B08_Specifications.docx

SPECIFICATIONS

Supply of Native Seed Mixes Sheldon – Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex

1. General:

1.1. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex (PO Box 111, Lakeview, OR 97630; hereafter Complex) has a requirement for supply of five (5) customized native seed mixes.

1.2. Three of the native seed mixes will be used as part of integrated rehabilitation treatments in an area burned in a wildfire in 2019 on Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge (Poker Fire, eastern Lake County, Oregon), to bolster native plant species competition against invasive annual grasses. Two additional native seed mixes will be used as part of integrated rehabilitation treatments in an area burned in a wildfire in 2020 on Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge (Sheldon Fire [aka, S-4 Fire], northern Washoe County, Nevada), to reestablish native components in areas damaged during the fire response and to restore and bolster native plant species competition against invasive annual grasses in areas of extreme fire impacts.

2. Scope:

2.1. The contractor shall supply a sufficient quantity of the following native seed mixture to apply at 18 lbs. Pure Live Seed (# PLS) per acre to 939 acres:

PKF Juniper Mix:

(939 acres)

2.1.1. The PKF Juniper Mix is intended to be aerially broadcast to juniper woodland areas that burned with sufficient intensity to kill the majority of the juniper trees and significantly damage the understory vegetative components.

2.1.2. Intended target areas for this mix are between 5,250 – 6,275 feet ASL elevation; have a generally overall ESE aspect; have rocky/basaltic, variably silt loam/silty clay/fine sandy loam soils; and receive 12-16 inches of precipitation per year.

2.2. The contractor shall supply a sufficient quantity of the following native seed mixture to apply at 10 # PLS per acre to 2,925 acres:

PKF Broken Basalt Mix:

(2,925 acres)

2.2.1. The PKF Broken Basalt Mix is intended to be aerially broadcast to moderately to severely damaged low sagebrush and big sagebrush communities that had also been documented greater sage-grouse nesting, brood-rearing, and over-wintering areas prior to the fire.

2.2.2. Intended target areas for this mix are between 5,100 – 6,050 feet ASL elevation; have a generally overall ESE aspect; have rocky to very rocky/basaltic, variably silt loam/silty clay/fine sandy loam, and generally shallow soils; and receive 12-16 inches of precipitation per year.

2.3. The contractor shall supply a sufficient quantity of the following native seed mixture to apply at 13 # PLS per acre to 50 acres:

PKF Rock Creek Filler Mix:

(50 acres)

2.3.1. The PKF Rock Creek Filler Mix will be applied using ORUV-mounted broadcast seeders to a braided-channel floodplain with considerable historic disturbance (grazing, farming, repeated fires, water control, etc.), and is now largely disconnected from the creek. The target areas are important for mule deer, migratory birds, and numerous other wildlife species.

2.3.2. Intended application areas for this mix are between 4,900 – 5,080 feet ASL elevation; are generally flat but with a slightly E aspect; have fine sandy loam, slightly alkaline soils; and receive 10-14 inches of precipitation per year.

2.4. The contractor shall supply a sufficient quantity of the following native seed mixture to apply at 26 # PLS per acre to 4 acres:

SL4 Dozer Line Mix:

(4 acres)

2.4.1. The SL4 Dozer Line Mix will be applied using an ORUV-mounted broadcast seeder to a containment line created during the fire response through otherwise intact low sagebrush and big sagebrush habitats across a ridge crest.

2.4.2. Intended application area for this mix is between 6,800 – 6,920 feet ASL elevation; ranges from W to N to E aspect along the dozer line; has variably silt loam/silty clay/fine sandy loam, and generally deeper soils; and receives an estimated 14-18 inches of precipitation per year.

2.5. The contractor shall supply a sufficient quantity of the following native seed mixture to apply at 21.5 # PLS per acre to 42 acres:

SL4 West Toe Mix:

(42 acres)

2.5.1. The SL4 West Toe Mix will be applied using ORUV and/or tractor-mounted broadcast seeders to a severely burned, transitional steppe/toe slope area between a basaltic rim and a playa basin. The intended application area had been late seral Wyoming and basin big sagebrush vegetative habitats with reduced to limited understories prior to the fire.

