B08_Specifications.pdf

Specifications

1. INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE

1.1 The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a need for native plant materials for land management rehabilitation, restoration, and reclamation efforts. Common uses for native plant seed include wildfire stabilization and rehabilitation, habitat improvement projects, revegetation of roads, reclamation of construction sites, developments, and right of ways, mitigating erosion and sediment movement into streams, as well as the control and prevention of invasive plant species spread.

1.2 The objective of this contract is to commission seed production of source-identified seed. All seed delivered to the Government shall be source identified (SI) certified native seed under the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) Certification program for Pre-Variety Germplasm (PVG) according to the requirements herein. All seed shall be delivered to the BLM National Seed Warehouse system facilities located in Boise or Ely.

1.3 The contractor shall provide all required resources, including: the acreage, labor, supervision, equipment, tools, materials, applicable irrigation, supplies, facilities, fees, laboratory tests, seed certification, records, and transportation necessary to cultivate and produce cleaned and tested native seed that meets crop and seed contract quality and quantity standards from species listed. This includes contractor responsibility of all field application; seed crop certification; seed testing fees.

1.4 Under this contract, foundation seed (typically Generation Zero (G0)) will be furnished by BLM.

2. SEED GROW OUT

2.1 Payment Structure

• Field Establishment – Once a field has been inspected and accepted in accordance with state certifying standards, the contractor will be paid the amount awarded for the contractor’s offer for field establishment.

• Seed Production – The contractor shall be paid for seed delivered at the offered per pound price pending final acceptance of seed. Payment may be adjusted based on Pure Live Seed (PLS) per specifications in section 3.4.

• Additional Seed Production – The BLM has the right of first refusal on any additional seed produced. If the contractor produces seed over the contracted base delivery amount, that seed shall be offered to the BLM at the contractor’s awarded bid price. The Government’s decision to purchase the additional seed is optional and at the sole discretion of the Government based on need and available funds.

2.3 Partial Payments

a. The contractor shall not hold produced seed for an aggregate final delivery. The contractor shall deliver seed as it is produced. Seed that is produced to meet the base seed requirement may be produced over multiple growing seasons (For Example: The awarded seed requirement is for

1,000 pounds (lbs.); the contractor may provide 200 lbs. in year one, 300 lbs. in year two, and 500 lbs. in year three to meet the overall base requested amount).

b. Payments are dependent on inspection and acceptance.

2.4 Stock Seed

a. Stock seed to initiate the grow out process will be provided by the BLM.

b. Government Furnished Stock Seed – Clean, tested seed will be provided to the contractor after contract award. BLM provided seed will be issued an identifying lot number and identifying Seed Name for contractor and BLM tracking purposes. Government furnished stock seed is the property of the Government and any unused portion shall be returned to the Government.

2.5 Sowing and Field Management

a. All fields shall be enrolled in the state seed certification program for the state with jurisdiction over the field (where applicable) and meet Pre-Variety Germplasm certification requirements and standards in all applicable states. Prior to planting, it is the contractor’s responsibility to know the AOSCA and state Seed Certifying Agency standards for Pre-Variety Germplasm, including field history, limits on plant volunteers, crop isolation, and procedures for initiating and completing the seed certification process.

b. The contractor shall perform industry standard agronomic and other field cultivation practices necessary to ensure healthy crops and seed production yields to meet seed orders including, but not limited to, field cultivation, irrigation, sowing seeds, fertilizing fields, any necessary applications, or cultural methods to control and prevent weeds, pathogens, insects, rodents, and harvesting the crop at the proper time.

c. The contractor shall propose the amount of stock seed needed for sowing purposes by considering the seed lot viability percent, average seeds per pound, and purity to yield the amounts ordered by the Government.

d. Following the certification process, the contractor shall identify each field or portion of a field with a field marker using either the seed lot code from labels on initial seed lots delivered by the Government, assigned germplasm name, or a germplasm identification number referenced to the seed lot code.

e. The contractor shall manage seed increase fields in such conditions so that the species genetic purity is maintained in accordance with the isolation standards the isolation and land history requirements of the applicable certifying state agency with jurisdiction over the field following AOSCA standards.

f. The contractor is responsible for ensuring proper transplantation of container stock as applicable. If the contractor transplants container stock to the field, either manually or mechanically, it shall occur at the proper time to ensure optimal survival. Standard industry handling and storage practices shall apply to ensure transplant stock does not desiccate or mold before transplanting.

