C04-Attachment 2 Elm Seed Orchards-SOW-19Aug26.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

American Elm Seed Orchards, Resistance Trials, and Synthesis

19 August 2026

Contents Project General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

2.0 Background

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

4.0 Government Furnished

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

6.0 Travel

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

8.0 Security Requirements

9.0 Data Rights

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards Attachment ............................................................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Project American elm seed orchards, resistance trials, and synthesis

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

The goal of this work is to accomplish several milestones towards four disease-resistant American elm seed orchards in coordination with the USFS and partners, including the Chippewa National Forest in northern Minnesota, University of Illinois in Illinois, Columbus Metroparks in central Ohio, and The Nature Conservancy in Vermont. The contractor will monitor resistance trials, plan and implement seed orchard plantings and seed orchard conversions, summarize information and coordinate among partners, and analyze and publish supporting research that forms the foundational science for the seed orchards.

There are three phases of the project: A base period contract for work in September 2026 to September 2027, followed by Option 1 for work in October 2027 to September 2028, then Option 2 for work in October 2028 to September 2029.

The base period and options are each divided into two milestones; one for publications and one for resistance trial monitoring and seed orchard establishment.

2.0 Background

The American elm breeding and restoration program is working towards 11 seed orchards for four different regions that will produce elm trees with resistance to Dutch elm disease for restoration and reforestation. The process is to locate large survivor American elm trees, propagate them and test them for disease resistance, and then establish seed orchards of trees with disease resistance that will interbreed and produce seeds for restoration. NRS science supporting the breeding program improves identification of disease resistance, determines adaptation of trees so they’re planted in appropriate places, improves understanding of stressors of elms in plantings, and tests restoration strategies with DED-resistant elms.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

BASE PERIOD CONTRACT

MILESTONE 1 (September 21,2026 to 20 September 2027)

1. Lead one elm manuscript. Contractor shall complete analysis and write one of the following four manuscripts for a peer reviewed publication in a scientific journal. The contractor must become familiar with the experimental design of the study and use appropriate statistical analysis to test hypotheses and answer questions. The contractor must write a compelling manuscript that shows a mastery of background information and cites appropriate literature, clearly explain the experiment and results, create informative figures, draw inferences and conclusions supported by the study results, and make a compelling case for the importance of the study. Contractor shall revise manuscript with suggestions from Forest Service co-authors Knight or Wilson, as well as suggestions from two friendly reviewers. This task will be considered complete when the revised manuscript, of satisfactory quality to submit to a scientific journal, is submitted to the Forest Service for policy approval. After policy approval is received, the paper may be submitted to the scientific journal by contractor.

• American elm cold tolerance at Chippewa National Forest - Analyze previously collected information from American elm plantings at the Chippewa National Forest to understand relationship between Dutch elm disease resistance and environmental constraints. The contractor will utilize general linear mixed effects models or other appropriate models as needed.

• Riparian restoration with DED-tolerant American elm - Analyze previously collected information from multi-species restoration plantings containing Dutch elm disease resistant American elm. The manuscript will cover comparisons of survival and performance between species and across sites.

• Elm phytoplasma in an American elm planting: Survey and testing results - Elm phytoplasmas have historically represented a common group of disease for American elm. The contractor will lead a manuscript focused on elm phytoplasmas and their implications for the USDA Forest Service American elm breeding program. This manuscript will rely on synthesizing observations from 2016-2025.

• Using spectral imagery to identify cryptic pathogens using NIR data - Previous efforts have collected near infrared spectral, genetic, and performance information on American elms in the USDA FS American elm breeding program. A contractor will utilize this information to analyze the impacts of phytoplasmas on American elm trees highlighting the chemical and physiological shifts in American elm impacted by phytoplasmas.

2. Assist with, review, and make suggestions for three of the following co-authored elm papers in FY27. These manuscripts will be led by USFS personnel and university collaborators. Contractor must become familiar with the experimental design of the study and show a mastery of the subject of the manuscript and background information.

Contractor will assist with the manuscript by writing up to three paragraphs of the manuscript and creating up to two tables or figures as assigned by the leader of the manuscript. Contractor will review drafts of the manuscript and make suggestions.

• Genetic diversity of American elm - American elm is a unique species (or suite thereof) consisting of several different ploidy levels (diploids, tetraploids, and others). The contractor will assist NRS and partners with the analysis, interpretation and summary of American elm ploidy patterns across the United States. The contractor will ensure that the peer-reviewed manuscript encompasses a discussion on the implications of elm ploidy on the USDA FS American elm breeding program.