2.5.2. Intended application area for this mix is between 5,535 – 5,685 feet ASL elevation; with a WNW to NNW aspect; soils range from silty loess to shallower silt loam/silty clay/fine sandy loam; and receives an estimated 8-12 inches per year.

2.6. The PKF Juniper and PKF Broken Basalt seed mixes (SOW Paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2) shall be supplied in individually labeled 1,000 lb. totes or similar, for bulk loading of aircraft hopper(s).

2.7. The PKF Rock Creek Filler, SL4 Dozer Line, and SL4 West Toe seed mixes (SOW Paragraphs 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5) shall be supplied in individually labeled 50-pound sacks (standard poly, cotton, or heavy paper), for field transport and hand-loading of ORUV seeder hopper(s).

2.8. Seed material shall meet the following requirements:

2.8.1. Native seed will be required to be “source identified.” The source(s) for native plant material for the PKF Juniper, PKF Broken Basalt, and PKF Rock Creek Filler mixes should be as close to Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge as possible, to include (but not necessarily limit to) geographic location, elevation, and climate conditions. The source(s) for native plant material for the SL4 Dozer Line and SL4 West Toe mixes should be as close to Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge as possible, to include (but not necessarily limit to) geographic location, elevation, and climatic conditions. Seeds must have their origin in this area, unless otherwise cleared through the Technical Coordinator(s). Per US Fish & Wildlife Service policy, unless sufficient justification can be provided to counter the policy at the Service’s discretion, all plant materials must be adapted to the conditions of the site and it is necessary to acquire seed that has the best chance of germinating to achieve rehabilitation goals.

2.8.2. Seed shall be certified “weed free”, indicating there are no noxious weeds in the seed.

2.8.3. Seed supply should be based on pure live seed (PLS) per pound, based upon purity and germination testing.

2.8.4. All species provided through this contract will be from the harvest year of 2021. All seed will be required to have been tested within 120 days of sale for purity, germination, and noxious weed content. Seed certification tag without testing documentation will not be accepted. Inert matter will not exceed 10%.

3. Deliverables:

3.1. Prior to delivery, contractor shall provide to the Technical POCs electronic copies of the results of purity, viability (germination and/or TZ test(s)), weed test (including all-states noxious weed analysis), and crop and weed test(s). Information is required for all seed lots.

4. Delivery:

4.1. Seed is to be delivered to Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge headquarters, 38782 Hart Mountain Road, Plush, OR 97637. Map coordinates are 42° 32.947’ N and 119° 39.292’ W (WGS84). Refuge headquarters is located at a junction on a long, rough, steep and winding gravel road. Access can be hard on equipment and vehicles. Contractor(s) are strongly encouraged to take adequate preparation and precautions when traveling to the Refuge headquarters.

4.1.1. Loading docks are not available.

4.2. Seed delivery is anticipated to be on or about November 1, 2021, but no later than November 30, 2021. Actual delivery date(s) for seed will be dependent upon local weather conditions and availability of Complex personnel; contractor shall coordinate actual delivery dates with the Technical Coordinator.

4.2.1. Seed shall be delivered between Monday thru Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (PST), except Federal Holidays.

4.2.2. Contractor shall contact the Technical POCs at least 48 hours prior to delivery to ensure Government staff and equipment will be available to receive and inspect delivery.

5. Evaluation and Acceptance:

5.1. Seed will be inspected and inventoried upon delivery by the Technical POC or their designee. Government acceptance is contingent upon the following:

5.1.1. Results of purity, viability (germination and/or TZ test(s)), weed test (including all-states noxious weed analysis), and crop and weed test(s);

5.1.2. All delivered bags being individually labeled with the contained mix (see paragraphs 2.6, 2.7, and 2.8.1 of Statement of Work);

5.1.3. Condition of delivered seed; and

5.1.4. Completeness of order.

6. Technical Coordinator:

6.1. Kevin Goldie, Wildlife (Habitat) Biologist, Sheldon-Hart Mountain NWR Complex, PO Box 111, Lakeview, OR 97630; 541-947-3315 x224; kevin_goldie@fws.gov