2.6 Seed Lot Isolation Standards

a. Isolation standards may be checked through field inspections. Fields used for seed propagation and grow out shall meet the isolation and land history requirements of the applicable certifying state agency with jurisdiction over the field following AOSCA standards. Isolation and land history requirements shall be met for all cross-pollinated, self-pollinated, and apomictic species.

The number of generations allowed of perennial grass species shall be no more than fourth generation (G4), removed from wild collected seed. The number of generations allowed for annual grass and forb species shall be no more than third generation (G3), removed from wild collected seed.

3. HARVESTED SEED QUALITY STANDARDS AND TESTING

3.1 Seed Quality Standards

a. The contractor is responsible for all costs (including equipment, labor, supplies, etc.) associated with seed crop harvesting, cleaning, debearding, and other necessary seed conditioning. The contractor shall ensure seed ordered under this contract is conditioned to meet standards for pure seed, other crop, inert and weed seed, and to include de-bearding of awns, if necessary. All seed ordered under this contract shall be cleaned so that no stems or debris longer than ¾ inch remain unless stated otherwise in these specifications. Awns removed from seeds shall be cleaned out of the seed.

b. All seed supplied must meet or exceed the following seed quality standards:

• Visual: All seed will be inspected for cleaning requirements.

• PLS: Seed supplied shall meet PLS requirements within the allowable tolerance.

• Weed seed for all seed types shall be less than 0.25%.

• Annual Brome limitation: Maximum amount allowed is 400 seeds per pound with no more than two seeds found in the sample.

• Amaranthus spp, found in the noxious weed test, or any other purity examination, requires the contractor to complete a DNA test to determine if the species is prohibited or restricted (Palmer’s amaranth).

c. Under the Federal Seed Act, all agricultural seed is subject for testing to comply with the standards of the USDA State Noxious – Weed Requirements and the Association of Official Seed Analysis (AOSA).

d. The Government will act in accordance with the noxious weed laws for each respective state where seed increase is undertaken.

e. All seed must qualify for acceptance by meeting all combinations of noxious weeds for all western states; otherwise, the entire lot of seed will be rejected at the Government’s discretion.

f. Seed lots are required to meet the standards for state noxious and prohibited weed seed requirements recognized in the administration of the Federal Seed Act - Rules and Regulations. Official Federal and State lists of noxious weed seeds may be accessed at:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/StateNoxiousWeedsSeedList.pdf

3.2 Seed Testing Standards

a. Immediately upon conditioning of harvested field grown seed, the contractor shall arrange for a seed test. Samples must be drawn by an (Association of American Seed Control Officers (AASCO) certified sampler, that is affiliated with a State or Crop Improvement Agency.

b. Samplers MUST USE the provided Seed Analysis Request Form to request seed lab tests. The contractor is responsible for ensuring use of this form and for the cost of the initial test.

Seed test analysis will include:

• Purity (inert, other crop, weed seed)

• Tetrazolium

• All States Noxious Weed Exam for Western States

• Species check for all non-native annual brome species.

• Germination (when applicable)

c. Copies of the seed analysis test results shall be sent to blm_id_seed_all@blm.gov and the contractor.

d. Seed species that are listed in the Federal Seed Act (FSA) are required to have a germination result listed on the Analysis tag for interstate shipment. For new harvest seed, the USDA has agreed to allow the germination test to be started prior to shipping and provided to the

BLM when complete via the same email address.

e. Once samples are pulled, the contractor shall initiate delivery appointment and arrange for shipping. The seed samples shall be sent to the Approved Seed Testing Facility within 48 hours of the sample being pulled.

f. The seed delivered under the contract shall be subject to such inspection and tests as may be determined by the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer Representative to be necessary to ascertain conformance with the specifications stated herein. Acceptance of, or the waiving of the inspection and tests of any seed will in no way relieve the contractor of the responsibility for furnishing seed meeting the requirements of the contract.

g. Seed testing shall comply with the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) procedures.

3.3 BLM Spot Check Sampling

a. The Government reserves the right to conduct spot check sampling and testing for any seed lot that is purchased. Each seed lot, or delivery, will be sampled and tested separately.

Seed sample(s) will be submitted to an approved seed testing facility per the Government’s choice. The Government is responsible for the laboratory fee on spot checks.

b. Samples will be drawn or overseen by certified samplers as prescribed by AASCO.

3.4 Seed Test Discrepancies and Tolerance

Table 1- Allowable Tolerance Points

ALLOWABLE TOLERANCE POINTS TABLE

PLS Offered (%)

Tolerance

Percentage points

Test variance percentage points allowed to determine if test is erroneous

80-100 7.00 15.00

60.00-79.99 6.00 13.00

40.00-59.99 5.00 11.00

20.00-39.99 4.00 9.00

0-19.99 3.00 7.00

a. If the tested Pure Live Seed (PLS) of the first test is less than the offered PLS and below the acceptable tolerance points in Table 1- Allowable Tolerance Points (and all other quantity standards have been met) the Government at its option may:

• Elect to reject the seed and require the contractor to recondition

• If seed does not meet contract specifications the seed may be rejected and the contract line item may be terminated for cause, or,

• Elect to purchase the seed at a price reduction without a second test. Payment at a reduced unit price shall be the full compensation due and payable to the contractor for seed accepted under this condition. Payment will be computed using the following formula, or, Reduced Unit Price = Tested % PLS X Offered Unit Price

Offered % PLS

• Elect to retest the purity and germination of the seed and an average of the two tests will be used to determine acceptance, price reduction, or rejection.

b. Erroneous tests: At the discretion of the Government, if the first two test(s) vary by more than the percentage points in Table 1, a third test may be requested by the vendor and approved by the CO. The Government will pull the sample, choose the lab, and ship sample for testing. The two tests with the closest results will be averaged for the purpose of final acceptance or rejection as well as for payment. The party requesting the third test is responsible for the costs of the test.

3.5 Approved Seed Testing Facilities

a. Approved Facilities include Official State Seed Laboratories in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Private seed testing laboratories are prohibited for use on this contract.

b. The Contractor shall use an unbiased third party testing facility, not associated with the contractor, for seed lot testing under this contract. The contractor shall not utilize any testing laboratory associated with the contractor, such as having a financial interest, controlling interest, or associated interests. Use of any laboratories associated to the contractor may pose an actual or potential conflict of interest.

3.6 Testing Standards

a. Each seed lot shall be purchased on the basis of a laboratory report of analysis on which the testing for purity, viability, and noxious weeds content was conducted in accordance with the most current version of the AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds, when such rules exist for that species.

4. PACKAGING, MARKING AND DELIVERY

4.1 Packaging and Marking

a. All seed shall be delivered in 50 pound bags except for:

• 20 or 25 pound bags: Blue Grama, Sideoats Grama, Galleta Grass,

• 10, 25, or 50 pound bags: all forbs

b. All seed bags shall be sound, clean, and made from standard poly or woven sacks of similar strength and characteristics. Burlap bags will not be accepted. Paper bags will only be accepted when containing proprietary varieties of seed that are required to be bagged in bags with special markings. ANY BAGS RECEIVED WHICH ARE NOT SOUND WILL BE REJECTED, AND MUST BE RE-BAGGED (to the exact pounds/bag specified above) BY THE CONTRACTOR, OR REPLACED.

Needle and Thread seed shall be double-bagged.

c. The weight of the actual bags shall not be included in the stated weight of the seed delivered.

d. The lot number for all seed shall be marked on the bag (stenciled or marked with indelible ink).

4.2 Analysis Tags

a. The label (the analysis tag) must be attached to each bag of seed and clearly visible when seed is stacked on a pallet. In addition, the SI seed shall have the required certifications tags attached. Incomplete analysis tags may be cause for rejection of seed.

b. Analysis Tag requirements for each contract line item is located in the specifications.

c. The cost of the bags, labeling, inspections, and certifications (if required) shall be included in the bidder’s price.

d. Analysis tags must contain the information and elements required by the governing state agency with jurisdiction over the production field.

4.3 Pallets

a. All seed, unless prior arrangements are made, must be shipped and delivered on pallets in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the contract. If the contractor chooses to ship seed not on pallets, the delivery personnel are required to unload the seed, stack on pallets and wrap. All supplies must be provided by contractor. Palletized seed must be delivered in a condition that can be safely unloaded with a forklift. Pallets that are not securely wrapped, tipped over, or excessively leaning or bulging may be rejected and returned to the contractor for repackaging. Seed will only be accepted on a pallet sized 48” X 40” unless prior approval has been made with the receiving warehouse. Seed bags cannot hang over the four sides of the pallet. If using a girdle of cardboard, the pallet must be shrink-wrapped prior to adding the girdle to allow for easy removal of cardboard to verify bag count. A slip-sheet (piece of cardboard the same size of the pallet) shall be placed on top of the pallet before seed bags are stacked on pallet. Seed bags damaged due to improper handling or improper protection from the elements will not be accepted or will be subject to other considerations as determined by the Contract Officer (CO). In the event the Government must restack the seed bags because it was delivered not meeting the specifications, the Government will charge the contractor the actual cost incurred by the Government in performing these services or require the contractor to remedy the issue.

b. Each pallet with seed needs to be clearly marked as to species, lot number(s) and number of pounds of each lot.

c. Where multiple species or lot numbers are included on a pallet, the distinction between lots and/or species must be clearly marked. A slip-sheet will be placed between lots and/or species to clearly separate mixed pallets.

d. If a pallet exceeds 54” in height, another pallet must be inserted before additional seed is stacked for shipping. A slip-sheet will be placed on top of the pallet before additional pallets are double stacked.

4.4 Bill of Lading Shipping Documents

a. To ensure that the correct lot number is being matched to the applicable contract line item number, the shipping paperwork MUST INCLUDE:

● Contract and Delivery Order number

● Contractor name

● Contract Line Item number associated with the seed ordered

● Contractor assigned lot number

● Species/Variety

● Quantity and Weight

● Warehouse delivered to

EXAMPLE:

Contract/Order Number: 140L0618C0000/140L0618PD0000 Vendor name: ABC Company Contract Line Item Number: 0020 Contractor assigned Lot Number: ABC123 Species name: Basalt milkvetch (Astragalus filipes) Eco-Region: Colorado Plateau Quantity: 50 pounds Warehouse delivery location: Boise Regional Seed Warehouse

4.5 Delivery Requirements

a. F.O.B. Delivery - All seed delivered as a result of this solicitation must be delivered to the Bureau of Land Management locations as specified in the contract. Seed shall not be unloaded without a Government official present. Offeror's price(s) must include the cost of these delivery requirements. In the event the Government must move the seed because it was delivered and unloaded in the wrong place, the Government will charge the contractor the actual cost incurred by the Government in performing these services. Seed bags damaged due to improper handling or improper protection from the elements will not be accepted.

b. The contractor will be required to make an appointment with the appropriate Government delivery personnel at least two (2) working days prior to delivery to arrange for unloading at the destination. If the seed does not arrive on the scheduled delivery date and the contractor is not communicating with the warehouses about the delay, the contractor may be required to reschedule two (2) working days prior to making a new delivery appointment. Deliveries shall be made between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday excluding Federal holidays, unless prior approval has been made with the receiving warehouse. The DELIVERIES WILL BE SCHEDULED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS TO EACH Government Delivery location.

c. When scheduling deliveries with the Warehouses, the contractor must coordinate (physically speak) with the warehouse staff. The Government reserves the right to refuse deliveries that are not scheduled in advance. Consideration to Government for late deliveries will be exercised.

5. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

5.1 Inspection

a. The state Seed Certifying Agency shall inspect all fields to certify acceptance of proper field management at contractor expense.

b. The contractor may apply for re-inspection on a field that failed to meet the minimum standards. The contractor shall apply and have the cause for rejection corrected before the deadline specified on the inspection report by the Seed Certifying Agency. There will be only one re-inspection per field. The contractor shall pay any Seed Certifying Agency fees for re-inspections.

c. The Government reserves the right to conduct site inspections of fields prior to and during production.

d. The Government reserves the right to conduct spot check samples and laboratory testing of all seed received under this contract.

e. Field Condition Updates

Deliverable Due Date Provide to

Progress Update (yield, condition, problems, actions to address problems)

Every Six Months after Field Establishment

Contracting Officer and COR

Four Photos Per Field Every Six Months after Field Establishment

Contracting Officer and COR

5.2 Acceptance and Payment

a. Acceptance of work will be determined by the contractor's compliance with terms, specifications, and performance standards including those provided by the State Seed Certifying agency.

b. Final acceptance will be deemed to occur only after the COR has received a copy of all the following at the specified delivery location:

• Seed Analysis Request Form

• Favorable seed test and visual inspection

• Physical seed of the same favorable seed test lot

• Germination results for Federal Seed Act covered species.

c. Final acceptance of all seed to be delivered under this contract shall be the responsibility of the Contracting Officer. Quality of the deliverables is subject to verification by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) with final payment to be withheld pending completion of any necessary rework by the contractor.

d. Where more than one lot of seed is furnished under a single schedule item in the contract as a whole, payments will be made on the basis of the test results on each individual lot of seed from each location making up the total quantity under such schedule item. Seed from individual lots not meeting the minimum requirements set forth in the Schedule will be subject to deductions or rejection, as hereinafter provided.

e. The decision to accept or reject seed is the responsibility of the Ordering Contracting Officer in accordance with the terms and conditions of this contract. Any disputes shall be referred to the Contracting Officer or Ombudsman.

THE BLM IS NOT OBLIGATED TO ACCEPT ANY SEED LOT THAT FALLS BELOW STATED TOLERANCE

POINTS IN THE ALLOWABLE TOLERANCE POINTS TABLE.

5.3 Rejected Seed

a. If seed delivered under the contract is rejected, and a replacement is requested, the contractor must promptly replace such seed within ten (10) calendar days. The contractor shall also remove or cause to be removed the rejected seed within ten (10) calendar days. If the rejected lot is removed, reconditioned and resubmitted as the replacement lot, A NEW LOT NUMBER MUST BE ASSIGNED to that seed by the contractor. If this lot was certified the contractor shall have that lot re-certified by the appropriate state agency. All freight and drayage charges in connection with seed that is rejected shall be borne by the contractor.

b. If the rejected seed is not removed from the BLM facilities or other delivery points within ten

(10) calendar days from the date of receipt of notice rejection, the BLM may elect to terminate the contract for cause and charge the contractor storage costs and/or may arrange for the seed to be shipped to the contractor at their expense. If storage costs are charged, they will be based on commercial rates for the area involved and will be deducted from payments otherwise due the contractor, for each day exceeding 10 days until the seed is removed. The contractor may be given one opportunity to replace the rejected seed if time allows. If reconditioned or replacement seed delivered is also rejected the BLM may terminate the contract for cause. Re-procurement charges maybe assessed to the contractor if the seed is still needed, otherwise, actual damages may be assessed as determined by the Contracting Officer

6. RECORDS

6.1 As per the Federal Seed Act Sec. 3 (2009) found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/fsa, the contractor shall provide requisite information and appropriate documentation, i.e. lot numbers, receiving records , variety and origin, growers declaration, conditioning/blending records, sales and shipping disposition records, labeling records, file samples, record check list.

6.2 The seed lot and germplasm identity shall be maintained throughout all phases of the contract.

The seed lot identity and nomenclature shall not be lost, mixed, or contaminated with other seed from other sources such as from other Provisional or Empirical Seed Transfer Zones (https://www.fs.usda.gov/wwetac/threat-map/TRMSeedZoneMapper.php)

8. DEFINITIONS

Association of Official Seed Analysts, Inc. (AOSA) – is an organization of official state, federal, and university seed laboratories in the United States and Canada with the purpose of establishing Rules for Testing Seeds, achieving standardization among analysts and laboratories.

(http://www.aosaseed.com).

Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) – Is an international organization that develops certification requirements and standards that accommodate plant germplasm (whether newly acquired accessions or named varieties) of native grasses, forbs, and woody plants. These certification procedures provide third-party verification of source, genetic identity, and genetic purity of wildland collected or field or nursery grown plant germplasm materials.

(http://www.aosca.org)

Container Production – Is a technique of sowing seed, germinating, and growing plants in cells or containers prior to transplanting into the field, usually in a controlled environment. The steps usually ensure increased levels of seed germination, plant growth and survival in the field.

Container production and transplant costs - is the vendor cost of container production in a greenhouse or shade house and the cost of transplanting the material to a field to meet the order.

This cost is separate from the field maintenance costs and is usually a one-time cost.

Contracting Officer (CO) - an individual with the authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings. The term includes certain authorized representatives of the contracting officer acting within the limits of their authority as https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/fsa https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/fsa https://www.fs.usda.gov/wwetac/threat-map/TRMSeedZoneMapper.php http://www.aosaseed.com/ http://www.aosca.org/ delegated by the contracting officer.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) - an individual designated and authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer to perform specific technical or administrative functions.

Generation 1 (G1) – the first-generation seed produced after wild collection. G0 is wild collected seed; G1 is the seed produced from G0 plants, G2 is 2nd generation of seed, and so forth.

Germplasm Identification Term - an identifying term officially recognized by AOSCA that identifies a specified germplasm in accordance with AOSCA rules for "Nomenclature and Labelling for Plant Germplasm Types", (https://seedcert.oregonstate.edu/). For example, the following could serve as a Germplasm ID: ELEL5_2017_BLM_ORV_NBR. This Germplasm ID would provide species name (by code), year of harvest, ordering office, and source location (NBR – Northern Basin and Range Ecoregion).

Isolation Distance - for stands of source-identified germplasm, an isolation distance is used to prevent another genetic strain of the species or other cross-pollinating species from breeding with the target germplasm. All cross-pollinated and self-pollinated grass seed lots shall be separated by the isolation standards required by the applicable state.

International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) – is an international organization that develops unbiased and uniform seed testing methods and standards (https://www.seedtest.org/en/home.html). ISTA are accredited seed laboratories that meet uniform seed testing standards through the Accreditation, Proficiency Test and Auditing Programs.

(https://www.seedtest.org/en/memberlaboratories.html).

Large Lots – is a field of one acre or more in size of a single species and unique germplasm.

Minimum Seed Lot Standards – are the minimum standards for viability, purity, moisture, other crop seed, weed seed and Pure Live Seed (PLS) for each seed lot of a species.

Native Grass and Forb Seed Accession – Is a collection of seed that represents a species germplasm from a specific area within the project area and a unique seed collection with a single identity and nomenclature.

Noxious Weeds (Federal and State) - is a combined list of prohibited or restricted weeds that occur on any of the federal or state noxious weed lists, in accordance with the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) and the Plant Protection Act (Pub.L. 106–224) in 2000, the Federal Seed Act 7 USC 1551-1611, and the individual States’ Department of Agriculture seed laws and state prohibited and restricted noxious weed control and quarantine lists. Each State maintains official noxious weed lists for seed control and for quarantine of noxious weeds. The lists may be combined. The USDA Plants Database (https://plants.usda.gov/) provides federal and state noxious weed lists. However, the most current state noxious weed list is posted at the individual States’ Department of Agriculture web site.

Production costs and Maintenance - are the costs of production and field maintenance to meet the pounds ordered which could be one year or multiple years.

Project Inspector (PI) – is a designated subject matter individual working directly with the

Contracting Officer’s Representative. They have no authority to change the terms and conditions of the order or inspect/accept material.

https://www.seedtest.org/en/home.html https://www.seedtest.org/en/memberlaboratories.html

Pre-Variety Germplasm (PVG) – is an AOSCA certification program for plant reproductive material development based upon verification of species and source to facilitate orderly procurement, production, and distribution of plant germplasm materials. Germplasm types include: (1) Source Identified Type (unevaluated germplasm identified only as to species and location of the wild growing parents); (2) Selected Type (germplasm showing promise of desirable traits, having been selected either within or as a common site comparison among accessions or populations of the same species); (3) Tested Type (germplasm for which progeny testing has proven desirable traits to be heritable); finally (4) Variety/Cultivar release if eligibility requirements are satisfied. AOSCA certification standards for PVG materials are available at: https://aosca.org/programs-services/pre-variety-germplasm/ NOTE: Since all seed lots under this contract are Source Identified germplasm they are thus unrestricted natural accessions.

Pure Live Seed (PLS) – is the percent by weight of viable seed in a seed lot determined after germination and/or Tetrazolium (TZ) tests and purity analysis at a certified lab. The following formula shall be used to calculate the PLS percentage:

(% Purity) x (% Germination (TZ)) = % PLS

Reconditioning - is to re-clean the existing Lot to meet BLM standards. When the vendor re-cleans the seed, the vendor is responsible for obtaining the new certified tags showing that the re-cleaning has occurred.

Seed Analysis Report – is an official seed quality report issued by the state certified seed-testing laboratory for a seed lot. The standard Purity, Germination, TZ report includes seed viability and seed purity, including an all states noxious weed exam. A Crop & Weed Report includes a list of all seed contaminants found in a bulk exam for the crop.

Seed Certifying Agency – is a state sanctioned service that develops standards and procedures for certifying crop seed in accordance with AOSCA guidelines. If a state certifying agency does not have a program for Pre-Variety Germplasm certification, seed grown under this contract shall meet AOSCA Pre-Variety Germplasm certification requirements and standards.

Seed Conditioning - is a process where cleaning and de-bearding seed by different methods to remove debris, straw material, weed and other undesirable seed and disease organisms (e.g. ergot, smut) and other contaminants.

Seed Quality Standards– are standards established for seed quality of each species that include 1) seed viability minimums, 2) inert matter maximums, 3) Pure Live Seed (PLS), (PLS) minimums, 4) other crop seed maximums, 5) weed seed maximums, 6) all-states noxious weed seeds, 7) prohibited and restricted weed seeds by individual states. Federal and State prohibited and restricted weed lists can be found at https://plants.usda.gov/.

Seed Viability – is the amount of live seed, including dormant seed as determined from a germination test or TZ test, whichever is greater. Either test result is acceptable.

Small Lots – is a field of less than one acre in size of a single species and unique germplasm, small lots could be 10 ft. in a row, a tenth acre plot, or 0.99 acres. These small lots are often used to make an initial G1 increase.

Source Identified (SI) Class – is the first step of the Pre-Variety Germplasm natural track.

Unevaluated germplasm identified only to species with the location of the wild growing parents.

https://aosca.org/programs-services/pre-variety-germplasm/ https://aosca.org/programs-services/pre-variety-germplasm/

Germplasm from a wildland stand with unrestricted representation of the intact wildland plant population on the original site. Genetic manipulation must be purposefully avoided when such accessions are increased in field or nursery production. NOTE: All seed lots under this contract shall be Source Identified Germplasm.

Transplant – is manually or mechanically planting container-grown plants in the field. It’s a technique used for certain crops to improve the likelihood of survival and the rate of growth during plant development or to shorten the period until seed production.

SEED ANALYSIS REQUEST FORM

This Attachment must be completed by the Contractor and Certified Sampler to provide Seed Testing

Information to a seed laboratory as described in the Inspection and Acceptance Section of the Solicitation.

Contractor must send this Seed Analysis request form with every seed delivery to the BLM receiving warehouse after samples are taken. (With split lots, seed samples will be sent to each receiving warehouse.)

Contract Line Item

Kind of Species

Common Name

Variety or Germplasm ID. / Gen.

Eco-Region & Seed Zone

G0 County, State, Elev, Precip

Seed Vendor Name

Vendor Lot Number

Samplers Affiliated Agency

Name of Sampler, Print

Signature of Sampler & Date

Lab sample will be sent to

Lot Information

Certification Class Yes No Tests Requested

Total Pounds Certified ☐ ☐ Purity ☒

Number of Bags

Selected ☐ ☐ TZ ☒

Bag Size

Source Identified ☐ ☐ Noxious

(All Western States)

Number of Bags

Sampled

Non-Certified

☐ ☐ Species Check

(Annual non-Native

Bromes)

Date Sampled

Seed Treated? ☐ ☐ Rush ☐

Date Sample

Sent to Lab

If treated please list type Results sent to vendor & BLM

Remarks:

Vendor email address:

Contractor: The seed sampling and testing costs shall be borne by the contractor.

I hereby authorize the seed lab to release the test result to the government upon completion of the test.

Signature__________________________________ Date_________

Seed Lab: All test results will be sent to the seed vendor email address listed above and the BLM at the following address: blm_id_seed_all@blm.gov

Seed Tags attached to this form prior to sampler filling out paperwork ☐ Yes ☐ No

Office/Organization Purchasing Seed Pounds Delivered Bill To:

Boise Regional Seed Warehouse

1962 Commerce Ave

Boise, ID 83705

Phone: 208-384-3277 (Brittany Brosnan)

CONTRACTOR

Ely Regional Seed Warehouse

1111 Medlyn Way

Ely, NV 89301

Phone: 775-296-2204 (Cody Coombs)

CONTRACTOR

mailto:blm_id_seed_all@blm.gov