• Heritability of resistance to Dutch elm disease in American elm – This manuscript will describe a study in which clones and progeny from large surviving American elms, as well as resistant and susceptible controls, were planted in multiple plantings. Trees were injected with the fungus that causes Dutch elm disease, and dieback was rated for two years. Generalized heritability based on similarity within clones and families across sites was calculated. Many of the large surviving elms exhibited resistance similar to that of commercially available resistant controls.

• Ash floodplain restoration with DED-tolerant American elm - Floodplain systems in the Midwest have been heavily impacted by the invasive emerald ash borer and other pests and pathogens. The contractor will assist federal scientists and partners in synthesizing the survival and performance of DED-resistant American elms and other material in restoration plantings across Ohio.

• Foliar metabolite responses of American elm to Dutch elm disease - Plant metabolites are critical to plant homeostasis and may represent early signatures of plant stress in rapid assays. The contractor will assist federal scientists and partners in synthesizing plant metabolite-based profiling in response to inoculation with Dutch elm disease.

• Urban trials of new DED-resistant American elm cultivars - Urban forests are disproportionately impacted by forest pests and pathogens. The contractor will assist with summarizing previously collected information on the survival and performance of American elm cultivars planted across urban systems in the Midwest and east coast.

MILESTONE 2 (September 21,2026 to 20 September 2027)

3. Lead planning and coordination for Chippewa National Forest elm seed orchard.

• Contractor shall monitor American elms in Chippewa National Forest plantings, to include survival, growth measurements, disease symptoms, and genotype ID. The contractor must conduct measurements using the exact same protocols that have been previously used by USFS NRS staff so that results are comparable across years within the planting and across different plantings. Contractor must identify stressors, pests, or pathogens affecting elms in the experimental planting. Summarize information and share with all stakeholders.

• The contractor must become familiar with the partners on the project and their goals. Contractor shall convene and facilitate a meeting with all stakeholders (USFS NRS, NFS, and UMN) to understand goals and capacity. The contractor must coordinate with agency and university partners and become familiar with their goals and roles in the project. Contractor shall provide summaries and progress updates to partners.

• Contractor shall design an elm seed orchard planting that meets goals and capacity and maximizes genetic diversity and adaptive capacity of future seeds. Revise per feedback from USFS stakeholders.

• Contractor shall coordinate with stakeholders to plan propagation of trees and timeline for planting and share the completed timeline with all stakeholders.

4. Elm resistance trial ratings in June 2027 “Ratings must be completed by June 2027”

• Ohio – Contractor shall work together with two Forest Service employees to rate the percent of canopy affected by Dutch elm disease, overall health, sprouting, and other symptoms of each of 4,600 tagged trees in resistance trial plantings at Rocky Fork and Glacier Ridge metro parks in central Ohio. The contractor shall work with USFS staff to ensure calibration and quality control of ratings among staff. Protocols must match the exact protocols used previously to rate elms in this USFS DED resistance screening trial.

• Vermont – Contractor shall work together with USFS, UVM, and TNC employees to rate the percent of canopy affected by Dutch elm disease, overall health, sprouting, and other symptoms of each of 5,000 tagged trees in resistance trial plantings at the Benson and Lemington VT plantings. Provide training and quality control as needed to ensure protocols match the exact protocols used previously in USFS DED resistance screening trials and all staff are calibrated.

5. Support and coordination for University of Illinois seed orchard project

• Contractor shall become familiar with UIL partners and their goals and capacity for the project. Contractor shall visit the UIL propagation and planting sites to provide knowledge and troubleshoot any issues. Contractor shall advise and assist UIL staff to design seed orchards that maximize genetic diversity and adaptive capacity of future seeds. Contractor shall coordinate and/or provide training and information as needed for scion collection, grafting, and propagation of elms. Contractor shall plan propagation and transfer of survivor elms, as well as resistant and susceptible controls, from USFS facility to UIL.

OPTIONAL LINE ITEM

MILESTONE 3 (September 21,2027 to 20 September 2028)

1. Lead one elm manuscript. Contractor shall complete analysis and write one of the following four manuscripts for a peer reviewed publication in a scientific journal. The contractor must become familiar with the experimental design of the study and use appropriate statistical analysis to test hypotheses and answer questions. The contractor must write a compelling manuscript that shows a mastery of background information and cites appropriate literature, clearly explain the experiment and results, create informative figures, draw inferences and conclusions supported by the study results, and make a compelling case for the importance of the study. Revise manuscript with suggestions from Forest Service co-authors Knight or Wilson, as well as suggestions from two friendly reviewers. Submit to Forest Service for ethics approval.

• American elm cold tolerance at Chippewa National Forest

• Riparian restoration with DED-tolerant American elm

• Elm phytoplasma in an American elm planting: Survey and testing results

• Using spectral imagery to identify cryptic pathogens using NIR data

2. Assist with, review, and make suggestions for two of the following co-authored elm papers in FY28. These manuscripts will be science supporting the American elm breeding program in subjects including disease resistance trials, genetics, and restoration. Manuscripts will be led by USFS personnel and university collaborators. Contractor must become familiar with the experimental design of the study and show a mastery of the subject of the manuscript and background information. Contractor will assist with the manuscript by writing two or three paragraphs of the manuscript and creating one or two tables or figures as assigned by the leader of the manuscript. Contractor will review drafts of the manuscript and make suggestions.

• Genetic diversity of American elm

• Heritability of resistance to Dutch elm disease in American elm

• Ash floodplain restoration with DED-tolerant American elm

• Foliar metabolite responses of American elm to Dutch elm disease

• Urban trials of new DED-resistant American elm cultivars

MILESTONE 4 (September 21,2027 to 20 September 2028)

3. Lead coordination for Chippewa National Forest elm seed orchard.

• Contractor shall monitor American elms in Chippewa National Forest plantings, to include survival, growth measurements, disease symptoms, and genotype ID. The contractor must conduct measurements using the exact same protocols that have been previously used by USFS NRS staff so that results are comparable across years within the planting and across different plantings. Contractor must identify stressors, pests, or pathogens affecting elms in the experimental planting. Summarize information and share with all stakeholders.

• Contractor shall convene meeting with all stakeholders (USFS NRS, NFS, and UMN) to update on progress

• Contractor shall coordinate with Chippewa National Forest staff to plan tree removals, planting, and maintenance. Mark trees for removal.

• Contractor shall coordinate and assist with tree planting at Chippewa National Forest.

4. Elm resistance trial ratings in June 2028 “Ratings must be completed by June 2028”

• Ohio – Contractor shall create spreadsheets for monitoring elms at the plantings. Contractor shall work together with one Forest Service employee to rate the percent of canopy affected by Dutch elm disease, overall health, sprouting, and other symptoms of each of 2000 tagged trees in resistance trial plantings at Rocky Fork and Glacier Ridge metro parks in central Ohio. Contractor shall work together to ensure calibration and quality control of ratings among staff. Protocols must match the exact protocols used previously to rate elms in this USFS DED resistance screening trial. Enter monitoring information and share with USFS.

• Vermont – Contractor shall work together with USFS, UVM, and TNC employees to rate the percent of canopy affected by Dutch elm disease, overall health, sprouting, and other symptoms of each of 5,000 tagged trees in resistance trial plantings at the Benson and Lemington VT plantings. Contractor shall provide training and quality control as needed to ensure protocols match the exact protocols used previously in USFS DED resistance screening trials and all staff are calibrated.

5. Support and coordination for University of Illinois seed orchard project

• Contractor shall coordinate and/or provide training and information as needed for scion collection, grafting, and propagation of elms. One site visit in either 2027 or 2028 is expected. Contractor shall coordinate propagation and transfer of survivor elms, as well as resistant and susceptible controls, from USFS facility to UIL.

6. Conversion of Rocky and Benson seed orchards. Resistance trials at Rocky Fork in Central Ohio and Benson in Vermont will be converted to seed orchards by removing trees with low levels of resistance and retaining trees with moderate to high resistance.

• Contractor shall provide input on the plan for conversion, flag trees, and assist with conversion of Rocky Fork seed orchard in fall 2027. Contractor will work with metro parks and Forest Service staff to cut and remove trees.

• Contractor shall provide input on Benson conversion plan in late summer 2028, after the final monitoring data has been collected.

OPTIONAL LINE ITEM

MILESTONES 5 & 6 – (September 21,2028 to 20 September 2029)

1. Lead one elm manuscript. Contractor shall complete data analysis and write a manuscript identified as high priority for the elm breeding program. Manuscript will likely be one of the following four manuscripts, contingent on progress and outcomes from the Original Contract and Option 1. Revise with suggestions from Forest Service co-authors Knight or Wilson, as well as suggestions from two friendly reviewers. Submit to Forest Service for ethics approval. Proposed deadline September 2029

• American elm cold tolerance at Chippewa National Forest

• Riparian restoration with DED-tolerant American elm

• Elm phytoplasma in an American elm planting: Survey and testing results

• Using spectral imagery to identify cryptic pathogens using NIR data

2. Assist with, review, and make suggestions for two co-authored elm papers in FY29. These manuscripts will be science supporting the American elm breeding program in subjects including disease resistance trials, genetics, and restoration.

Manuscripts will be led by USFS personnel and university collaborators. Contractor must become familiar with the experimental design of the study and show a mastery of the subject of the manuscript and background information.

Contractor will assist with the manuscript by writing two or three paragraphs of the manuscript and creating one or two tables or figures as assigned by the leader of the manuscript. Contractor will review drafts of the manuscript and make suggestions.

• Comparison of elm tree resistance to different strains of Dutch elm disease fungus – Four strains of Dutch elm disease were isolated from trees in central Ohio and used to inoculate four selections of American elm planted in two randomized blocks in each of two sites. Analysis will determine whether resistance to DED differs for different strains of DED.

• Dutch elm disease resistance in New England survivor elms – This manuscript will be based on the information from the resistance trials of clones and progeny of New England survivor elms at two sites in Ohio and two sites in Vermont. Analysis of dieback of elms after injection with Dutch elm disease will allow identification of elms with moderate to high resistance to Dutch elm disease and calculation of heritability of resistance.

MILESTONE 6

3. Lead coordination for Chippewa National Forest elm seed orchard.

• Contractor shall monitor American elms in Chippewa National Forest plantings, to include survival, growth measurements, disease symptoms, and genotype ID. Measurement protocols must be the exact same as those previously used. Plant pathology expertise to identify elm pathogens is required to identify causes of stress or mortality. Summarize information and share with all stakeholders.

• Convene meeting with all stakeholders (USFS NRS, NFS, and UMN) to update on progress

• Coordinate and assist with tree planting at Chippewa National Forest.

4. Elm resistance trial monitoring and conversion

• Ohio – Contractor shall create spreadsheets for monitoring elms at the plantings. Contractor shall work together with one Forest Service employee to monitor converted seed orchards at Rocky Fork metro park in central Ohio.

Contractor shall work together to ensure calibration and quality control of ratings among staff. Protocols must match the exact protocols used previously to rate elms in this USFS DED resistance screening trial. Enter monitoring information and share with USFS.

5. Support and coordination for UIL seed orchard project

• Contractor shall coordinate and/or provide training and information as needed for scion collection, grafting, and propagation of elms. Coordinate propagation and transfer of survivor elms, as well as resistant and susceptible controls, from USFS facility to UIL.

4.0 Government Furnished

Government and partners will provide access to the areas of the resistance trials and seed orchard plantings.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

Phase 1 (Base period, Milestones 1 and 2) of project is to be completed by September 30, 2027.

Phase 2 (Option Year One, Milestones 3 and 4) of project is to be completed by September 30, 2028.

Phase 3 (option 2, milestone 5 and 6) is to be completed by September 30, 2029.

The contractor will state their expected start and completion date within the contract period to the COR and will advise of changes to the expected schedule.

The contractor shall allow for inspection by the COR and or FS technical advisor and to monitor progress and to confirm completion of the specified tasks per section and 3.0.

Billing may occur as each milestone is completed.

6.0 Travel

Contractors shall include all costs for project coordination, monitoring, and technical support within their fully burdened labor rates and overhead, as no separate reimbursement will be provided for travel or incidental expenses. All required monitoring, coordination, and technical support activities related to elm tree management, propagation, and planting— whether performed during the Base Period, Option Year One, or under the Option Line Item—must be fully covered within the contractor’s overhead and considered part of the total cost to perform.

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

• The contractor’s key personnel must have the appropriate scientific expertise and experience to complete the work at the required level of rigor and accuracy.

• Milestone 1 and 3: The contractor must have experience with statistical analysis methods appropriate for each experiment. Demonstrated knowledge of plant physiology, plant pathology, genetics, and restoration science is crucial. The contractor shall have experience writing and publishing scientific manuscripts, with a demonstrated record of publication in scientific journals.

• Milestone 2 and 4: The contractor shall have experience coordinating a project with multiple agencies and university partners. Contractor shall have experience with rating disease severity and tree health as well as knowledge of plant pathology in general and of elm-specific diseases and pests in particular. Contractor shall also have experience with tree propagation. Contractor shall have knowledge of considerations for seed orchard design.

8.0 Security Requirements

Contractor will notify USFS and partner staff of their arrival and departure at their sites.

9.0 Data Rights

Monitoring information and assessments will be shared with all project partners.

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards N/A