B08_-_RFQ_140L0124Q0021_Attachment_1_-_Specifications.pdf

SPECIFICATIONS

1.0 GENERAL:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Wild Horse and Burro Center at Palomino Valley Center (PVC) has a requirement for approximately 4500 tons of alfalfa hay, 2024 second cutting or 2024 equivalent. This acquisition will be used to procure quality alfalfa hay for the feeding of wild horses and burros under the care of the PVC.

Large and/or small bales will be required. 4300 tons of large bales maximum are required and 200 tons of small bales minimum will be required. The hay shall be at least 75% alfalfa with not more than 25% grasses (per bale), used for food for domestic animals, sun cured, cut, and stored for fodder. Hay shall be in between 12% and 18% crude protein levels. Hay shall also be stored in barn, and/or covered with hay tarps. Any hay stored outside uncovered must be free from any weather-related damage, no damaged small/large bales will be accepted. Delivery of the hay will be in 3 separate time frames.

Please see delivery schedule below.

2.0 ALFALFA SPECIFICATIONS:

a. Shall:

i. Be from 2024 2nd crop or 2024 equivalent crop.

ii. Be domestically grown.

iii. Be leafy, green, sun cured with no moisture, properly cured and stored and free of dust, mold, or heating. Hay must pass a visual inspection prior to being accepted.

iv. Must be food for domestic animals, cut, cured, and stored for fodder. With a crude protein level between 12% and 18%, with a relative feed value between 130 and 170.

v. Be barn stored or covered with hay tarps. Any hay stored outside uncovered must be free from any weather-related damage.

vi. Be free of any Russian Thistle or prickly herb, "Cheat" grass, and any other weed or grass not considered healthy forage for domestic animals.

vii. All hay shale be stacked in such a way that use of a “hay squeeze” is possible for moving squeeze blocks.

b. Shall not:

i. Contain more than 25% grasses (per bale); and,

ii. Have any bearded grain or any forage plant containing long awns (spikelet’s).

iii. Shall not contain any blister beetles.

3.0 BALE REQUIREMENTS:

SMALL BALES

a. Shall:

i. Be cut with crimper and baled with 3-strands of rat and rot-proof twine; and,

ii. Weigh no less than 100 pounds and not more than 140 pounds.

RFQ 140L0124Q0021

Attachment 1- Specifications Document

Alfalfa Hay Purchase Palomino Valley Center, Nevada - Wild Horse & Burro Program

b. Shall not:

i. Exceed 140 pounds per bale;

ii. Be less than 100 pounds per bale;

iii. Be baled in "round bales" (round bales will be rejected); and,

iv. Be ragged, have varying lengths, have wires or twine of unequal tension, or, be broken.

v. Consist of bales that are on top or bottom of stacks stored outside.

vi. Be rain damaged.

LARGE BALES

a. Shall:

i. Be cut with crimper and 6-8 strands of Rat and rot-proof twine; and,

ii. Weigh no less than 800 pounds and not more than 2000 pounds.

iii. 4’x4’x8’ or 3’x4’x8’ bales are acceptable.

b. Shall not:

i. Be baled in "round bales" (round bales will be rejected); and,

ii. Be ragged, have varying lengths, have wires or twine of unequal tension, or, be broken.

iii. Consist of bales that are on top or bottom of stacks stored outside.

iv. Be rain/weather damaged.

v. 3’x3’ bales will not be accepted.

4.0 CERTIFIED WEIGHT TICKETS:

Tonnage shall be established at the Contractor's facility prior to shipment and confirmed in writing.

a. Total weight (per ton) shipped by the Contractor will be confirmed by the Project Inspector (PI).

b. A State Certified Weight Ticket shall be provided to the PI. The PI will use the weight ticket number to identify each shipment of hay. Invoices shall include weight ticket numbers and tonnage for each ticket invoiced.

5.0 PLACE OF DELIVERY:

The hay shall be delivered, unloaded, and stacked by the contractor at the following location:

National Wild Horse and Burro Placement Center at Palomino Valley (PVC) 15780 State Route #445 Reno, Nevada 89510 Point of Contact: James Beck

RFQ 140L0124Q0021

Attachment 1- Specifications Document

6.0 DELIVERY SCHEDULE:

The 4500 tons shall be delivered using the following dates:

Delivery 1: To be delivered as soon as possible upon award or at the latest between August 15, 2024 - September 30, 2024

Quantity: The first 1500 tons of (large or small) bales

Delivery 2: To be delivered between December 1, 2024 - January 31, 2025 Quantity: The second 1500 tons of (large or small) bales

Delivery 3: To be delivered between April 1, 2025 and May 15, 2025 Quantity: The third 1500 ton of large bales shale be delivered between

The second 1500 tons of (large or small) bales

The Contracting Officers Representative reserves the ability to request specific bale size to be delivered to accommodate feeding needs and hay inventory at the facility should both small and large bales be offered or required. Contracting Officers Representative reserves the ability to request deliveries to be or not to be delivered based on hay inventory at the facility. The delivery of the minimum and maximum ton bales shall be coordinated between the contractor and the Contracting Officer Representative to be discussed and agreed upon prior to each delivery.

8.0 UNLOADING AT DESTINATION:

a. The Contractor shall be responsible for unloading and stacking the hay bales under the hay shed and in other designated areas at the PVC. An unloading plan (to include a description of equipment to be used for unloading), shall be included in the bid. The small bales shall be stacked no less than 8 tiers high and no more than 13 tiers high. Hay must stacked in squeeze blocks. The big bales shall be stacked to accept hay tarps generally 5 rows wide and 5 bales high with a 6th bale on the center row. All hay shall be stacked so that any movement of hay can be performed with a hay squeeze. All bales placed on the ground need to be on edge, to reduce hay loss. Three (3) workdays prior to shipping the alfalfa, the Contractor shall furnish to the PI the following:

1. Anticipated shipment date;

2. Anticipated total tonnage to be shipped; and

3. The name of the carrier responsible for the shipment.

b. Delivery shall be made between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., local time, Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and national holidays. Drivers must check in with the PI prior to starting to unload so that hay can be inspected and weight tickets can be turned in upon acceptance. All trucks must start unloading within ½ hour of arriving at the facility. All unloading activity must be completed by 4:00pm.

c. If an emergency occurs, deliveries may be requested for a Saturday, Sunday, or national holiday, providing the Contractor notifies the PI on the preceding Friday and/or within the preceding work day of the delivery date.

d. The Contractor shall provide certified weigh tickets to the PI upon hay delivery. The PI will use weigh tickets to verify the tonnage shipped prior to inspection and eventual

RFQ 140L0124Q0021

Attachment 1- Specifications Document acceptance or rejection of each shipment. The Contractor will be reimbursed for the actual quantity shipped.

e. All hay shall be transported using standard commercial practices for the shipment of hay and in vehicles compliant with Local, State and Federal regulations concerning the transport of hay.

Contracting Officer Representative (COR):

James (Jeb) Beck

Bureau of Land Management Palamino Valley Center Wild Horse & Burro Operations Manager

Contracting Points of Contact:

Contracting Officer:

David Slade Bureau of Land Management Headquarters Acquisition Branch, HQ-720 Email: dslade@blm.gov

Contract Specialist:

Melanie Stevens Bureau of Land Management Headquarters Acquisition Branch, HQ-720 Email: mastevens@blm.gov

RFQ 140L0124Q0021

Attachment 1- Specifications Document

Alfalfa Hay Purchase Palomino Valley Center, Nevada - Wild Horse & Burro Program mailto:dslade@blm.gov mailto:mastevens@blm.gov

SPECIFICATIONS