

- Accept load for 75% of load value

Less than 50%

- Accept load for 50% of load value

Note: Designated Government Inspector at the refuge has the right to reject loads that are less than 50%. In the event a load of pellets is rejected, the contractor will be responsible for the removal and disposal of the rejected pellets at the contractor's expense.

FINES SAMPLING

Pellet loads shall contain not more than three (3) percent fines by weight (capable of passing a 1/4-inch screen) after being delivered and unloaded. Fines samples will consist of 10 buckets (approximately ten (10) pounds each of pellets) taken from each load sampled and will be taken randomly as the load is dumped.

ALL LOADS may be sampled to assure that they meet contract specifications (length and percent of fines); however, which loads will actually be sampled is at the discretion of the Designated Government Inspector at the refuge.

For loads not passing the 3% fines sampling, the Designated Government Inspector at the refuge has the right to reduce the invoice amount in accordance with the following schedule:

3% or less - Accept load for 100% of load value

3% - 6%

- Accept load for 75% of load value

More than 6% - Accept load for 50% of load value

HAY QUALITY SAMPLING

The Refuge will randomly collect samples of pelleted hay for quality analyses from loads delivered to the Refuge storage facilities. Each sample will be mailed within one working day to Bar Diamond, Inc. in Parma, Idaho (a laboratory certified by the National Forage Testing Association) with a request for alfalfa hay industry analyses. The Refuge will evaluate the quality of the sampled load based upon the Price Factor provided by Bar Diamond, Inc. in their laboratory report. For further clarification on standards, call Bar Diamond Ind., at 208-722-6761. The Price Factor represents the feeding value of the hay, compared to the Refuge established hay quality standard, adjusted for moisture level. Copies of each report shall be mailed to the Refuge and to the contractor.

The Refuge will pay the full contract price for each sampled load that has a price factor of 0.95 or greater on a 100% dry matter basis. For each load having a price factor less than 0.95, the Refuge will pay the contractor based on the price factor of the load. For example, on a load with a price factor of 0.90, the Refuge will pay 90% of the contract specified price/ton for that load. Unsampled loads will be paid at the full contract price.

The Wyoming Regional Forage Certification Standards for Noxious Weed free Forage as set forth herein are a requirement of this contract; any feed that fails to meet these requirements will be rejected. CONTRACTORS NOTE: Weed Seed Viability test results as specified in Wyoming Standards must be provided before deliveries can begin under this contract. Questions concerning this certification may be addressed to TETON COUNTY Weed and Pest Coordinator, 307/733-8419 or www.tcweed.org.

DELIVERIES/PERFORMANCE

Time of Delivery

The Government requires that delivery of 1250 tons of alfalfa pellets between 7/1/2021 and 9/1/2021. The Contractor shall determine and furnish a delivery schedule to the Contracting Officer that details delivery dates and quantities to demonstrate a completion date of 9/1/2021. The schedule shall be submitted within 10 calendar days after receipt of the Notice of Award. The Contractor shall be required to adhere to the schedule unless the Contracting Officer grants a change in the schedule.

Place of Delivery

The items to be furnished hereunder shall be delivered F.O.B. Destination to:

National Elk Refuge

Feed storage sheds located approximately

Five miles northeast of Jackson, Wyoming.

Method of Delivery

Pellets are required to be adequately cooled prior to loading, which may require a mechanical cooling process. Delivery will occur in bulk loads in a conveyance to be covered in the event of inclement weather. The conveyance shall include rear discharge moving platform semi-trailers for compatibility with the Government-supplied conveyor (2004 Spudnik model 780 with Pup attachment on front (The 2002 Pup is a model 2200)). The contractor, by means of a government-supplied conveyor or similar stacking device will unload the pellets inside the storage shed. To maximize shed storage capacity, pellets must be offloaded onto a government supplied conveyor and stacked to an inside shed height of 22 feet. It is not possible to stack pellets to this height (22 feet) by using a forklift. The type of conveyance will have a discharge capability to allow unloading of pellets onto a conveyor or stacking device. Rear discharge conveyances have proven suitable for unloading onto a stacking device. Experience with belly dump conveyances has proven unsuccessful.

Weighing

Each load of pellets is required to be weighed on registered and inspected scales and a certified weight ticket furnished to the Refuge Manager for each delivery.

Notification of Delivery

The contractor shall provide the Assistant Refuge Manager, Cris Dippel (National Elk Refuge, Jackson, Wyoming, 307/201-5436 with minimum one-week advance notice of the first delivery. The contractor shall also contact the Assistant Manager if a lax time of two or more days occurs between deliveries.

Deliveries will be made between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No deliveries will be made on an official Government holiday. The designated Government Inspector may check each load of alfalfa pellets.

The Contractor shall be required to furnish the alfalfa pellets F.O.B. Destination to the National Elk Refuge storage sheds, Jackson, Wyoming.

Proposed Conveyance Type: rear discharge moving platform semi-trailers for compatibility with the Government-supplied conveyor The Government will award to the Contractor whose bid conforms to the requirements of the solicitation and Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA).